The Fantastic Four 2was awarded aJune, 2017release date way beforeFantastic Fourbombed in theaters this past August. And ever since the movie crashed and burned, we’ve heard various rumors about what 20th Century Fox wants to do with that release date. Somebelievedit would go toDeadpool 2. Others believed thatThe Fantastic Four 2would still happen, only this time underX-Men: ApocalypsedirectorBryan Singer, who hinted that aX-Men/Fantastic Four Crossover Moviemay happen. But now, producer and writer of theFantastic Fourreboot,Simon Kinbergsays that Fox doesn’t quite knowwhat to do with the sequel, and that’s all still being figured out.
Most believed that Fox was going to dump the franchise, which has the possibility of moving back to Marvel just as the studio’sDaredevildid. Is Fox seriously considering spending more money on what is now the second biggest bomb of 2015? In the end, the first reboot is reported to lose the studio between $80 to $100 million. That’s not small change. Fox’s president of domestic distribution Chris Aronson has already publicly stated that the studio is not giving up on the characters just yet. And Twentieth Century Fox is in the process of building its own shared Marvel universe.Simon Kinbergwants to see the sequel happen. But he doesn’t know how that will move forward.
Simon Kinbergis also the writer ofX-Men: Apocalypse, and claims to be far too focused on making that sequel the best it can be to go back and look at the wreckage left byFantastic Four. Speaking withMTV, he explained that his current work onX-Men: Apocalypseis eclipsing everything else. And he hasn’t had an opportunity to fully reflect on this summer’s disappointing returns forFantastic Four.
“I was obviously disappointed. I was most disappointed that fans didn’t like it. I care more about them than I do anyone else. But I haven’t done a full deep dive on it. Do I think it was unfairly treated? I don’t know. I’ve been on plenty of happy movies that don’t turn out to be very good movies, I’ve been on a lot of unhappy, difficult sets that turn out to be great movies. There was a lot of attention on the process of making that movie. It’s hard, when you’re making a movie, movies are hard to make. It’s just the reality. Every time you make a movie, you want to make a great movie. It’s a ton of time and effort you put in. We made that movie in the sweltering heat of summer in Baton Rouge and I was there every day of photography. You’re waking up every morning being like, I want to go make a great movie. It was an opportunity to do that. I do believe there is a great Fantastic Four movie that we’ve made with that cast. So I’m gonna figure out what that is.”
Simon Kinberg’s comments are a little ambiguous. Does he plan to salvage the original with a director’s cut? Putting back some of the pieces that are missing to maybe make it more worthwhile? Or does he simply mean he’s going to look at the good in the movie, and form a better sequel around those ideas? About Fox moving on with the sequel, the writer and producer had this to say.
“We’re figuring out what that movie would be. I’d like that to happen.”
Simon Kinberghas a multi-year deal with Fox to help produce and oversee the studio’s upcoming Marvel movies. On the horizon are three X-Men movies set for release next year. These includeDeadpoolin February,X-Men: Apocalypsein May andGambitin October.Wolverine 3is planned for 2017, withThe New MutantsandX-Forceto follow, though neither of those have a release date. And there has always been much talk about theX-Men/Fantastic Four Crossover Movie. Some have been left wondering whySimon Kinberghas been left in charge ofThe Fantastic Four 2, since no one liked the first one. It doesn’t sound like any of the fans want a sequel, and he knows this. Add to this the fact that the man is also working on both the animated TV seriesStar Wars Rebelsand a Star Wars Anthology movie, you have to wonder if someone else shouldn’t step in and take overThe Fantastic Four 2at this point.
Some speculate that Marvel and Fox may team up to make anotherFantastic Fourreboot, in a deal that would be much like Marvel and Sony and their jointSpider-Manremake planned for 2017. Most fans don’t think the superhero family can exist on screen without help from Marvel, or an assist from otherMarvel characters. And a deal would actually help Marvel in the long run, as Fox has the rights to a lot ofaliensthat Disney isn’t able to utilize, Galactus being at the forefront of that conversation. What do you think? Should Fox doThe Fantastic Four 2? Or should the franchise be put to rest until someone really knows how to reboot it?
