FLAME ON (AGAIN)! Fox Makes 'Fantastic Four' Reboot Official With 'Chronicle' Director at the Helm

Like Sony and Spider-Man, FOX has to reboot its Fantastic Four property soon or else it'll lose comics' first superhero family to Disney and Marvel. While that scenario is probably the one we're all rooting for (because who wouldn't love to see the Fantastic Four and the Avengers in the same film?), FOX isn't going to let that happen. Deadline is reporting that FOX has named Chronicle director Josh Trank as the man in charge of the Fantastic Four reboot.

Fantastic Four, which will include a new cast, falls into line after The Wolverine sequel that starts production shortly, and the Matthew Vaughn-directed X-Men: First Class, which is also on a fast track. After Trank’s breakthrough with the Fox sleeper hit Chronicle he has been offered everything and attached himself to several projects. But I’m told that Fox expects Fantastic Four to be the next film he directs.

If you haven't seen Chronicle yet, add it to your list of must-sees. It's fantastic. Trank deserves whatever film he gets because of the job he did with Chronicle, and there are few bigger superhero franchises out there than the Fantastic Four. FOX originally made the mistake of putting Tim Story, the director behind Barbershop and Taxi (the Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah one), in charge of their last Fantastic Four go-around. Those films were awful. Trank has shown that he can skillfully craft an original superhero tale, so I already have higher hopes for this version.

The rebooted Fantastic Four will, of course, have a new cast. Chris Evans has moved on to Captain America, which is unfortunate since his Human Torch was the best character in the two Fantastic Four movies. FOX will recast everyone, so start guessing which lucky actors and actress get to follow in the footsteps of Jessica Alba and crew.