"Fantastic Four" Film-Bound

Fri., May. 4, 2001 2:00 PM PDT by Chuck Kim

Thanks to the huge success of X-Men it looks like we're going to be seeing a lot more weird-looking dudes in goofy pajamas on the big screen.

Director Peyton Reed, who knows something about funny costumes thanks to his cheerleader saga Bring It On, has been tapped to helm the feature film adaptation of Marvel Comics' first family of superheroes, The Fantastic Four, for 20th Century Fox.

After floating around development limbo for several years, the superhero quartet may finally become a live-action reality.

Fox had rights the project since at least 1992, when the studio kept Roger Corman's embarrassingly cheesy big-screen version from ever seeing the light of day. The project was pushed futher to backburner with Marvel-based flops like Punisher and Captain America stinking up theaters. Eventually, X-Men arrived and caused Hollywood to finally take men in spandex very, very seriously.

"We expect and hope to make [Fantastic Four] pretty soon. If X-Men hadn't worked, we may have reconsidered," Fox Filmed Entertainment chairman Tim Rothman told the Los Angeles Times.

Still, the Fantastic Four's battle to reach the big screen matches any tussle the foursome has had with Dr. Doom or the Salem Seven. Although Fox originally hoped to finish the film for a summer 2001 release, the studio still hasn't set production dates, let alone found a workable script. So far, the screenwriters of Fire Down Below, GoldenEye and Batman have tried to pen decent scenarios, but none was up to snuff for the film's producer, Chris Columbus, who's currently on the search for draft number four. Fox also struggled to find a director: Before Reed joined up, first choice Raja Gosnell (Mrs. Doubtfire) was lured away by Warner Bros. for the live-action Scooby-Doo.

First hitting the comic book stands in 1961, Fantastic Four chronicles the adventures of the superhero quartet Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and the Thing. The group got their powers after traveling through an improperly shielded spaceship of Mr. Fantastic's design. (This, of course, makes one wonder why Mr. Fantastic is considered one of the Earth's most brilliant minds.)

Like their colorful moniker, the team's powers are--you got it--fantastic. The group's leader, Mr. Fantastic, uses his super-elastic body to entangle his enemies. The Invisible Woman not only can make herself disappear, but also generates invisible force fields. The Human Torch becomes a living fireball, while the Thing's rock-like epidermis gives him super strength and invulnerability. While their powers proved popular with the fans, it was the constant bickering and familial bonds that kept readers interested over the decades.

Batman writer Sam Hamm was attracted to the property for its comedic values. "The Fantastic Four are generally a sunnier bunch than Batman. And the fun of doing a team story is that it's really about an extended dysfunctional family," he noted in a Cinescape interview.

"The notion of comic characters having to deal with petty real-life issues, in addition to alien invasions and supervillains who want to take over the world, is what gives them so much flavor."

The comic book-to-movie renaissance is drawing some of Hollywood's big talent. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon director Ang Lee is on board to helm a movie version of the classic Marvel character The Incredible Hulk, while Quiz Show's Paul Attanasio just signed up to take a stab at penning the umpteenth draft of Warners' next Superman flick. Meanwhile, Sony's would-be blockbuster version of Marvel's Spider-Man is currently shooting in L.A. for release next year.