Boy oh boy, today has been a whirlwind of comic book-related shenanigans, has it not? First, DC Universe announced that they'd cancelled SWAMP THING after just one season, then an interview with Roger Wardell yeilded the Marvel insider's take on what's in store for Phase 4 of Marvel's MCU. And now, a rumor coming out of Geeks Worldwide claims that Marvel Studios is eyeing a 2022 release for their version of the FANTASTIC FOUR.
According to GWW's source, ANT-MAN helmer Peyton Reed is campaigning to direct the project, after already having pitched his ideas to Marvel Studios Head Kevin Feige on several occassions. In GWW's report, the outlet claims that Reed's version would include "a 1960s setting that involves the Quantum Realm, and possibly The Black Knight."
In the past, Reed has been rather open about his desire to blast off into parts unknown with Marvel's First Family. He's even posted his pitch to Fox from years back, which also harkened back to a 1960s setting for the Fab Four's next adventure:
“Visually, one of the things we always talked about – and this was 2003 – was The Fantastic Four as daytime superheroes. They don’t have secret identities. They’re very much a part of the fabric of Manhattan. In that universe, if you go to New York to the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty or the Baxter Building, it was all a part of that. We talked about it being a ’60s period movie, but Fox at the time was not into it.”
Of course Fox wasn't into it, as they're only interested in making mediocre to dreadful FANTASTIC FOUR movies.
Created by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and Stan "The Man" Lee: Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Benjamin J. Grimm made their Marvel Comics debut in the pages of Fantastic Four #1 (circa 1961). Throughout the decades, Marvel's First Family have traveled the cosmos, defeated world-devouring titans, matched wits with some of the smartest villains, and have saved the 616 more times than I can count. Their chance to get proper representation on the big screen is long overdue, and Peyton Reed might not be a bad choice to get the job done.
Peyton, if you're reading this, you can have this one for free. Give the film an INDIANA JONES meets LOST IN SPACE vibe. I'm talking aliens, danger, and comedy, all revolving around a warm family-friendly center that introduces a whole new group dynamic to the MCU. Call me. We'll do lunch.