Fantastic Four Movie Cast Rumors Get Wackier - Vampire Bill as Dr. Doom?

File under amusing but highly unlikely: comicbookmovie.com reports that Marvel is supposedly trying to get Stephen Moyer, True Blood's Vampire Bill, to play Doctor Doom in the Fantastic Four movie reboot that we're all gossiping about to try to distract us from the pending cinematic nightmare that is X-Men: First Class.

The two previous Fantastic Four films, released in 2005 and 2007 respectively, turned a decent profit for 20th Century Fox but received poor reception from both critics and fans. The studio has now decided to take the franchise in a new direction by way of a reboot. The new Fantastic Four franchise will supposedly have a very different tone than the Tim Story directed films; and will feature a completely CGI rendered version of the character The Thing (previously portrayed by a rubber-suit clad Micheal Chiklis).
 

Last week, ScreenRant reported that Fox is currently negotiating with actors Adrian Brody and Johnathan Rhys Meyers for the role of Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic. Today I've learned that the studio is very strongly leaning towards Brody; whose A-list status will help draw greater general audience interest in the project. Another name has now been added to the list, this time it's True Blood star Stephen Moyer. An offer is currently out for the actor to portray the villainous Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom. Though it is still unclear exactly how central the character will be in the film, Doom will be showcased as the ruler of Latveria and a master of the mystic arts. 

More information has also surfaced by way of my inside source at Fox, who tells me that, if all goes as planned, the studio is planning on releasing Fantastic Four in the summer of 2012; which is the same timeframe as Marvel Studios' The Avengers. Though actress Amber Heard was in the early stages of negotiations for the role of Susan Storm/Invisible Woman, former X-Men: First Class actress Alice Eve is now the front runner for the part; as is Kevin Pennington for Johnny Storm/Human Torch. 

The current screenplay for Fantastic Four has the team's origin taking place during the opening credits; ala The Incredible Hulk. The film has yet to sign a director, though meetings have already taken place between the studio and three contenders.

Funny thing is, there's no doubt in my mind that Moyer would run rings around that awful Doctor Doom from the previous FF franchise, Julian McMahon.  That said, this seems awfully unlikely, and in fact Moyer himself has stepped forward to deny it.

It would be kinda neat though, wouldn't it?  I'm sure it would make for a great blooper real: "Soookeh!!! Sorry, I mean Richaaaards!!!"

Comments

[Darius Whiteplume]

I have never been able to get into the FF, and the movies did not help. A CGI Thing might help, as it would keep the "Sid & Marty Krofft" element at a minimum. Hopefully, they will make Reed Richards a bit of a dick, because let's face it; he's a bit of a dick. No one calls themselves "Mr. Fantastic" by accident.

[Comics Cavern]

What you need is to track down a copy of the '90s Roger Corman FF movie they made for like $400.00, as a legal requirement in order to retain the film rights.

That is an all-time classic moment in comic book movie suckitude, but the irony is that, even with no lighting (they couldn't afford it) and a Thing constructed from styrofoam, it holds up better than either of the previous two big-budget FF flicks.

Jessica Alba as a physics genius? I know its comics and you're supposed to suspend disbelief but come on!!

Oh, and yes, although I am FF Fan, Richards is undeniably a dick. Got that fine-ass wife all lonely and trying to raise the kids, and he's locked up in the lab staring at petri dishes.

One of Jonathan Hickman's goals for his run on the book seems to be a personality overhaul in an effort to make Richards more likable.

I don't envy him that task - it ain't gonna be easy.

[Darius Whiteplume]

I think it was Carlos Mencia who said, why take a fine woman like Jessica Alba and make her _invisible_?

I think The Venture Brothers did the best version of the Fantastic Four yet. Only Reed got the cool powers, the rest were horribly disfigured/disabled.

[The Comic Book Listings Blog!]

I still have not seen the first Fantastic Four movie. But if the second is any indication of the first, then I haven't missed anything.

The characters were lame, and the movie lame. Possibly made for three years olds.