One of the oldest of the Marvel Comics titles, and most likely one of the most difficult to adapt, it looks as though a new film version of The Fantastic Four is finally moving ahead and I really wish I felt better about it than I do … there are a lot of people attached to this thing that just seem wildly out of place. Not that they aren’t talented people (at least most of them) but I just have no idea what they’re doing in this film … Examples?
Director: Tim Story. Best known for Barbershop. Apparently a very good film, but in a wildly, wildy different genre and mind set from what is needed here.
The Thing: Michael Chiklis. An Emmy winner for The Shield – and he’s really good on that show – but he’s too old, not big enough, carries himself wrong and just isn’t Michael Clarke Duncan who was born for the role.
Johnny Storm: Paul Walker. Best known for his big, gooey eyes. Frighteningly the best casting choice of all the ones announced thus far.
Dr. Doom: Tim Robbins. Oh, Tim. Why? Just why? A fantastic actor who from time to time turns in a staggeringly bad performance, perhaps just to keep himself humble. I have a feeling this will provide enough humility to carry him through the rest of his career.
