Between the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Extended Universe, and X-Men franchise, there is no shortage of superhero movies coming to the big screen. Every few months introduces a new comic book blockbuster, although they can't all be winners. Case in point: 2015's Fantastic Four, which was produced by Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn. The film was panned and failed to perform at the box office, but Vaughn seems to want a second go at the titular team of heroes. I recently spoke with the director/writer/producer about his upcoming sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and we discussed his past with superhero films. During this conversation he revealed how he'd like to make another Fantastic Four movie, saying:
The other one I've felt an obligation to do is, I wouldn't mind maybe making a Fantastic Four film to apologize to everyone out there that maybe it didn't go very well for them. It's brilliant. One of my favorites is the Fantastic Four, so maybe one day I'll try and rectify the mistake.
It sounds like Matthew Vaughn is cognizant of the criticism revolving around Fantastic Four, and would like to have another go with the beloved Marvel team. The fans would no doubt love this chance at redemption as well, so maybe the franchise won't end up being DOA after all.
The most recent Fantastic Four film was directed by Chronicle helmer Josh Trank, and had a fair amount of controversy surrounding it both before and after its release. Onset rumors claimed that Trank repeatedly showed up chemically altered to set, and had confrontations with the various members of his team. And when the film was eventually released, Trank tweeted (and deleted) about how the film was no longer his, and that the studio apparently interfered with his vision (a theory supported by actor Toby Kebbel).
Matthew Vaughn was a producer on Fantastic Four, which wasn't the first time he was helped to craft a superhero adaptation. He had previously worked on the Kick Ass movies and produced two X-Men films: Days of Future Past, and First Class (which he also directed). But even Vaughn wasn't able to save Fantastic Four from disaster, and the franchise's future is still a mystery.
That being said, Fantastic Four certainly has a fantastic cast that would presumably kill it with a better story and more peaceful set. Cast members like Kate Mara have expressed their interest to return to the role, although no plans seem to be in motion at the moment. Then there's Stan Lee, who believes that the characters, alongside the X-Men, will one day be purchased and utilized by the MCU, similar to its acquisition of Spider-Man. We'll just have to wait and see.
You can catch Matthew Vaughn's highly anticipated sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle on September 22nd. In the meantime, check out our 2017 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
