Now that all the casting rumors and speculation are a thing of the past, fans were ready to get some straight answers as to why it took so long for “Fantastic Four” to make it to the big screen and how this project will remain true to the source material. Arad, director Tim Story, and “Fantastic Four” stars Michael Chiklis (‘The Thing’), Jessica Alba (‘The Invisible Girl’) and Ioan Gruffudd (‘Mr. Fantastic’) did their best to assure the crowd “Fantastic Four” will be everything they expect it to be - and more.
After facing the massive crowd, Chiklis, Alba and Gruffudd sat down with a handful of journalists to answer even more probing questions:
It sounds like from what Avi Arad and director Tim Story have said, you’re trying to do this treatment of “Fantastic Four” the way the public deserves to have it done.
MICHAEL CHIKLIS: That’s what it is all about. I - I think among us - was the fan of and the most aware of the “Fantastic Four” growing up. Of course, that makes me the oldest (laughing). You know, I really truly was a fan and I think that we’re all aware of how rabid the fans are, how aware they are of every nuance and every aspect of this – more familiar than we are about it. I’m a fan. Like I said downstairs in the press conference, I thought I was a fan until you come here and you realize people can quote just about every episode number. It’s taken to an extreme so, you know, I think we all feel the weight of it. But at the same time, we’re so thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in it that we’re just going to have a blast and we’re going to do it right and enjoy it.
Do you see any similarities between this character and other characters you've played, like the one on “The Shield?”
MICHAEL CHIKLIS: Interestingly, yeah. There are some similarities. This is a guy who can be very scary and also be really likeable and downright cuddly. So, yeah, there’s kind of a through-line in that way. But you know, his problems – meaning Ben Grimm/The Thing’s problems – are different certainly than that of Vic Mackey or other characters I’ve played. There are broadstroke similarities and some specific differences.
In a recent interview, Avi Arad said the story for this “Fantastic Four” would follow more the story in the “Ultimate Fantastic Four,” which is very different. As a fan, can you talk about how that’s a departure and a new way of looking at the team?
MICHAEL CHIKLIS: No, in a word. I can’t... I’m not nearly as familiar as I thought I was. I was just a kid who loved comics. I didn’t study them. I didn’t memorize them, I liked them. I had a particular affinity for Benjamin Grimm, for The Thing, just because I related to him. I could understand, you know, a guy feeling like unattractive and feeling like he’s kind of on the outs, but yet feeling like you had something to offer. And feeling like there was something that you could do, and having a good inside of you and all of that. So I just liked him on a personal level, you know so… As far as the nuances between this version and that version, you are much better off asking Avi than I or Tim [Story].
Jessica, can you talk about your character and the aspect of her being the peacemaker of the group? She’s always trying to mediate fights between Ben and Johnny.
JESSICA ALBA: Yeah, The Thing and Johnny - and keep Ben from strangling his best friend for making him the way he is, and from Doom, you know, becoming a maniacal, evil bad guy. She keeps trying to keep everybody together. She just wants everyone to be okay. It seems like when she’s trying to do that, everyone is so caught up in their problems that’s when she disappears. And so it’s very metaphorical. I love it. I’m not that familiar with the comic book and I read the script, and it’s just great. It’s just about family and it’s so hopeful. With so many families breaking up and with so many people so quick to sue people and to go and fight and go to war and do all these things, this is just about solving problems.
