Now that the dust has settled, we can all collectively agree that the recent Fant4stic proved to be an unmitigated disaster. How should Fox recover from such a drastic misstep if they proceed with a sequel? Put the franchise in the hands of infamous director Tommy Wiseau – at least that’s his belief.
In a recent interview with Milwaukee Magazine, Wiseau opened up about his feelings for Fox’s recent attempt to reboot the Fantastic Four franchise yet again, and his desire to take part in a potential sequel:
You know, I told you I saw this Fantastic Four….it just….I’m not being critical- let me put it this way, I like it, I did enjoy it number one. Number two, it’s too bad they didn’t call me, that’s all I want to say and I rest my case. (laughs) That’s all I can tell you. (laughs) Good response in Europe though, that’s my understanding, but it’s too bad they didn’t call me, that’s my point. Maybe if there’s a sequel, you know. You know, maybe your article gets me that job, who knows what will happen.
Now to be fair, Mr. Wiseau’s relationship with the English language has always seemed tenuous at best, but he certainly got his point across: he enjoyed the critically reviled Fant4stic, and wants to helm a potential sequel.
We’re not saying we actually support this dream coming to fruition, but let’s briefly play devil’s advocate. Among its many problems, Josh Trank’s Fant4stic took Marvel’s first family, stripped them of all the charm they are known for in the comics, and presented one of the most drab, humorless comic book films ever committed to film. Tommy Wiseau’s The Room – while not intentionally a comedy – has earned a legacy as the pinnacle "so bad it’s good" movie, and developed a cult following that adores the inherent humor in its absurd narrative. The Fantastic Four themselves have yet to experience a genuinely good film adaptation, and – under Wiseau’s direction – Fox could absolutely capitalize on that, creating a self-aware superhero film that indulges in its own absurdity so much that audiences could not help but feel endeared by it. In the face of potential superhero fatigue, this could be Fox’s attempt to turn the genre completely on its head – a trend Deadpool already appears to have begun.
Now back to reality. While all of that could work in a perfect world, we have to remember that The Fantastic Four are not Deadpool. Giving them the Wiseau treatment could generate a great deal of buzz, and maybe even redeem the team at the box office, but it would most assuredly alienate true FF fans who wish to see them brought to screen faithfully and respectfully. Perhaps at this point the better option would be for Fox to simply give them back to Marvel, and have an established director commit them to film in a way that suits the tone of their books – such as with the upcoming re-re-boot of Spider-Man. Only time will tell, but we have to once again give Tommy Wiseau points for enthusiasm.
