We all know Hollywood is bursting with actors and actresses that are unabashed fanboys and fangirls; everyone from Ben Affleck, Nathan Fillion, Michael Chiklis (who actively lobbied for his role as The Thing) and Kevin Smith to Rosario Dawson and Zoe Saldana. But of course like any select population, you’ll get a sprinkling of all sorts and not everyone grew up reading comics or watching sci fi and it sounds like Kate Mara was among those.
While promoting her new movie ‘Transcendence’, Mara answered a few questions about ‘Fantastic Four’. As is often the case with comic book movies, she tried not to reveal too much… or perhaps didn’t know much to reveal. The movie is still being developed and has been plagued with controversy, not the least of which was the casting of Mara and her fellow cast members who are all extremely young, vastly younger than their source material counterparts:
“Well I don’t know very much about it, which is weird but true! Umm, all I know is that it’s going to be a very different take on the film, which people may not expect . I’m not really familiar with the comic books…I picked up a few when I got the part. I think we’re making a very grounded version of a superhero film. I trust Josh Trank’s vision as I was a huge fan of CHRONICLE.”
Grounded is not the word that springs to mind when I think about the Fantastic Four, the sweeping science fiction epic which typically features its lead characters venturing to subterranean realms, other planets and parallel universes battling world-devourers, alien despots and killer robots.
It’s already been rumored that the plot completely ditches their cosmic origin. And Mara stated that she hadn’t been fitted for a costume, because she wasn’t sure she was going to be wearing one in the movie.
I thought ‘Chronicle’ was an entertaining twist on the super hero genre… emphasis on twist. It was an original concept, so viewers could watch it with no preconceived notions. ‘Fantastic Four’ was the first Marvel Comic Book series of the modern era so besides Captain America, the team has the longest history of any Marvel property. There are nothing but preconceived notions attached to this property.
Let me put it this way, look at the 2005 movie and its 2007 sequel. Yes they changed a bunch of stuff, but the costumes were nearly identical to those in the comic book, their personalities were kept close and the origin was a modernization of the original. And yet a lot of people trashed them. I’d say they were decent. The casting was okay, with Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis both doing an excellent job in their roles as The Human Torch and the Thing. While fans may have had some issues, compared to what we’ve learned about this new movie, fans might be fantasizing about a revival of the former franchise.
Are we facing a ‘Fantastic Four’-in-name-only film? If so, how does that make you feel? Can you look past that and try and judge this film on its own merits? Or is this a Halle Berry/’Catwoman’ situation all over again? Comment with your own thoughts below!
Source: Joblo