Fantastic Four reboot confirmed by Marvel Studios with director Jon Watts taking over at the helm

Ever since the $52 billion acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney last year, fans have been waiting for word on a new Fantastic Four reboot, which was finally confirmed.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige took part in Disney Investor Day on Thursday with a presentation on the studio’s future film and TV slate.

The 47-year-old producer and executive saved the biggest news for last, confirming they are developing a Fantastic Four reboot, with director Jon Watts, the filmmaker behind 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home and the untitled Spider-Man sequel that is currently filming in Atlanta.

Confirmed: Ever since the $52 billion acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney last year, fans have been waiting for word on a new Fantastic Four reboot, which was finally confirmed

Director Jon: The 47-year-old producer and executive saved the biggest news for last, confirming they are developing a Fantastic Four reboot, with director Jon Watts, the filmmaker behind 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home and the untitled Spider-Man sequel that is currently filming in Atlanta

Director Jon: The 47-year-old producer and executive saved the biggest news for last, confirming they are developing a Fantastic Four reboot, with director Jon Watts, the filmmaker behind 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home and the untitled Spider-Man sequel that is currently filming in Atlanta

While no casting or story details were announced, along with who may be writing the script, the studio did reveal the new logo for the superhero adventure.

The news was seemingly inevitable to most fans, given the franchise’s comic book pedigree, and the fact that none of the movie adaptations were major hits.

The Fantastic Four comics debuted in 1961, the first of many iconic collaborations between writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.

Collab: The Fantastic Four comics debuted in 1961, the first of many iconic collaborations between writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby

Collab: The Fantastic Four comics debuted in 1961, the first of many iconic collaborations between writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby

The franchise follows four friends who, after exposure to cosmic rays, were given unique and unimaginable powers. 

Reed Richards (a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic) was given the ability to stretch all of his body parts, while Sue Storm (a.k.a. The Invisible Girl) can make herself invisible and create forcefields.

Sue’s brother Johnny Storm (a.k.a. The Human Torch) can generate flames and even use them to fly, while Ben Grimm (a.k.a. The Thing) was given superhuman strength and practically impenetrable stone-like flesh. 

Four friends: The franchise follows four friends who, after exposure to cosmic rays, were given unique and unimaginable powers

Four friends: The franchise follows four friends who, after exposure to cosmic rays, were given unique and unimaginable powers

20th Century Fox released the first Fantastic Four film in 2005, starring Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic, Jessica Alba as The Invisible Girl, Chris Evans as The Human Torch and Michael Chiklis as The Thing.

The film, directed by Tim Story (Barbershop) fared well at the box office, earning $154.6 million domestically and $333.5 million worldwide from a $100 million budget.

The studio quickly put together the 2007 sequel, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which dropped a bit at the domestic ($131.9 million) and worldwide ($301.9 million) box office, from a $130 million budget.

First team: 20th Century Fox released the first Fantastic Four film in 2005, starring Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic, Jessica Alba as The Invisible Girl, Chris Evans as The Human Torch and Michael Chiklis as The Thing

First team: 20th Century Fox released the first Fantastic Four film in 2005, starring Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic, Jessica Alba as The Invisible Girl, Chris Evans as The Human Torch and Michael Chiklis as The Thing

Sequel: The studio quickly put together the 2007 sequel, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which dropped a bit at the domestic ($131.9 million) and worldwide ($301.9 million) box office, from a $130 million budget

Sequel: The studio quickly put together the 2007 sequel, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which dropped a bit at the domestic ($131.9 million) and worldwide ($301.9 million) box office, from a $130 million budget

The franchise laid dormant for a few years before the studio rebooted it in 2015, with a cast of young stars such as Miles Teller (Mr. Fantastic), Michael B. Jordan (The Human Torch), Kate Mara (The Invisible Girl) and Jamie Bell (The Thing).

Plagued by awful reviews (9% on Rotten Tomatoes) and reports of behind-the-scenes turmoil with the cast and director Josh Trank, Fantastic 4 was practically dead on arrival.

The reboot earned just $25.6 million in its opening weekend at the box office, en route to just $56.1 million domestic and $167.8 million worldwide from a $120 million budget. 

Reboot: The franchise laid dormant for a few years before the studio rebooted it in 2015, with a cast of young stars such as Miles Teller (Mr. Fantastic), Michael B. Jordan (The Human Torch), Kate Mara (The Invisible Girl) and Jamie Bell (The Thing)

Dead on arrival: Plagued by awful reviews (9% on Rotten Tomatoes) and reports of behind-the-scenes turmoil with the cast and director Josh Trank, Fantastic 4 was practically dead on arrival

Dead on arrival: Plagued by awful reviews (9% on Rotten Tomatoes) and reports of behind-the-scenes turmoil with the cast and director Josh Trank, Fantastic 4 was practically dead on arrival

When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, they also acquired the franchise rights to Fantastic Four, with many fans and prognosticators believing this reboot was inevitable, along with what will likely be an X-Men reboot.

Taking the helm is Watts, who made his feature film debut with the critically-acclaimed indie Cop Car starring Kevin Bacon in 2015 before being brought on to direct Spider-Man: Homecoming, starring Tom Holland, which was a critical (92% on Rotten Tomatoes) and commercial ($880.1 million worldwide) success.

He returned to direct last year’s Spider-Man: Far From Home, which was equally beloved by critics (91% on RT) and fans ($1.1 billion worldwide) alike. 

Reboot: When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, they also acquired the franchise rights to Fantastic Four, with many fans and prognosticators believing this reboot was inevitable, along with what will likely be an X-Men reboot

Reboot: When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, they also acquired the franchise rights to Fantastic Four, with many fans and prognosticators believing this reboot was inevitable, along with what will likely be an X-Men reboot

The third Spider-Man movie, currently filming in Atlanta under Watts’ direction, is shaping up to be the biggest yet.

Tom Holland is returning alongside Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Jacob Batalon and Tony Revolori, though there are also rumors that previous Spider-Man actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield are also starring in the sequel.

The third Spider-Man sequel is slated for release on December 17, 2021 from Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures. 

Director: The third Spider-Man movie, currently filming in Atlanta under Watts' direction, is shaping up to be the biggest yet

Director: The third Spider-Man movie, currently filming in Atlanta under Watts’ direction, is shaping up to be the biggest yet

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