Mr Fantastic isn’t quite as he seems in the new Fantastic Four movie… as they’ve given him a weird new version of his powers.
According to the official website, Reed Richards does not simply stretch his limbs… instead, he warps the fabric of space around his body.
“Reed Richards is a scientific prodigy who has been quietly exploring the universe’s deepest mysteries in his garage, after school. After being transformed by one of his experiments, he can warp the space around him, and appear to stretch his body into impossible forms and to incredible lengths.”
Of course, this is a wild departure from the character’s comic book origins… and while Richards still appears to stretch his limbs like the original Mr Fantastic, this new, pseudo-scientific explanation just sounds a bit off.
I mean, does a comic book character such as Richards really need a more scientific-sounding explanation of his powers? More to the point, is it even necessary?
I can’t help thinking that this is just the addition of a pointless bit of fluff… and it serves no purpose in terms of the movie itself. If he looks like he’s stretching his limbs and acts like he is… does it really need another explanation?
But Richards isn’t the only one who’s detailed on the new website. In fact, the entire team are given a quick rundown. And other than Reed’s weird powers, it seems like a fairly standard take on Marvel’s iconic heroes.
“Sue is brilliant and beautiful, independent and sarcastic. The power to become invisible and to generate her own force-fields can make her harder to reach than ever – but that won’t stop some of her teammates, especially Reed, from trying.”
“A troublemaker and a thrill-seeker, Johnny is the rock star of the team. His powers allow him to shoot fireballs, fly at breakneck speeds and really light it up.”
“A rare breed brawn and heart, Ben is warm, even sensitive, despite his rough-and-tumble upbringing. He is rock solid – in more ways than one. A loyal and protective friend, his stone body gives him epic strength and makes him virtually indestructible.”
But what does this new description mean for the Fantastic Four? Will we see even more pseudo-science creeping into their origins?
For now, we’ll have to wait and see. But let’s hope it’s not all unnecessary fluff.
Fantastic Four heads to cinemas on 6 August 2015.
What do you think of Reed’s weird new power? Will there be any other odd changes in the new Fantastic Four movie? Let us know what you think in the comments below…
