The Fantastic Four (2015)

The Fantastic Four (2015 film)
THE FANTASTIC FOUR is an upcoming superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics team created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, with storylines taken from the 2004 Ultimate Fantastic Four series by Mark Millar and Brian Michael Bendis, writer/director Josh Trank helms this sci-fi action/adventure with an ensemble cast including Star Trek's Anton Yelchin as military scientist Dr. Reed Richards, with veteran screen actor Viggo Mortensen as Dr. Franklin Storm described as a father figure to the group. Jamie Bell has doubled-down as Fox's Performance Capture Consultant for CGI characters while also lending voice and capture to the films main villain. Tim Blake Nelson was confirmed to portray eccentric conspiracy theorist Prof. Harvey Rupert Elder and American Hustle's Jack Huston signed a 3-picture deal to portray Latverian robotics expert Dr. Viktor von Doom in a character-arch said to span across multiple films. Filling out the principle cast is pop artist Taylor Momsen and Austrailian actor Callan Mcauliffe as brother sister Sue and Johnny Storm.The Fantastic Four is scheduled for release on August 7th, 2015 in IMAX and 3D theaters.

Premise
Two airmen, brilliant military scientist Reed Rciahrds and ace test pilot Ben Grimm, recruited by Central City's aerospace division to clear some debris out of the N-Zone trade routes, make a discovery that threatens the entire Air Force operation; a large colony of alien insects are burrowing hive structures  into humankind's asteroid-size trash piles left floating in subspace. Before seeing the job through to its end, Reed is asked to return to 'Future Foundation'. A manhatten-based think tank where he reunites with his old mentor Franklin Storm, fraternizes with Sue and Johnny Storm, who've grown up since they last met, and forms a rivalry with Storm new apprentice Viktor Von Doom. Their conflict is put aside when Viktor discloses to Reed that an explorer named Harvey Elder is keeping an interdimensional warlord called 'Annihilus' in a cave on Monster Island.

Cast
Additionally, Riley Griffiths and CJ Adams will play young Ben Grimm and Reed Richards respectively. Michael B. Jordan and Alex Russll are cast in unspecified roles. J osh Trank , who directs the film, and Stan Lee have cameos.
 * Anton Yelchin as Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards: When Yelchin was asked about being cast and about his role, he said, "When I read the script, I was reading this larger-than-life, incredible superhero tale. These are all very human people that end up having to become what is known as the Fantastic Four. For me it  gives me an opportunity to play something different from my own skin."
 * Taylor Momsen as Susan Storm/Invisble Woman: About the role, she said, "To be approached and asked to be part of such an ambitious and huge project is flattering. And when you see the movie you'll realize just how huge this film is, [and] in a lot of ways unprecedented.  It's really unlike any other superhero movie you've seen before."
 * Callan McAuliffe as Johnny Storm/Human Torch: Callan was asked about his role and he said, "We're more or less a bunch of young adults that had an accident and we have disabilities now that we have to cope with, and try to find a life afterwards – try to be as normal as we can but obviously conflict follows. I'ts really about coming to terms with reality and using these new found powers for a bigger, unimaginable cause."
 * Forest Griffin as Ben Grimm/The Thing: About taking the role, Griffin said, "At first I turned [the role] down. The movie as a whole is just much bigger than me. And I'm a big guy. But Trank wouldn't let me rest. He wanted me and in a way that's hugely honoring and another terribly scary. But stepping into this world and becoming Ben Grimm was something I'm glad I did. It's unbelievably awesome what we're doing."
 * Jack Huston as Viktor Von Doom/Dr Doom: Huston has many times refused to say a lot about the film but has said in one interview, "It's crazy what we're doing and I'm more than happy to be apart of it." He later added he had to create an accent for his character. Trank has said in a Q&A that Huston "Scared the crap out of me"
 * Viggo Mortenson as Dr. Franklin Storm: Mortenson plays an integral part to the Fantastic Four, being descrbed as the father figure. About joining the film, he said, "I've never pictured myself in such a movie like this. The script is terrifc, really really good, and I'm honored to be apart of the movie."
 * Tim Blake Nelson as Harvey Elder: About the movie, he said, "Without going into detail, the script has as much soul as it does action. And it has a lot of action." He continued, I absolutely loved working on 'Hulk' and feel extremely blessed that Marvel, Fox, and especially Josh Trank and his team have invited me back into the universe. The script is excellent. It has real heart, and it shows a true understanding of what it is to be a burgeoning adult geeked out to the margins."
 * Jamie Bell as Annihilus:
 * Anna Popwell as Dr. Alyssa Moy: Alyssa Moy in this movie is an English Scientist and works under Proffesor Harvey Elder.
 * Michelle Pfeiffer as Evelyn Richards: About the role, she said, "It's unbelievable being back into this world and I'm happy I am, especially with such an awe-inspiring film like this."
 * Michael Biehn as Gary Richards: Biehn revealed his character is a retired NASA astronaut and sometimes "a pain in the ass."
 * Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Alicia Masters: Raw revealed that she is the Fiance of Ben Grimm and is a blind sculptress.
 * Genevieve Knight Hannelius as Enid Richards: She will play Reed Richards younger sister.

Development
 "This   Fantastic Four  movie is sort of a celebration of all the  Fantastic Four  comics that have preceded it. We have elements from the original  Fantastic Four  that there's a sort of optimism and inspirational quality to the film. In some ways a comedy that was really distinct in the original  Fantastic Four . Also, the notion of this dysfunctional surrogate family that comes together and has to work together is very present in the movie that owes a great debt to the originals and this idea that they are scientist and that it's almost like this science adventure, more than being superheroes... We also owe a lot to the  Ultimate' s and the current crop of  Fantastic Four  comics."

—Simon Kinberg on adapting the Fantastic Four comic books into film.  In August 2009, 20th Century Fox opted to reboot the superhero franchise Fantastic Four and hired  Michael Green  and  Akiva Goldsman  to write and produce the film respectively. Fox met with directors Gore Verbinski, J.J. Abrams, Brad Bird, and Ruben Fleischer, though, nothing was ever set in stone. In 2012, after the finacial and critical success of Chronicle, Fox hired Josh Trank to direct the reboot. Mark Millar, Fox movie consultant, later said,'' "From what I've seen and from talking to him, [...] He's a great storyteller. What I wasn't expecting actually was just how funny and likeable he could make this as well as getting the more awesome moments on screen, [...] The Ridley Scott moments, and the Fantastic Four really are jaw-droppin in the same way you feel when you saw Alien for the first time. There's some moments in this - Not to be speicific - That are actually gonna be phenomenal on screen and stuff you haven't seen in a superhero movie before." '' Fox then hired Jeremy Slater   to write the screenplay. He described the project as  "being the Fantastic Four movie fans deserve."   A release date was set for March 6th, 2015. In January 2013, Fox hired Seth Graham Smith to polish the script. Josh Trank described the film as "[A] grounded, some-what reimagining of the Fantastic Four. The essentials, the charm, the adventure is still there. But were putting these characters in a what-if real world situation." In June 2013, rumors circulated that Fox dumped the script and the crew. This was later debunked by Josh Trank in an interview saying, "We're hard at work right now. We're taking our time to make the best film we possibly can, but also moving as fast as we can to not make this our every day life priority." In October 2013, Fox hired Simon Kinberg to rewrite the script. Casting than offcially began in January 2014. In February, of that year, Kinberg described the movie as "Huge" and continued,'' "The movie is a dramatic representation of the Fantastic Four. Yet, throughout all that, we can't lose the balance of spectacle and drama." ''Later that month , Matthew Vaughn was hired  as producer. Kinberg later announced he will co-produce the film. Mark Millar revealed  it would take place in the same universe  as the X-Men Film Series. However, Trank later denied his statement.



Casting
In November 2013, Kinberg and Trank had finished rewriting the script and casting for the roles of Reed Richards and Sue Storm began. Miles Teller, Kit Harrington, Richard Madden and Jack O' Connel were tested for the role of Reed Richards, while Kate Mara,Saoirse, Margot Robbie and Emmy Rossum were tested for Susan Storm. In January 2014, Callan McAuliffe landed the role described as 'kid brother' mechanic & space engineer Jonathan Storm, and musician Taylor Momsen as the telekinetic Susan Storm. In February, MMA Champion and comedic sports personality Forrest Griffin was cast as rugged Air Force test-pilot Ben Grimm via vocal performance and motion capture prosthetics; with Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Grimm's fiance, Alicia Masters. The following weeks, Anton Yelchin was cast as Military Scientist Reed Richards. In the following weeks, The Walking Dead's Abraham Ford actor Michael Cudlitz was cast to play Lt. Wilford "Willie" Lumpkin, the Baxter Building's mailman and prodigy recruitment agent. Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn's Anna Popplewell will play Reed's former love interest Dr. Alyssa Moy an English scientist and explorer working under Professor Elder. Michael Biehn was cast in March to take on wich he described a brief but high-impact role as Reed's father, retired NASA astronaut Gary Richards, and producer Matthew Vaughn sought out Michelle Pfeiffer for Reed's mother Evelyn Richards. In April, Jack Huston was cast as Viktor Von Doom over others such as Toby Kebbell, James Fanco, and Jake Gyllenhaal. A week before filming started, Jamie Bell was cast as the films villain, Annihilus'''.  On July 8th,    Genevieve Knight Hannelius was cast as Enid Richards. 'On September 19th, the release date was pushed back to August 7th, 2015''.

Filming
 Principle Photography commenced on May 5, 2014 at Celtic Media Centre in 'Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 'Josh Trank f ilmed with anamorphic 35mm and IMAX  film photography. He  had practical locations built to minimize the use of computer-generated imagery, such as the interior of a space shuttle. On June 4th, filming took place at the Great Basin Desert for two weeks where a massive set was built, which included a shuttle  and a military base.

 A reported "crash landing" also took place. Production then relocated to Chicago which doubled for New York City and hundrends of extras were use to stimulate an earthquake. On June 24th, production  moved to  Kualoa Ranch. Reports revealed that it would double as Monster Isle. Leak set pictures confirmed that a huge action seqeunce took place there with sevreal asteroids were seen crashing down. On  August 7th, p roduction then returned to Baton Rouge, where the rest of filming will finish. Baton Rouge, which doubled for  Central City, California, involved a shot which involved extras in winter clothes and fake snow. On August 25th, a set pic leaked revealing a stand in for The Thing and On September 1st , leaked set pictures revealed Jack Huston's '' Dr. Doom. ''Filming ended September 17th, 2014.

Production design
The Fantastic Four features three crafts: the Anchor, the Stigma, and the Rover. The Anchor function is for the Launch Pad and transportation. The Stigma, the crew's mother ship, is similar to the space shuttle in being able to enter and exit planetary atmospheres: Built with planetary colonization equipment, engines, and with permanent functions: cockpit, medical labs, and habitation. Production designer Jeff Mann said the Stigma is "a real mesh of different kinds of technology. You need analogue stuff as well as digital stuff, you need back-up systems and tangible switches. It's really like a submarine in space. Every inch of space is used, everything has a purpose." Lastly, the Rover transports the capsules with colonization equipment to planetary surfaces as well as collect data.

The film also features two robots, HERBIE and a DOOMBOT. Trank wanted to avoid making the robots anthropomorphic or high-tech and chose complex, amalgamate designs. The director said, "It has a very complicated design mingled. It has to look as if it can really be built in this world. You've got to get creative and use out of the box thinking to create these things. So it's really based off mathematics. Every movement makes sense and it has to have an effect on other lines which can subdivide further. But, essentially, it's all proportional."

Actor Elijah Wood voiced and physically controlled both robot designs, but was digitally removed from the film and his voicing for the Doombot was replaced.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">For costumes, Trank has revealed that the crew created a varian design using the Future Foundation suits. Callan McAuliffe revealed, "<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,sans-serif;">It’s a new look,” he said. “We are all in containment suits. … It’s gritty. It’s a gritty film.”

Post Production
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;">The film was shot in IMAX and will be converted to 3D. Trank revealed that months before filming started or even casting was finished, VFX and CGI was being worked on.

<span style="color:rgb(58,58,58);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">Visual Effects
<span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:22.399999618530273px;">The film is using OTOY  <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:22.399999618530273px;"> for the visual effects. According to Josh Trank, with the use of cloud-rendering technology from OTOY, they can create visual effects at a much lower cost

Marketing
A teaser poster was released at San Diego Comic Con 14.