In the world of superhero movies, Michael Chiklis’ The Fantastic Four have had a rollercoaster ride in terms of success. The popular Marvel superhero team made its debut on the big screen in 2005, but the movie failed to impress critics and audiences alike.
The film received mixed reviews, and despite its lukewarm performance, a sequel titled Rise of the Silver Surfer was released in 2007. Unfortunately, it too failed to hit the mark, and the franchise was scrapped. In 2015, 20th Century Fox attempted to reboot The Fantastic Four with a darker and grittier tone. However, the movie was met with widespread criticism and flopped at the box office. The studio’s efforts to bring the franchise back to life had fallen flat.
The 2005 adaptation of The Fantastic Four may not have been a box-office success, but it did get a few things right. One of the best decisions the film made was casting Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm/The Thing. Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took the world by storm, comic book legend Stan Lee praised Chiklis as his favorite Marvel character casting, and it’s easy to see why.
Chiklis brought an ironic sense of humor and a layered personality to the role of the Thing, making him one of the standout performances of the film. As the Fantastic Four gear up to make their debut in the MCU in 2023, many questions are swirling around about how the iconic superhero team will be portrayed.
Will it stick closer to the lighter-hearted tone of the 2005 film, or will it take a darker and more brooding approach like the ill-fated 2015 remake? Chiklis has remained close to the franchise since his time in the film. He has some words of advice for whoever takes on the challenge of bringing the Fantastic Four to the big screen next.
Michael Chiklis Talks About His Classic Fantastic Four Role
During an interview with a media outlet, Michael Chiklis offered advice for the next actor to portray the Thing on the silver screen. The actor, who was promoting his upcoming HBO series titled Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, suggested that the use of CGI would be the way to go.
Chiklis went on to reveal that while his experience wearing the Thing’s wardrobe was unforgettable, it was still a challenging one. The suggestion to utilize CGI technology could potentially make the portrayal of the thing less strenuous for the next actor. Chiklis’ comment on the matter was made in good humor, and his recommendation could prove valuable for future productions featuring the beloved Marvel character.
The character known as The Thing has been a fixture of Marvel’s Fantastic Four franchise for decades, and one of the most striking aspects of his appearance is his rocky, orange exterior. In the early 2000s, when actor Michael Chiklis portrayed the character on screen, this effect was achieved through practical prosthetics rather than computer-generated imagery.
It’s difficult to imagine how much time and effort went into every day of filming to transform Chiklis into The Thing. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor described the experience as “being in your torture chamber.” A testament to the discomfort and physical strain involved.
Despite the challenges, Chiklis remains proud of his work on the franchise and spoke about the importance of capturing the spirit of “The Fantastic Four” in any future adaptations. With a new Marvel reboot in the works, fans are eager to see if this beloved superhero team can once again make the transition to the big screen with the same energy and excitement that has made them a cultural icon.
Michael Chiklis, who played The Thing in the 2005 film “Fantastic Four,” recently shared his thoughts on the tone of the franchise. In an interview with Collider, Chiklis stated that the real essence of the “Fantastic Four” is not meant to be dark and brooding and that it should not be compared to “The Dark Knight.”
According to Chiklis, the franchise is not meant to be hardcore and dark. Instead, it was created to be a sweet family film. The character of The Thing was from Brooklyn and was a fan of the Dodgers. Chiklis believes that it is important for the audience to understand that the film should not be forced into a darker tone, as it would be a failure
Michael Chiklis’ comments come as the franchise prepares for a reboot with a new cast. The upcoming film, titled “Fantastic Four,” is set to be released in either 2023 or 2024. The film’s director, Josh Watts, has described the film as a “dark, dramatic, and emotional” take on the classic comic book characters.
However, Chiklis’ advice to not try to make the franchise dark and brooding may still hold. It remains to be seen whether the new “Fantastic Four” will follow Chiklis’ advice or if it will take a different approach to the beloved characters.
