Fantastic Four (2015)

Did You Know?

• Fantastic Four (2015) is a reboot of the Fantastic Four franchise, and it is the third film adaptation of the superhero team after the 2005 and 2007 films.
• The film’s director, Josh Trank, was known for his work on Chronicle (2012), a found-footage film about teenagers with superpowers, which influenced the film’s darker, more grounded tone.
• Miles Teller was cast as Reed Richards, while Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell played Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, respectively.
• The film takes a more scientific and grounded approach to the origin of the Fantastic Four, focusing on their transformation through a scientific experiment gone wrong.
• The character of Doctor Doom, portrayed by Toby Kebbell, was reimagined for the film. Instead of the traditional version, he is portrayed as a tech genius who is connected to the film’s alternate dimension.
• The film’s visual effects were heavily criticized for being inconsistent, especially in the final scenes, where Doctor Doom’s powers and appearance felt underwhelming.
• Fantastic Four (2015) was heavily criticized for its rushed third act, which left the film feeling incomplete and unsatisfying, especially after a strong setup in the first half.
• The film had a troubled production, with rumors of tension between director Josh Trank and the studio, leading to changes in the final product.
• Michael B. Jordan’s casting as Johnny Storm (the Human Torch) was controversial, as he is African American, while the character in the comics is traditionally portrayed as white.
• Despite the negative reception, Fantastic Four (2015) performed poorly at the box office, grossing only $167 million worldwide, far less than the studio’s expectations for the film.