I came up with a whole bunch of thoughts about the FF and the MCU that I waned to post somewhere to get them out of my head and documented in the off chance I get things right. I mean, it's worked before...
First of all, I've been a big believer that the entire Marvel Universe (in comics) stands on four pillars:
* The Avengers
* Spider-Man
* The Fantastic Four
* The X-Men
Every single person, place and thing Marvel ever published can be brought back to one of these in less than six degrees of separation. To me, the same can be said about the MCU. Once Marvel Studios/Disney has the rights to all four, they're golden.
Two down, two to go...
Second, I know that I'm assuming the FF will replace Avengers as the "anchor" of the next several phases of the MCU, but I think it's a safe bet.
I started thinking about how the FF would be portrayed within the established MCU. (Note that I said portrayed, not introduced.) And Sue was the first person that came to mind.
Okay. I'm done with the setup. Here's how I think her powers, and character arc would go...
MOVIE #1:
* The first manifestation of her powers would be an invisible bubble.
One of the cheesiest things about Sue from the Tim Story FF films was that her powers defaulted to making her invisible (so she'd have to get naked to sneak past people).
Here, the 'default' would be making everything around her invisible - herself, her clothes, whatever she's holding, the chair she's sitting in...maybe even the entire room she's in. This would also fit in with her personality/character at this time. She's smart, but unsure of herself and how the world would "see" her. Plus, while expensive, the special effect of a bubble of invisibility moving around would be AWESOME.
* The bubble would shrink as her control grew.
Her focus would be on pulling that bubble in; from the room, to the immediate vicinity, to just herself...clothes and all...until we see her make her hand turn visible one layer at a time: bone, blood, muscle and finally skin. She'd be able to make the cup she's holding invisible so you could see the liquid inside it, and make things on the other side of the room invisible without touching them.
* Her ability to generate force fields would come from battle.
Regardless of the villain, (Impossible Man perhaps?) the final battle would cause her to protect her teammates (and herself) from attack. Her instinctive reaction would be to defend, and she'd generate her first shield. That, along with her developed ability to make Reed, Ben and Johnny invisible at will, would be her contributions to their victory.
* She becomes the 'mother' of the family.
As in the books, the FF are a family. As such, Sue takes on the "motherly" role. She's the keeper of the peace and the glue that keeps the family together.
* She becomes the 'mother' of the family.
As in the books, the FF are a family. As such, Sue takes on the "motherly" role. She's the keeper of the peace and the glue that keeps the family together.
* She and Reed would marry by movie's end.
Even if it meant flashing forward six to ten months. They're an established couple at the beginning of the movie, and there's so much going on that there wouldn't be much drama between them. He's a busy scientist and she gets it.
MOVIE #2:
* Sue's pregnant.
The second movie starts with Sue expecting their first child. She's about 8 months along.
* Franklin is born.
This of course brings the family even closer together.
* Enter Namor.
Aquaman proved this could be done. While the antagonist of MOVIE #1 doesn't matter in this discussion, Namor must appear here. It could be his first appearance, or he could have his own film first. Either way, he comes to the surface, is immediately smitten by Sue and attempts to kidnaps her.
* Sue fights back. Hard.
Namor surprises her, but as a new mother her instincts move beyond protecting. She's a momma bear and will fight hard to defend her child. Instead of invisible shields and containers, Sue creates weapons: balls, spikes, daggers, knives, darts. Her creativity moves her to attack more and defend less. She becomes stronger, meaner and more dangerous but all in the name of love for her child. This brings back the 'mother' role from MOVIE #1 but she's become much more of a badass.
* Namor takes Franklin.
This pushes Sue over the edge. She wants her son back and will do what is needed to do so.
*Enter Doom.
Dr. Doom is revealed to be working with/controlling Namor (supporting the thought that he gets his own film first). It turns out he needed Franklin to rescue Doom's mother from wherever.
MOVIE #2:
* Sue's pregnant.
The second movie starts with Sue expecting their first child. She's about 8 months along.
* Franklin is born.
This of course brings the family even closer together.
* Enter Namor.
Aquaman proved this could be done. While the antagonist of MOVIE #1 doesn't matter in this discussion, Namor must appear here. It could be his first appearance, or he could have his own film first. Either way, he comes to the surface, is immediately smitten by Sue and attempts to kidnaps her.
* Sue fights back. Hard.
Namor surprises her, but as a new mother her instincts move beyond protecting. She's a momma bear and will fight hard to defend her child. Instead of invisible shields and containers, Sue creates weapons: balls, spikes, daggers, knives, darts. Her creativity moves her to attack more and defend less. She becomes stronger, meaner and more dangerous but all in the name of love for her child. This brings back the 'mother' role from MOVIE #1 but she's become much more of a badass.
* Namor takes Franklin.
This pushes Sue over the edge. She wants her son back and will do what is needed to do so.
*Enter Doom.
Dr. Doom is revealed to be working with/controlling Namor (supporting the thought that he gets his own film first). It turns out he needed Franklin to rescue Doom's mother from wherever.
* Sue saves the team.
While attempting to rescue Franklin, the team is separated and trapped. Sue becomes stronger than anticipated and frees herself. Then finds her way to the others and unites them in the final fight. Sue would end the fight...by making Doom's mask invisible and showing him his reflection.
* Enter Malice.
The post-credit scene shows Sue possessed by the entity known as Malice. While this may be what made Sue so tough, it would be better if her strength is what drew Malice to her.
MOVIE #3:
* Tension grows between Reed and Sue.
Reed's spending way too much time in his labs, and Sue's getting pissed.
*Sue/Malice becomes the antagonist.
This movie deals with Sue's possession and how the guys figure out a way to stop her without killing her. With Franklin's help, they succeed.
* Enter the Negative Zone.
This could be where Malice came from, thanks to Reek f**king about in his labs.
* Enter Silver Surfer
The post-credit scene is most definitely Norrin Radd's first appearance. He arrives on Earth. That's it.
MOVIE #4:
* Enter Galactus.
This is what everything's been building up to.
Now, with the FF films serving the same purpose as the Avengers films, there would be other films throughout these phases. Maybe Ben helps out Project Pegasus and we get Marvel Boy/Quasar. Maybe we meet the Inhuman Royal Family (for real this time) and they move to the Moon. Maybe Uatu teaches us about the Watchers. Maybe Black Panther shows up in Black Panther 3. Maybe we get the Savage Land, Ka-Zar, Zabu and Shanna the She-Devil. Maybe we get the Microverse. Maybe Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny each get their own film?
Silver Surfer, however, would definitely get his own film after MOVIE #3 to set up his backstory, and it would end exactly the same way MOVIE #3 ends - with his arrival on Earth.
While attempting to rescue Franklin, the team is separated and trapped. Sue becomes stronger than anticipated and frees herself. Then finds her way to the others and unites them in the final fight. Sue would end the fight...by making Doom's mask invisible and showing him his reflection.
* Enter Malice.
The post-credit scene shows Sue possessed by the entity known as Malice. While this may be what made Sue so tough, it would be better if her strength is what drew Malice to her.
MOVIE #3:
* Tension grows between Reed and Sue.
Reed's spending way too much time in his labs, and Sue's getting pissed.
*Sue/Malice becomes the antagonist.
This movie deals with Sue's possession and how the guys figure out a way to stop her without killing her. With Franklin's help, they succeed.
* Enter the Negative Zone.
This could be where Malice came from, thanks to Reek f**king about in his labs.
* Enter Silver Surfer
The post-credit scene is most definitely Norrin Radd's first appearance. He arrives on Earth. That's it.
MOVIE #4:
* Enter Galactus.
This is what everything's been building up to.
Now, with the FF films serving the same purpose as the Avengers films, there would be other films throughout these phases. Maybe Ben helps out Project Pegasus and we get Marvel Boy/Quasar. Maybe we meet the Inhuman Royal Family (for real this time) and they move to the Moon. Maybe Uatu teaches us about the Watchers. Maybe Black Panther shows up in Black Panther 3. Maybe we get the Savage Land, Ka-Zar, Zabu and Shanna the She-Devil. Maybe we get the Microverse. Maybe Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny each get their own film?
Silver Surfer, however, would definitely get his own film after MOVIE #3 to set up his backstory, and it would end exactly the same way MOVIE #3 ends - with his arrival on Earth.
So those are my thoughts. What are yours?
In Marvel Studios I Trust...