Years ago, Marvel struck a deal to bring the Fantastic Four to the big screen with a contract that had no end date as long as the FF movies kept coming. That deal was with Constantin Film, a German production company that later signed a distribution pact with 20th Century Fox. Despite the imminent merger of Disney and Fox, Constantin Film’s deal appears to insure that the cinematic rights to the Fantastic Four won’t automatically revert to Marvel Studios. But today’s Nerdist News is going to explain why that doesn’t necessarily mean Doom for the first family of superheroes.
Join host and H.E.R.B.I.E.’s replacement, Jessica Chobot, as she runs down the occasionally confusing cinematic journey of the Fantastic Four. Old school fans may recall that there was a Roger Corman directed Fantastic Four film in the ’90s that was never released…and for good reasons! Constantin Film only produced that movie to hang on to the rights, and Marvel reportedly paid to make sure that adaptation was never released.
Apparently, there is some question as to whether the current distribution agreement will remain valid once Fox’s assets are acquired by Disney. Fox was the driving force behind the first two Fantastic Four films that saw the light of day, as well as the critically reviled 2015 reboot that no one seems to love. Comic book movie fans have held out hope that Fox and Marvel Studios could work out an arrangement that would let the FF into the MCU. That would also pave the way for the Fantastic Four’s stellar line up of villains to also come over, including Doctor Doom and Galactus.
The good news is that a new deal with Constantin Film could still be reached, which would essentially accomplish the same thing. Alternately, there’s also a chance that Disney could buy out Constantin Film’s contract as well. After all, once Disney drops $60 billion or more for Fox, what’s a few extra billion to finally get the FF as well?
Are you eager to see the Fantastic Four enter the MCU? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!
Images: 20th Century Fox
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