8 Superhero Movie Concept Designs Better Than We Actually Got

By Ewan Paterson /

1. The Genuinely Fantastic Four

Dave Rapoza / 20th Century Fox

Josh Trank's ill-fated Fant4stic Four reboot failed on pretty much every level, but it did have the makings of a genuinely compelling story hidden underneath.

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The casting itself was also done well, with Michael B. Jordan shining in particular as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch. There was a clear chemistry between the actors too, but with the film retreading all the mistakes that derailed the first series of films, it just wasn't meant to be.

Dig deeper into the creative process however, and the film's lost potential only becomes more apparent.

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Sporting a more heroic look, and with all the characters in their iconic blue uniforms, Dave Rapoza's concept for the film ticks all the boxes for how the group should've looked on screen. Ultimately, Trank et al. opted for a slightly more horror-tinged approach, with Mister Fantastic having rings around his arms, and Ben Grimm being used as a military weapon.

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Everything was much darker in the end, which put the film at odds with the vision that birthed the characters in the first place. The Fantastic Four were always meant to be a bright and colourful (albeit slightly dysfunctional) family - Trank's film cast them as science experiments let loose.

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Are there any other pieces of concept art you wish made it to the final cut? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!