Appearances are everything. Particularly when it it comes to Fox’s upcoming reboot of the Fantastic Four. There has been an intense amount of scrutiny on Josh Trank’s re-imagining of Marvel’s most famous quartet. There have been complaints about the age of the cast, the costumes, the portrayal of Dr. Doom, and most notably the race of Johnny Storm. Almost all of the outcry can be boiled down to a fear that the movie will not feel and look like the traditional Fantastic Four from the comics. 

In a recent interview with Screen Crush, actor Miles Teller talked briefly about the suits that are seen in the latest trailer. The clothing that is featured is intended for practicality and are actually containment suits, designed for each character’s specific ailments. Teller explains the approach to the costuming.

“These are the beta versions of the costumes, which is great […] But, yeah it would be very odd if the Fantastic Four didn’t don the traditional costumes. You’ve got to. There is some servicing there. You’ve got to give that to the fans. That’s what it’s all about.”

There has not been any mention of any other looks in the movie previously, so it may be a slow evolution. Or it could simply be a scene tacked on at the end. The actors and crew did recently reconvene for some re-shoots, so who knows? But honestly, does it really make a difference? It isn’t like kids were running out to dress up as the Fantastic Four for Halloween when the previous movies opened. Much less, you rarely see the Fantastic Four being cosplayed in comic book conventions either. Many have complained about changes to the comic, however it was consistently a low-seller for Marvel Comics before being outright cancelled. So it is great that Teller recognizes the importance of fan service, but how many modern day Fantastic Four fans are there to appease anyways?

The suits are pretty close to the comic book look in the trailer, with alterations made to address each character’s unique mutation. Johnny Storm’s containment suit has air vents to circulate the burning flames that he generates. While Reed Richards has a retracting wire containment suit, presumably to help pull himself together when he stretches. In the comic books they wear bright blue spandex outfits, with a logo with the number “4.” It is hard to imagine how that would fit into Trank’s more grounded approach to the material. Screen Crush speculates that the traditional costumes will not be worn until the very end of the movie. So clearly, do not hinge your enjoyment of the film on the suits, or you will be inevitably disappointed. Besides, be careful what you wish for…you just might get it…

Official Synopsis:

“The Fantastic Four,” a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Fantastic Four opens August 7, 2015.

Do you think that the costumes should look just like the comics? Let us know on the comment boards, , , and !

Source: Screen Crush