**Chronicle **director Josh Trank has made a **Fantastic Four **movie - but not one like the Chris Evans 'n' Jessica Alba version you may remember. This one has Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell in it, for starters, and what's more, it's distinctly less "cartoonish", to quote the director himself. For proof, here are some stills from the upcoming film, straight from the new issue of Empire, on shelves today.
A key difference in this superhero reboot lies in the origins of the characters' powers. In the original Stan Lee/Jack Kirby iteration of the Fantastic Four, the team gains their powers by travelling into space, where they’re bombarded with DNA-altering cosmic rays. But Trank’s film draws more heavily on the Ultimate Fantastic Four, which abandoned space flight in favour of inter-dimensional travel.
Speaking to Empire for the new issue, Trank explains that the general tone of the film is that of a "dark Amblin movie". Writer / producer Simon Kinberg goes on to say that "there was an Amblin-style approach to the characterisation, and to contextualising everything in a real world". In other words, don't expect any skintight blue lycra on these heroes any time soon.
"There's the opportunity to make something that is challenging and tragic and dramatic," adds Trank. "The opportunity is right there in the material. We'd rather steer it in that direction as opposed to just embracing a tone that comes right off the page."
For much more on Fantastic Four, which hits cinemas on August 6, be sure to check out the new issue of Empire. It's the one with Daniel Craig's James Bond on the front. Can't miss it.
{Spectre Front Covers}