Fresh off of the major success of Avatar: The Way of Water, screenwriter Josh Friedman has been recruited for a major new project. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Friedman has been tapped to write the script for the upcoming Fantastic Four movie being developed for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This Fantastic Four movie will be part of Phase Six of the MCU. The script was to be penned by Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer, who are known for their comedic efforts, such as the upcoming Rebel Wilson comedy K-Pop: Lost in America and Disaster Wedding. On the other hand, Friedman is known for more serious projects such as Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds (2005) and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (which he created). given his history, Friedman’s involvement as the screenwriter may indicate a new tone for the Fantastic Four franchise.
Can Josh Friedman Save the ‘Fantastic Four?’
While numerous characters adapted into the MCU have earned more attention in recent years, the Fantastic Four have the unique title of being Marvel’s first family. With its unique and relatable characters, the Fantastic Four set Marvel up as the juggernaut that is today and made Stan Lee a comic book icon.
However, adapting the Fantastic Four for the big screen has been a nightmarish endeavor. The 2005 adaptation of the Fantastic Four was critically panned, with many placing the movie on their worst-of-the-year lists. While its sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer, faired mildly better, it didn’t do enough to merit further sequels. A reboot was attempted with 2015’s Fantastic Four, but the film’s overly dark tone, among other factors, made for a spectacular failure. The film won several Golden Raspberry Awards (a.k.a. Razzies), including Worst Picture.
While the attempts to adapt the Fantastic Four have been major disappointments, Josh Friedman has had great success as a screenwriter. Can he write a strong Fantastic Four movie? Share what you think in the comments,
