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In the past, the hard-to-economically-portray powers of the Fantastic Four have discouraged studios from investing in this story line, especially after the embarrassing, bootlegged but never officially released 1994 "Fantastic Four." But with the unqualified success of "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" due to improved special effects technology, comicbook-based superhero films have made a comeback in recent years, with Marvel Comics planning to bring over a dozen of its properties to the big screen. Marvel's oldest super-hero team dates to 1961. As the story goes, the Fantastic Four are comprised of Dr. Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic, who has the ability to stretch his body), wife Susan Storm (the Invisible Woman, who can turn invisible and create force fields), her brother Johnny Storm (the Human Torch, who has the ability to control fire) and Benjamin Grimm (the Thing, a super-strong creature). They gained their superpowers after an experimental rocketship ride was bombarded with cosmic rays. Together as the Fantastic Four, they live together in the Baxter Building and battle supervillains such as Mole Man and their metal-masked arch-nemesis, Dr. Victor Von Doom. Yet they also most contend with the pressures of the celebrity status that their special powers bring them.
The movie version will skip most of the back-story and begin in a New York where the team are some of the biggest celebrities in America. Explains scriptwriter Petrie, "To the world outside, they are the world's coolest superheroes. [But] when they get home, they just fight with each other about everything. They order pizzas and argue about who gets the better costumes and stuff like that. It's a family comedy when they get behind closed doors." The foursome will be tackling their toughest villian, Dr. Doom. Petrie also revealed his wish list for the film's cast: Alexis Denisof (Angel) and Charlize Theron as Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, Paul Walker as The Human Torch, John C. Reilly as the voice of The Thing, and Jude Law as Dr. Doom. Production is scheduled to start in 2003 for a release in the summer of 2004.
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