History WhatCouldHaveBeen / FantasticFourDuology

* Creator/ChrisColumbus, [[Film/ScoobyDoo Raja Gosnell]], [[Film/GeorgeOfTheJungle Sam Weisman]], [[Film/FiftyFirstDates Peter Segal]] and Creator/PeytonReed were also offered the job before Creator/TimStory was hired. Reed would eventually go on to direct [[Film/AntMan1 three]] [[Film/AntManAndTheWasp Ant-Man]] [[Film/AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania films]] set within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

* Creator/TimothyOlyphant, Creator/GarySinise and Creator/DjimonHounsou auditioned for the role of the Comicbook/SilverSurfer before Creator/LaurenceFishburne was cast. Hounsou was later cast as ComicBook/BlackPanther in the film's cancelled sequel, and would eventually portray Korath the Pursuer in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

** Creator/DjimonHounsou would've portrayed ComicBook/BlackPanther[[note]]Story stated he would've been up for a third and fourth movie, and would've introduced Panther sometime[[/note]]. Hounsou would later go on to portray [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014 Korath]] [[Film/CaptainMarvel2019 the Pursuer]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, and Black Panther was [[Film/BlackPanther2018 later adapted]] in said universe, portrayed by Creator/ChadwickBoseman, though Hounsou did got the chance to play T'Challa in the animated series ''WesternAnimation/BlackPanther''. It's also possible that this could've led to the films becoming part of a SharedUniverse with the Film/XMenFilmSeries, since Black Panther was married to Storm in the comics, and Fox owning the film rights to both franchises at the time.

* Creator/PaulWalker was considered for the part of [[ComicBook/HumanTorch Johnny Storm]] before Creator/ChrisEvans was cast.

* Creator/NicolasCage was originally chosen for [[ComicBook/DoctorDoom Victor Von Doom]] before Creator/JulianMcMahon was cast, with [[https://www.cbr.com/fantastic-4-concept-body-horror-dr-doom-nicolas-cage ConceptArt even being made of him as the character]]. However, Cage dropped out of the project due to undisclosed reasons. Cage would eventually go on to portray [[ComicBook/GhostRider Johnny Blaze]] in [[Film/GhostRider2007 two Ghost]] [[Film/GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance Rider movies]].

* Creator/ChrisColumbus, [[Film/ScoobyDoo Raja Gosnell]], [[Film/GeorgeOfTheJungle Sam Weisman]], [[Film/FiftyFirstDates Peter Segal]] and Creator/PeytonReed were also offered the job before Creator/TimStory was hired. Reed would eventually go on to direct ''Film/AntMan1'' and ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'' set within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

* Creator/ChrisColumbus, [[Film/ScoobyDoo Raja Gosnell]], [[Film/GeorgeOfTheJungle Sam Weisman]], [[Film/FiftyFirstDates Peter Segal]] and Creator/PeytonReed were also offered the job before Creator/TimStory was hired. Reed would eventually go on to direct ''Film/AntMan'' and ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'' set within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

[[caption-width-right:350:Early concept art for ComicBook/TheThing]]

* Creator/NicolasCage was originally chosen for [[ComicBook/DoctorDoom Victor Von Doom]] before Creator/JulianMcMahon was cast, with [[https://www.cbr.com/fantastic-4-concept-body-horror-dr-doom-nicolas-cage concept art even being made of him as the character]]. However, Cage dropped out of the project due to undisclosed reasons. Cage would eventually go on to portray [[ComicBook/GhostRider Johnny Blaze]] in [[Film/GhostRider2007 two Ghost]] [[Film/GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance Rider movies]].

* Creator/NicolasCage was originally chosen for [[ComicBook/DoctorDoom Victor Von Doom]] before Creator/JulianMcMahon was cast, with [[https://www.cbr.com/fantastic-4-concept-body-horror-dr-doom-nicolas-cage concept art even being made of him as the character]]. However, Cage dropped out of the project due to undisclosed reasons. Cage would eventually go on to portray [[ComicBook/GhostRider Johnny Blaze]] in [[Film/GhostRider two Ghost]] [[Film/GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance Rider movies]].

* Creator/HughJackman was initially offered the role of [[ComicBook/MisterFantastic Reed Richards]] before Creator/IoanGruffudd was cast, but turned it down due to his commitments to the Film/XMenFilmSeries. Jackman would go on to have a cameo in the film as Comicbook/{{Wolverine}}, when Reed accidentally morphs into him.

* Creator/AliLarter, Creator/JuliaStiles, Creator/KateBosworth, Creator/ElizabethBanks, Creator/RachelMcAdams and Creator/ScarlettJohansson were considered for the role of [[ComicBook/InvisibleWoman Susan Storm]] before the casting of Creator/JessicaAlba. [=McAdams=] and Johansson would later go on to portray [[DerailingLoveInterests Christine Palmer]] and [[Comicbook/BlackWidow Natasha Romanoff]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

* Creator/NicolasCage was originally chosen for [[Comicbook/DoctorDoom Victor Von Doom]] before Creator/JulianMcMahon was cast, with [[https://www.cbr.com/fantastic-4-concept-body-horror-dr-doom-nicolas-cage concept art even being made of him as the character]]. However, Cage dropped out of the project due to undisclosed reasons. Cage would eventually go on to portray [[Comicbook/GhostRider Johnny Blaze]] in [[Film/GhostRider two Ghost]] [[Film/GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance Rider movies]].
** Creator/MelGibson, Creator/TimRobbins and Creator/RobertDowneyJr were also approached for the part of Victor Von Doom before the casting of [=McMahon=]. Downey would later play [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

** Creator/DjimonHounsou would've portrayed ComicBook/BlackPanther[[note]]Story stated he would've been up for a third and fourth movie, and would've introduced Panther sometime[[/note]]. Hounsou would later go on to portray [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Korath]] [[Film/CaptainMarvel2019 the Pursuer]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, and Black Panther was [[Film/BlackPanther2018 later adapted]] in said universe, portrayed by Creator/ChadwickBoseman, though Hounsou did got the chance to play T'Challa in the animated series ''WesternAnimation/BlackPanther''. It's also possible that this could've led to the films becoming part of a SharedUniverse with the Film/XMenFilmSeries, since Black Panther was married to Storm in the comics, and Fox owning the film rights to both franchises at the time.

* Creator/ChrisColumbus, [[Film/ScoobyDoo Raja Gosnell]], [[Film/GeorgeOfTheJungle Sam Weisman]], [[Film/FiftyFirstDates Peter Segal]], and Creator/PeytonReed were also offered the job before Creator/TimStory was hired. Reed would eventually go on to direct ''Film/AntMan'' and ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'' set within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

** Creator/GeorgeClooney, Creator/BrendanFraser, and Creator/PatrickWilson were considered for the part of Reed Richards as well before the casting of Gruffudd.
* Creator/AliLarter, Creator/JuliaStiles, Creator/KateBosworth, Creator/ElizabethBanks, Creator/RachelMcAdams, and Creator/ScarlettJohansson were considered for the role of [[ComicBook/InvisibleWoman Susan Storm]] before the casting of Creator/JessicaAlba. [=McAdams=] and Johansson would later go on to portray [[DerailingLoveInterests Christine Palmer]] and [[Comicbook/BlackWidow Natasha Romanoff]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

** Creator/MelGibson, Creator/TimRobbins, and Creator/RobertDowneyJr were also approached for the part of Victor Von Doom before the casting of [=McMahon=]. Downey would later play [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

* Creator/TimothyOlyphant, Creator/GarySinise, and Creator/DjimonHounsou auditioned for the role of the Comicbook/SilverSurfer before Creator/LaurenceFishburne was cast. Hounsou was later cast as ComicBook/BlackPanther in the film's cancelled sequel, and would eventually portray Korath the Pursuer in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

* In the script, the license plate on the car of the female driver Johnny kissed at the beginning reads: FRANKIE. Which would imply that the woman was intended to be Frankie Raye, until the character makes her appearance in the sequel.

* In the script, the license plate on the car of the female driver Johnny kissed at the beginning reads: FRANKIE. Which would imply that the woman was intended to be Frankie Raye, until she makes her official appearance in the sequel.

* It was scripted that Ben would pick up the ring and look on as Debbie walks out of his life. But since the costume makes it difficult to pick it up, they decide to run with it to make it more heartbreaking that Ben can no longer even do something as simple as picking up a ring in his new form.

** Creator/DjimonHounsou would've portrayed ComicBook/BlackPanther. Hounsou would later go on to portray [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Korath]] [[Film/CaptainMarvel2019 the Pursuer]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, and Black Panther was [[Film/BlackPanther2018 later adapted]] in said universe, portrayed by Creator/ChadwickBoseman[[note]]Story stated he would've been up for a third and fourth movie, and would've introduced Panther sometime; whether it would've been the third or the fourth has never been stated[[/note]], though Hounsou did got the chance to play T'Challa in the animated series ''WesternAnimation/BlackPanther''. It's also possible that this could've led to the films becoming a SharedUniverse with the Film/XMenFilmSeries, since Black Panther is married to Storm in the comics, not to mention Fox owning the rights to both.

** The late Don Payne (writer of ''Rise of the Silver Surfer'', who would later go on to write ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'') mentioned that while he never discussed a sequel, he did have a love for the Inhumans, the Skrulls, the Puppet Master, Annihilus, and the Negative Zone. Combined with the aforementioned statement about Alicia having more screentime, it's likely that the third film would've featured The Puppet Master (her father, and a longtime villain of the Four) in some capacity. Though it's unclear if the Puppet Master would [[RaceLift also have been black]] (while he remained white in the 2005 video game adaptation).

** Creator/MelGibson, Creator/TimRobbins, and Creator/RobertDowneyJr were also approached for the part of Victor Von Doom before the casting of [=McMahon=]. Downey would later play [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] in in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

** Creator/MelGibson, Creator/TimRobbins, and Creator/RobertDowneyJr were also approached for the part of Victor Von Doom before the casting of [=McMahon=]. Downey would later go on to play [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] in in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

** Creator/MelGibson, Creator/TimRobbins, and Creator/RobertDowneyJr were also approached for the part of Victor Von Doom before the casting of [=McMahon=]. Downey would eventually go on to play [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] in in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.
* Creator/ChrisColumbus, [[Film/ScoobyDoo Raja Gosnell]], [[Film/GeorgeOfTheJungle Sam Weisman]], [[Film/FiftyFirstDates Peter Segal]], and Creator/PeytonReed were also offered the job before Creator/TimStory was hired. Reed would later go on to direct ''Film/AntMan'' and ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'' set within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

* Creator/HughJackman was initially offered the role of [[ComicBook/MisterFantastic Reed Richards]] before Creator/IoanGruffudd was cast, but turned it down due to his commitments to the Film/XMenFilmSeries. Funnily enough, Jackman would have a cameo in the film as Comicbook/{{Wolverine}}, when Reed accidentally morphs into him.
** Creator/GeorgeClooney, Creator/BrendanFraser, and Creator/PatrickWilson were also considered for the part of Mister Fantastic before the casting of Gruffudd.

** Creator/MelGibson, Creator/TimRobbins, and Creator/RobertDowneyJr were approached for the part of Victor Von Doom as well before the casting of [=McMahon=]. Downey would eventually go on to play [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] in in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

** Creator/GeorgeClooney, Creator/BrendanFraser, and Creator/PatrickWilson were considered for the part of Mister Fantastic as well before the casting of Gruffudd.

* Creator/DavidBoreanaz, Creator/JamesGandolfini, Creator/NathanFillion and Creator/BruceWillis were considered for the role of [[ComicBook/TheThing Ben Grimm]] before the casting of Creator/MichaelChiklis.

** Creator/MelGibson, Creator/TimRobbins, and Creator/RobertDowneyJr were also approached for the part of Victor Von Doom before the casting of [=McMahon=]. Downey would later play [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] in in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.
* Creator/ChrisColumbus, [[Film/ScoobyDoo Raja Gosnell]], [[Film/GeorgeOfTheJungle Sam Weisman]], [[Film/FiftyFirstDates Peter Segal]], and Creator/PeytonReed were also offered the job before Creator/TimStory was hired. Reed would eventually go on to direct ''Film/AntMan'' and ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'' set within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

* Creator/HughJackman was initially offered the role of [[ComicBook/MisterFantastic Reed Richards]] before Creator/IoanGruffudd was cast, but turned it down due to his commitments to the Film/XMenFilmSeries. Funnily enough, Jackman would have a cameo in the film as Comicbook/{{Wolverine}} when Reed accidentally morphs into him.
** Creator/GeorgeClooney, Creator/BrendanFraser, and Creator/PatrickWilson were considered for Mister Fantastic as well before the casting of Gruffudd.
* Creator/AliLarter, Creator/JuliaStiles, Creator/KateBosworth, Creator/ElizabethBanks, Creator/RachelMcAdams, and Creator/ScarlettJohansson were considered for the part of [[ComicBook/InvisibleWoman Susan Storm]] before the casting of Creator/JessicaAlba. [=McAdams=] and Johansson would later go on to portray [[DerailingLoveInterests Christine Palmer]] and [[Comicbook/BlackWidow Natasha Romanoff]] respectively in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.
* Creator/PaulWalker was considered for the role of [[ComicBook/HumanTorch Johnny Storm]] before Creator/ChrisEvans was cast.
* Creator/DavidBoreanaz, Creator/JamesGandolfini, Creator/NathanFillion and Creator/BruceWillis were considered for the part of [[ComicBook/TheThing Ben Grimm]] before the casting of Creator/MichaelChiklis.

* Creator/RobertDowneyJr was almost cast as Doctor Doom by Marvel.
* Creator/SeanAstin was considered to direct and he wanted either Music/ChristinaAguilera or Creator/CameronDiaz to play Sue Storm. His reasoning for wanting to direct it, despite never having directed a feature before nor read any of the comics, was that he wanted to step up in filmmaking and felt that this would allow him to leave a mark. Despite not getting the job, Tom Rothman was impressed with his determination and hoped to work with him on a future project. Creator/ChrisColumbus, [[Film/ScoobyDoo Raja Gosnell]], [[Film/GeorgeOfTheJungle Sam Weisman]], [[Film/FiftyFirstDates Peter Segal]], and Creator/PeytonReed were also offered the job before Creator/TimStory was hired. Reed would eventually go on to direct ''Film/AntMan'' and ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'' set within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

* Creator/ChrisColumbus, [[Film/ScoobyDoo Raja Gosnell]], [[Film/GeorgeOfTheJungle Sam Weisman]], [[Film/FiftyFirstDates Peter Segal]], and Creator/PeytonReed were offered to direct the film before Creator/TimStory was hired. Reed would eventually go on to direct ''Film/AntMan'' and ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'' set within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

* It was scripted that Ben would pick up the ring and look on as Debbie walks out of his life. But since the costume makes it difficult to pick it up, they decide to run with it to make it more heartbreaking that Ben can no longer even do something as simple as picking up a ring.

* According to the DVD commentary, the cast expressed that they wished they could have had more lines with Stan Lee as Willie Lumpkin, like "How's your wife?", "How're your grandkids?", or "How's your health?".

** Creator/DjimonHounsou would've portrayed ComicBook/BlackPanther. Hounsou would later go on to portray [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Korath]] [[Film/CaptainMarvel2019 the Pursuer]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, and Black Panther was [[Film/BlackPanther2018 later adapted]] in said universe, portrayed by Creator/ChadwickBoseman[[note]]Story stated he would've been up for a third and fourth movie, and would've introduced Panther sometime; whether it would've been the third or the fourth has never been stated[[/note]], thrpugth Hounsou did got the chance to play T'Challa in the animated series ''WesternAnimation/BlackPanther''. It's also possible that this could've led to the films becoming a SharedUniverse with the Film/XMenFilmSeries, since Black Panther is married to Storm in the comics, not to mention Fox owning the rights to both.

* For that matter, Story has said he would've been up for directing not just a third film, but a ''fourth'' film as well. It's likely because Fox felt that a third Story ''Fantastic 4'' movie wouldn't be worth the investment that led them to reboot the franchise and give it to Creator/JoshTrank (ironically, his film ended up being a BoxOfficeBomb).

* In the script, the license plate on the car of the female driver Johnny kissed at the beginning reads: FRANKIE. Implying the woman was intended to be Frankie Raye, until she makes her official appearance in the sequel.

* ComicBook/NickFury was originally planned to be in the film, but Fox eventually did not want to pay more money to get the film rights for the chraracter, so General Hager was made instead; however, some of Fury's lines from ''Ultimate Destruction #3'' were used for this character.

* According to Tim Story, Galactus' true form was purposefully obscured in order to fully reveal the character's appearance in a [[https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/07/28/sdcc-07-jms-sheds-light-on-silver-surfer-movie Silver Surfer spin-off movie]] (though it's unclear if he would return or only appear in flashbacks). [[https://filmsketchr.blogspot.com/2013/09/exclusive-what-galactus-almost-looked.html?m=1#.UkpIzhCM0R_ Concept art]] for ''Rise of the Silver Surfer'' shows Galactus' silhouette a lot more clearly.