Fox Hires Jeremy Slater to Write ‘Fantastic Four’ Reboot

20th Century Fox has gone young in its attempt to bring Fantastic Four to life in a way that will placate comic fans. After hiring Chronicle director Josh Trank as was confirmed a couple days ago, the studio has paired him with writer Jeremy Slater, whose spec scripts have been impressing studios though none of his work has yet to hit the screen.

Slater has two specs set up at studios at present, according to THR's Heat Vision. First is horror film Tape 4, which centers on the mythology of sci fi/horror master H.P. Lovecraft. Lionsgate and Primal Pictures are producing. The second is a teen spy movie called My Spy, which is currently at Universal with Jake Kasdan (Bad Teacher, TV's New Girl) attached to direct.


The Fantastic Four looks to be the first major superhero franchise to follow the quick reboot formula of Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man. The 2005 film Fantastic Four and 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer received a mediocre reception at best, and it has been the least embraced by comic fans out of all the top-tier hero adaptations.

Candidly, the 2005 film lacked talent and most of all, self-seriousness. Given the realism of Chronicle, expect the trend of darker, grittier comic adaptations to grace Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch and the Thing, as well as a touch of the right kind of wit.