The 20th Century Fox era of Marvel comes to a close this weekend with “Dark Phoenix,” the twelfth and final iteration of the “X-Men” series under producer Simon Kinberg. And incidentally, it’s going out with a dismal whimper—the worst box office weekend opening in “X-Men” history with an estimated $37 million debut.
Perhaps with “X-Men” taking a bow, people are recalling and remembering what might have been. One of those stories has come recently from “X-Men: First Class” writer Zack Stentz who recently revealed that Fox had hired him and then-partner Ashley Edward Miller to write a gigantic X-men/Fantastic Four crossover movie that included Daredevil and Deadpool and virtually every single major character Fox owned at the time. Stentz didn’t reveal much else, a title, a plot or anything, but did note the script was written circa 2011, the year of “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” and before Marvel’s “The Avengers” super team-up had hit the screens.
Well, THR has inched that story forward a little bit in their weekly newsletter revealing some details of the mooted crossover movie. It turns out the plan was made in 2010, and the script was probably read the next year, and the film took a lot from the Civil War/Mark Millar comic book storyline, also adapted for “Captain America: Civil War.” Here’s THR’s breakdown of the storyline.
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In 2010, according to our secret sources, Fox considered building toward a crossover movie that would have pitted the X-Men against the Fantastic Four (think of it as a Civil War for the Fox/Marvel characters). The studio enlisted First Class screenwriters Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz to pen the script, which saw Johnny Storm go nova while trying to apprehend the villain, Molecule Man. Johnny blows a hole in Manhattan and sparks the superhero registration act in response to the carnage.
The heroes are split into opposing sides, and among the key matchups was a Wolverine vs. Mr. Fantastic battle that ended with Reed Richards pinning Wolverine down, extending his hands until they’re one molecule wide, and using them as scissors to cut the mutant’s arms off (!!!). Eventually, the heroes make peace … leading to a post-credits scene that teases what’s next: A Skrull invasion.
‘Bourne’ director Paul Greengrass flirted with the idea for a little bit, was ultimately not convinced, moved on and obviously, the film was never made, though clearly, Fox liked Stentz and Miller as they also wrote 2011’s “X-Men: First Class.” Why wasn’t it made with another director? Probably the timing. ‘First Class’ rebooted the “X-Men” franchise as a prequel and set most of it primarily in 1962. Crossing over with Fantastic Four sounds like a more modern story, and would have messed with the plan to include each subsequent X-Men sequel in a different decade.
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Most studios were also watching the Marvel method of building to a big crossover event movie rather than just fast forwarding to one immediately (the way “Batman V. Superman” floundered) and may have thought X-Men/Fantastic Four/Daredevil/Deadpool with no lead-up may have been odd.
But regardless, they were trying nonetheless. THR says this wasn’t the only Fox Civil War crossover movie they tried to make and another script treatment was commissioned from superstar comics writer Warren Ellis for a similar story.
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At best these scripts will leak, and we’ll see what was planned, but with Marvel taking control of X-Men and Fantastic Four, it’s doubtful we’re going to see that kind of storyline anytime soon. Rumors are currently swirling that “Ant-Man” director Peyton Reed has been pitching a “Fantastic Four” movie with a mooted 2022 release date, but there’s little to back that up, other than unsubstantiated internet chatter. San Diego Comic-Con is around the corner in July and Marvel’s Phase 4 plans will likely be revealed, but I’d bet we’re going to hear about films like “Black Widow,” “The Eternals,” “Shang-Chi,” “Black Panther 2,” and “Doctor Strange 2” before we hear anything about Marvel’s plans for the formerly owned Fox universe.
