Revisiting the History of Fantastic Four and X-Men in the MCU

The return of the Fantastic Four and the X-Men to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has garnered significant attention. However, the trio of previous Fantastic Four adaptations—ranging from 1994 to 2015—has only added to skepticism. Actress Amanda Roth, known for her role in content creation and analysis, dives deep into the issues faced by these property adaptations and proposes a strong narrative for their return.

Struggles of Previous Adaptations

The Fantastic Four has taken a bumpy ride with numerous adaptations, each being as disappointing as the last. Amanda Roth highlights three significant instances where the series fell short of expectations:

The 1994 Film

The 1994 adaptation was a disaster, described as "awful and cheesy." It was so bad that it was not released, and minimal footage is known to exist. Amanda notes that even a brief glimpse was enough to confirm the film’s ultimate failure.

The 2005 Film

The 2005 adaptation saw Captain America in the cast, raising initial curiosity. However, Amanda critiques the film for its lack of coherent storylines, dubbing Galetus as a "dumb energy tornado." Reed Richards is also heavily criticized for mischaracterization, which left Amanda unimpressed with the entire cast.

The 2015 Film

Although the 2015 Fantastic Four had a promising backstory of multi-racial casting, it faltered elsewhere. Amanda was particularly disappointed with the treatment of Reed Richards, the plot, and the inclusion of Doctor Doom. The movie lacked depth and coherence, leading Amanda to conclude that it was everything but decent.

Proposing a Better Story Arc

Amanda suggests a fresh approach to bring the Fantastic Four back with better storytelling. She proposes a three-film arc:

First Film: Origin Story

The first film could serve as an origin story, featuring Victor von Doom only briefly as a source of tension. The Galactus storyline could be integrated as a crowd-pleaser, engaging viewers with epic spectacle.

Second Film: The Negative Zone

The second film could delve into the Negative Zone and Annihilus. Amanda suggests using the middle act to explore new, untapped storylines. This would help avoid recycling tired elements from existing films.

Third Film: Doctor Doom

The third film could focus on Doctor Doom, leaving ample room for character development and confrontation. By the end of the third film, Amanda envisions a satisfying conclusion to the arc.

The X-Men and the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The X-Men have faced their own challenges, with notable adaptations such as X-Men: Apocalypse doing little to quell criticism. Amanda emphasizes the need for a reboot to avoid continuity issues, such as the existence of two Quicksilver twins and the Fox continuity gap.

However, she notes that Deadpool should remain in the MCU, played by Ryan Reynolds, who is the only actor capable of bringing the character to life authentically. Reynolds’ ability to break the fourth wall also opens up interesting crossover possibilities with other MCU franchises.

Conclusion

The return of both the Fantastic Four and X-Men to the MCU is eagerly anticipated, but there is a stark need for better storytelling and world-building. By embracing fresh narratives and respecting the characters’ rich histories, Amanda believes these franchises can regain their status as engaging, dynamic elements within the broader MCU landscape.