As summer has become the domain of super hero movies in the past few years, the competition has gotten stiffer. While Marvel seems capable of doing no wrong with fans, other studios have had to fight a bit harder for their share of audiences and there have been casualties, like last year’s disappointing (financially and critically) ‘Amazing Spider-Man 2.’
20th Century Fox’s reboot of the ‘Fantastic Four’ franchise has been eyed with skepticism almost from the start and many of the changes made to the classic characters has fans sharpening their knives before the film even debuts. Perhaps in an effort to not only publicize the film, but to sway fan geeks’ already preconceived ideas about this movie, the studio has been steadily releasing more and more revealing tidbits.
On the movie’s official website, new bios for the four stars have been released. You can check them out below:
REED RICHARDS IS A SCIENTIFIC PRODIGY WHO HAS BEEN QUIETLY EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE’S DEEPEST MYSTERIES IN HIS GARAGE, AFTER SCHOOL. AFTER BEING TRANSFORMED BY ONE OF HIS EXPERIMENTS, HE CAN WARP THE SPACE AROUND HIM, AND APPEAR TO STRETCH HIS BODY INTO IMPOSSIBLE FORMS AND TO INCREDIBLE LENGTHS.
Susan Storm
SUE IS BRILLIANT AND BEAUTIFUL, INDEPENDENT AND SARCASTIC. THE POWER TO BECOME INVISIBLE AND TO GENERATE HER OWN FORCE-FIELDS CAN MAKE HER HARDER TO REACH THAN EVER—BUT THAT WON’T STOP SOME OF HER TEAMMATES, ESPECIALLY REED, FROM TRYING.
Johnny Storm
A TROUBLEMAKER AND A THRILL-SEEKER, JOHNNY IS THE ROCK STAR OF THE TEAM. HIS POWERS ALLOW HIM TO SHOOT FIREBALLS, FLY AT BREAKNECK SPEEDS, AND REALLY LIGHT IT UP.
Ben Grimm
A RARE BREED OF BRAWN AND HEART, BEN IS WARM, EVEN SENSITIVE, DESPITE HIS
ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE UPBRINGING. HE IS ROCK-SOLID—IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. A LOYAL AND PROTECTIVE FRIEND, HIS STONE BODY GIVES HIM EPIC STRENGTH AND MAKES HIM VIRTUALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE.
Overall, these descriptions are accurate to the comics, both the traditional series and the Ultimate Universe, which similarly de-aged the heroes. Reed Richards’ bio in particular seems to draw heavily from the genius whiz kid Ultimate take. The idea that his powers are based on warping reality around him is new (to my knowledge).
On the flip side, Sue’s seems to deviate the most from established canon, especially the comment that she is “sarcastic,” a trait the comic Sue has, I’m pretty sure, never displayed. Also the idea that her powers reflect her personality and history, making her “harder to reach than ever.” This could play upon the fact that in this movie, she is adopted and could be nursing some serious emotional scars.
Johnny’s description is rather spare but is faithful to the cocky showboat he has traditionally been depicted as.
Ben, perhaps the most emotionally complex of the four, is described as being a loyal and caring person… something that may be complicated once he turns into a hulking rock monster. Not mentioned is that famous Ben Grimm temper and cranky exterior. Will be be getting a kinder and gentler Thing this time?
There is more information on the ‘Fantastic Four’ official website, which you can explore here.
Despite initial concerns, it sounds like this reboot may actually remain loyal to the comics in many major ways. What do you think? Are you sold on this re-imagining? Or are you still waiting for closer to the movie’s opening to decide?
‘Fantastic Four,’ a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.
Directed by Josh Trank, ‘Fantastic Four’ stars Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, and Toby Kebbell star and opens in theaters on August 7.
Source: ComicBook.com
