FIRST LOOK: MIcheal B Jordan as Johnny Storm in The Fantastic Four

If ever there was a movie that no-one seems interested in it’s The Fantastic Four reboot from Chronicle director Josh Trank.

Nonetheless, we at FTN are holding out hope that maybe, just maybe, there’s a good movie hidden in all the rumours and speculation.

So, without further ado, here’s your first look at Micheal B Jordan as Johnny Storm AKA The Human Torch. Frankly, nothing about the pic says Fantastic Four to us.

Speaking to Collider, Josh Trank has revealed a very odd influence for the movie: “I would say that the science fiction of it is a big thing that sets it apart from most of the other superhero genre films. I’m a huge David Cronenberg fan, and I always viewed Fantastic Four and the kind of weirdness that happens to these characters and how they’re transformed to really fall in line more with a Cronenberg-ian science fiction tale of something horrible happening to your body and [it] transforming out of control.

“And the potential for a hard sci-fi take on that material makes me really excited. I don’t really see that kind of potential and that kind of take being implemented on any of the other superhero movies that seem to be coming out in the next few years. Superhero movies have become a genre unto themselves and I didn’t really grow up on superhero movies. I grew up on genre movies before superhero was a genre.”

without sounding closed-minded, one thing i’ve never associated with FF is Croenberg:  “I think a real misconception people have comes from the adjectives. Fantastic means the tone needs to be fantastical, and we’re talking about fantastical things, but it doesn’t mean “pop.” People need to refresh their understanding of the English language because “fantastical” means The Fly. These are fantastical things that are befalling real people and the realities we see in our everyday lives. There’s something creepy about the fantastical and there’s something inspiring about the fantastical.

“And to have that be birthed out of a reality that we’re familiar with is why we go to the movies. It’s why I go to the movies. I want to see that. And I think it’s lacking these days. It will be cool to bring to a modern audience and introduce young audiences to stuff that I myself not too long ago fell in love with. And that’s why I do what I do today.”

Well, that explains the very understated look to the costume above… we’re still rooting for this but it’s just getting tougher and tougher.

We’re also hearing that the trailer may well debut today. We’ll keep you posted so keep checking back right here.

The Fantastic Four,” a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Kate Mara and Miles Teller will play the titular team in the upcoming film. Toby Kebbell will also appear as Dr. Doom along with Reg E. Cathey as Dr. Franklin Storm and Tim Blake Nelson as Harvey Elder, aka The Mole Man. Directed by Josh Trank, The Fantastic Four is set for release on August 7, 2015.