Fantastic Four (2015)

[doctorD]

Will 'Chronicle' Star Michael B. Jordan Be Human Torch in 'Fantastic Four'? (Exclusive)

"Chronicle" star Michael B. Jordan is in contention to play The Human Torch in Josh Trank's "Fantastic Four" reboot due in 2015, which would give the African-American actor a rare role as a superhero in a big studio franchise, numerous individuals familiar with the project have told TheWrap.

The Human Torch, also known as Johnny Storm, was white in the Marvel comic, and the wise-cracking character was previously played by Chris Evans in the original 2005 version and its 2007 sequel.

Twentieth Century Fox declined to comment on the record, but numerous individuals close to the studio and the actor have told TheWrap that "Chronicle" director Trank is considering a reunion with Jordan, whose feature career has soared since his breakout turns on TV in "The Wire" and "Friday Night Lights."

Jordan has serious heat around Hollywood following rave reviews for his dramatic turn in the Sundance sensation "Fruitvale Station," which won the festival's Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. He was also one of the leads in Trank's sleeper hit "Chronicle," about teens with superpowers, which grossed an impressive $126 million worldwide last year following a successful marketing campaign that Fox timed to the NFL playoffs.

Jordan has had multiple meetings at Fox within the last week, and also has a good relationship with Trank. Jordan's chances depend on whether or not he has chemistry with the other actors up for the highly-anticipated movie, according to one insider.

Comic book mainstays Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Hulk, Daredevil and most of the X-Men are played by white actors on the big screen. Casting Jordan would make some kind of statement about the post-racial world, though some would say this kind of color-blind casting is long overdue.

Color-blind casting is a hot topic of discussion amongst Hollywood executives. While characters who were white in the comic book source material have been played by actors of color, including Michael Clarke Duncan as The Kingpin in “Daredevil” and Jamie Foxx as Electro in “The Amazing Spiderman 2,” so far they have been villains.

The idea that Hollywood would cast an African-American as a superhero would be new. Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury in "The Avengers" is a team leader without powers rather than an actual superhero. Wesley Snipes' Blade and Anthony Mackie's The Falcon in Marvel's upcoming sequel "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" are black superheroes, but they're based on black comic book characters.

So what about The Human Torch’s sister, Sue Storm, aka Invisible Girl? If Jordan is cast, would she need to be an actor of color? (She is invisible after all.) Jessica Alba played Evans’ sister in the original franchise.

Though "Fantastic Four" has not been greenlit, the film already has a March 6, 2015 release date. With a heavy post-production schedule, principal photography is expected to start this fall. Matthew Vaughn is producing the film, which was written by Jeremy Slater with an assist from Seth Grahame-Smith.

TheWrap previously wrote about race with regards to comic book adaptations back in March of 2010 when this columnist suggested that Mackie be cast as "Captain America.” While "Fantastic Four" veteran Evans ultimately won that role himself, Marvel clearly took notice, as Mackie has been cast as The Falcon in its upcoming sequel "Captain America: Winter Soldier."

Jordan recently jumped from UTA to WME, which made a strong push to sign the 26 year-old actor after his breakout performance in writer-director Ryan Coogler's "Fruitvale Station" left Sundance audiences in tears. Jordan is also represented by the Schiff Company and attorney Greg Slewett.

Source

[doctorD]

I know the above will definitely cause some major flack amongst the comic book fans of this franchise most likely directed at Fox. But this will definitely be interesting. If it happens, the next interesting thing will be who they choose to play Susan Storm.

[Lehnhart]

This doesn't bother me one bit. I'm a fan of Foxx being cast as Electro and I'd be a fan of Jordan being cast as The Torch. Foxx is a great actor as is Jordan. This casting would definitely peak my interest in this film more.

[Pounder]

Originally Posted by doctorD

Will 'Chronicle' Star Michael B. Jordan Be Human Torch in 'Fantastic Four'? (Exclusive)



Source

So sue storm will be black also?

[The Great Owl]

Michael B. Jordan would make a good Human Torch.

I thought that the two existing Fantastic Four films were both great popcorn movies with a truly fun feel to them, but I'm still intrigued at the idea of a reboot.

[NoFro]

Originally Posted by doctorD

Will 'Chronicle' Star Michael B. Jordan Be Human Torch in 'Fantastic Four'? (Exclusive)

Source

Where's Wallace at? Where the **** is Wallace? WHERE'S WALLACE STRING!?

Great choice

[Batman1980]

So I guess Sue Storm will also be black? Way to alienate a lot of Fantastic Four fans before the movie even starts production, Trank.

[Bolty]

Strike 3 Fox! Why not just skip this mess and save yourselves the embarrassment AND $200 milion dollars?

[NARMAK]

This has a few complications not least of all the fact that Sue Storm is his sister and would also need to re-cast with a black actress unless of course you're suddenly going with an 'adopted kid' angle

I'm not feeling that casting news at all tbh and i actually like him in Chronicle. It's a 'colour' issue. I'm not going to bow down to the PC masses and act like it isn't a 'problem'. The source material on this is something that heavily relies on ethnicity for two characters which is why it's not an easy change to incorporate.

If it was a stand alone character i think they'd have more of a chance to pull it off, but tbh it's kinda making me annoyed they're trying to change existing characters from one ethnicity or sexuality to widen audience appeal instead of investing on bringing up existing characters to the big screen rather than try to shoe horn the changes in.

I'd prefer they bring characters like Luke Cage, Cyborg etc. who are strong black characters to the fore rather than change people from existing and popular comics.

[binarymelon]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

The source material on this is something that heavily relies on ethnicity for two characters which is why it's not an easy change to incorporate.

How does the source material rely heavily on their ethnicity?

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by binarymelon

How does the source material rely heavily on their ethnicity?

Let's just make all comic book characters whatever color we want and see what happens. Comic book readers probably aren't a huge percentage of the people who go to these movies but you piss enough of them off before the movie even starts and there's a real chance your movie will flop due to that alone.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by binarymelon

How does the source material rely heavily on their ethnicity?

Because they've both been depicted as white since inception and both in the comics and films. Suddenly making them african-american is a bit jarring imo.

If they do change them both, fine, but i'm still not going to say that it's a good way to go about things. There should be faithfullness to the source material for these characters that have a rich history, but i suppose it's most annoying because it screams laziness on the part of creators that can't be bothered to come up with new black characters for the mainstream movie adaptation.

I'm not racist just to say that up front, but i'm not fond of this practice they use and seems to be done just for the sake of doing it rather than a truly 'good' reason. A change isn't necessary, yet they'll implement it. I don't know how the black community would feel about it either tbh, cause on the one hand it is a big positive but on the other it's a sloppy attempt to integrate.

[doctorD]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

So I guess Sue Storm will also be black? Way to alienate a lot of Fantastic Four fans before the movie even starts production, Trank.

So again, this is not definite as the article states that he is in the running for that character. A lot of people are speculating that he may get the part because of his connection with Trank.

Oh,

[binarymelon]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Let's just make all comic book characters whatever color we want and see what happens. Comic book readers probably aren't a huge percentage of the people who go to these movies but you piss enough of them off before the movie even starts and there's a real chance your movie will flop due to that alone.

It hasn't seemed to hurt Iron Man 3 or Thor.

[legendarymatt92]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

So I guess Sue Storm will also be black? Way to alienate a lot of Fantastic Four fans before the movie even starts production, Trank.

I don't think Trank went into the boardroom and said "I'll only make this if you make these characters black, on my terms". The whole decision probably has little to do with him at all.

[Elandyll]

Originally Posted by binarymelon

How does the source material rely heavily on their ethnicity?

Maybe he means that in that case it implies that Sue Storm would be black?

I am actually not opposed to the change at all (Marvel did a good job imo with Fury), my only concern is if it alters the relations and history of the FF as a group. I would not like them to make Sue and/ or Johny "adopted sibblings" to keep the supposed studio "quota" to 1 colored person in the group. They -have- to be brother and sister for the dynamic of the group imo.
Also I would rather that the FF do not dab into socio-political issues if the director wants to go that way, this has never been what the FFs was about (contrarily to X-Men, Luke Cage or Falcon per example), they are about thwarting Cosmic threats to Earth about on par with the Avengers (cf Galactus, Kang, Dr Doom, Annihilus, etc.).

So in conclusion: If it's about really finding a good match for Johnny's (and by extension Sue's) personality: Why not?
If it's about a soap box to make a socio-political point: No thanks.

P.S: For Sue Storm I was going to suggest Aysha Tyler, but I did not realize that she was already 42

P.P.S: that is one good looking 42 year old btw

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

Maybe he means that in that case it implies that Sue Storm would be black?

I am actually not opposed to the change at all (Marvel did a good job imo with Fury), my only concern is if it alters the relations and history of the FF as a group. I would not like them to make Sue and/ or Johny "adopted sibblings" to keep the supposed studio "quota" to 1 colored person in the group. They -have- to be brother and sister for the dynamic of the group imo.
Also I would rather that the FF do not dab into socio-political issues if the director wants to go that way, this has never been what the FFs was about (contrarily to X-Men, Luke Cage or Falcon per example), they are about thwarting Cosmic threats to Earth about on par with the Avengers (cf Galactus, Kang, Dr Doom, Annihilus, etc.).

So in conclusion: If it's about really finding a good match for Johnny's (and by extension Sue's) personality: Why not?
If it's about a soap box to make a socio-political point: No thanks.

P.S: For Sue Storm I was going to suggest Aysha Tyler, but I did not realize that she was already 42

P.P.S: that is one good looking 42 year old btw

To be fair, the comics make the shift i think as well so there is a precedent but i just think it's 'sloppy' in method to open up the audiences if it makes a difference at all tbh. I mean, i wouldn't suddenly turn around to go watch a movie i had no interest in just because the characters changed from his original ethnicity into mine.

It's stupid to think it makes a big difference and in fact goes far to show how we are developing a stupid ideology on how we should handle ethnic integration and harmony relations. In fact, i'm sure it's a bit counter-intuitive when you go down that route enough times.

Let's see how it all plays out though

[540Blue]

Originally Posted by NoFro

Where's Wallace at? Where the **** is Wallace? WHERE'S WALLACE STRING!?

Great choice

LOL, I was coming in to post that exact same thing

[doctorD]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

P.S: For Sue Storm I was going to suggest Aysha Tyler, but I did not realize that she was already 42

P.P.S: that is one good looking 42 year old btw

If this is the direction they go (and depending on the age cutoff) I wouldn't mind either Rashida Jones or Kandyse McClure

[Forever Knight]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

So I guess Sue Storm will also be black? Way to alienate a lot of Fantastic Four fans before the movie even starts production, Trank.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaactually I think this isn't a bad idea. Instead of an all white team why the **** not mix it up a bit?

I see nothing wrong with this at all to be honest.

Don't forget Alba's Storm was hispanic and Johnny was white so that was a little weird for the original 2 films imo.