'Fantastic Four' latest trailer: Why fans should feel good about reboot

The upcoming version of 'Fantastic Four' is coming at a time when Marvel has shown that most of its movies will be satisfying creatively. In addition, the new film is helmed by a director who has already shown he can make a mostly critically-praised movie about superheroes.

April 3, 2015

A new trailer for the upcoming “Fantastic Four” movie has more to offer fans.

While some components of the international “Fantastic” trailer are the same as a trailer already released, new sections of the international trailer include superhero the Human Torch (Michael B. Jordan) showing off his powers. Check out the full trailer above.

“Fantastic Four” stars Miles Teller of “The Divergent Series: Insurgent” as scientist Reed Richards, who becomes Mr. Fantastic, with the power to stretch; Kate Mara of “House of Cards” as Susan Storm, who becomes known as the Invisible Woman; “Turn” actor Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm, or the Thing, who develops thick skin and strength; and Mr. Jordan of “Fruitvale Station” as Johnny Storm, or the Human Torch, who can generate fire and be unharmed by it.

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The “Fantastic Four” superhero team was adapted for film in 2005 with a movie starring actors Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, and Chris Evans (who would later go on to play Captain America in the Marvel universe). However, the movie received poor reviews and a 2007 sequel, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” was also not critically well-received.

So what should make fans more confident about this iteration of the superhero group? For one, Marvel's recent track record. Before 2008's “Iron Man,” which was a box office smash and well-received critically, Marvel Studios did co-productions with other studios, and those co-productions are a mixed bag quality-wise. Movies like “X-Men,” “X-2,” “Spider-Man,” and “Spider-Man 2” were well-received, but films like “Daredevil,” “Hulk,” “Elektra,” “Ghost Rider,” "Spider-Man 3," and “X-Men: The Last Stand” didn't do as well with reviewers.

Marvel turned it around, though, with “Iron Man.” Since then, almost every movie has been mostly praised by reviewers, with “Iron Man 2” and the “Thor” movies being some exceptions. 

In addition, “Fantastic Four” director Josh Trank has already been mostly critically praised for his film take on superheroes – the director helmed the 2012 movie “Chronicle,” which follows a group of high school students (including one played by Jordan) who develop superpowers. Variety critic Peter Debruge wrote of the film, “Blending the found-footage fad with a chilling commentary on the effects of bullying, Josh Trank's 'Chronicle' presents as plausible a portrait of the way three teens might react to gaining psychic powers as one could hope… [the film includes] Max Landis' keen script (conceived in partnership with director Trank)… Trank's approach shows considerable ingenuity on a tight budget.”