Unraveling the Enigma: The Untold Story of the Unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four Film
Discover the legendary 1994 Fantastic Four film, so infamous that many are unaware of its existence Uncover its intriguing storyline, unravel the mystery behind its unreleased status, and delve into the enigmatic ending that has left fans wondering
Highlights
The 1994 Fantastic Four movie was never intended to be released and was made solely to maintain the film rights to the franchise.
The limited funds for the movie led to a subpar appearance, but promotional efforts were still undertaken before everything came to a stop.
The movie concludes with the Fantastic Four triumphing over Doctor Doom, tying the knot, and driving off as legitimate heroes, prepared to confront any form of villainy.
Marvel and MCU enthusiasts have eagerly awaited the release of the upcoming Fantastic Four film since its initial announcement. Despite previous efforts to establish Marvel's iconic family as a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood, these attempts have received mixed reviews and encountered significant obstacles. However, it is reasonable to believe that they pale in comparison to what Marvel is poised to achieve.
In present times, it is hardly imaginable to go an entire year without being graced by the presence of a superhero film or show. Nonetheless, it is important to keep in mind that not too long ago, superhero content beyond comics, video games, and children's cartoons was a rarity. In the 1990s, there was an actual Fantastic Four movie that was made but largely overlooked by the masses. Nevertheless, a few critics have managed to view the film in its entirety, despite its relative obscurity.
What Is The Unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four Movie About?
Director | Oley Sassone |
|---|---|
Cast | Alex Hyde-White, Jay Underwood, Rebecca Staab, Michael Bailey Smith, Carl Ciarfalio |
Runtime | 90 Minutes |
Budget | $1 Million |
Similar to many other Fantastic Four movies, the 1994 Fantastic Four film presents a distinct origin story for the group and places them against the formidable foe, Doctor Doom. The movie wastes no time in introducing each member of the Fantastic Four and their antagonist. From early on, the rivalry between Reed and Doom is established, stemming from their college days and a failed experiment that appears to have killed Victor Von Doom. However, true fans of the team would know that Doom has a knack for finding a way to survive.
Reed, Susan, Johnny, and Ben embark on a cosmic mission that exposes them to powerful rays emitted by a nearby comet, causing their spaceship to crash back to Earth. The Jeweler, a criminal and secondary antagonist, replaces a portion of the ship with a diamond, leaving the group defenseless. Upon their return, they discover that they have developed extraordinary powers: Reed can stretch, Johnny can envelop himself in fire, Susan can turn invisible, and Ben transforms into a rock-like being known as The Thing.
Soon, they are captured by Doctor Doom, but manage to escape. They struggle to come to terms with their newfound abilities, particularly Ben, who feels like a monstrous outcast. As tensions escalate, The Jeweler and Doctor Doom compete over the stolen diamond, leading Doom to acquire it for his destructive plans. In an attempt to rescue his love interest, Alicia, The Thing reverts back to his human form and fails to stop Doom. With the diamond in Doctor Doom's possession, he can now proceed with his malevolent plan to destroy the world unless the Fantastic Four rises up to stop him.
Why Didn’t The Movie Come Out?
The 1994 Fantastic Four movie never had intentions of being released. This was due to the circumstances surrounding its production. German filmmaker, Bernd Eichinger, acquired the rights to create a Fantastic Four movie in the 1980s. To retain these rights, he was obligated to produce a film, even though it was never meant to reach audiences.
Contrary to modern Marvel films, which boast budgets in the hundreds of millions, rumors suggest that the budget for the 1994 Fantastic Four movie was a mere million dollars. This limited budget resulted in a cheap and dated appearance, even for its time. Surprisingly, this did not prevent the film from being promoted. Impressive trailers were created and marketing efforts were underway, until everything abruptly came to a halt.
The rumors of the movie being produced solely to maintain the movie rights originated from the immediate removal of all related content. Even the esteemed Stan Lee expressed his belief in this speculation. Lee stated, via /Film:
"It is not just in progress, it is nearly completed. I anticipate its release towards the end of this year. However, I do not have high expectations for it. This is the final movie made without Marvel's involvement, as our lawyers simply granted Roger Corman the rights to produce it. We will not be undertaking any similar projects in the future. From now on, we will be handling everything ourselves."
With several different accounts regarding the reasons behind the film's lack of a proper release, the truth remains elusive. The most plausible explanation suggests that it was either produced to retain film rights or its poor reception by executives led them to accept the financial loss in order to protect the integrity of the Fantastic Four brand. Regrettably, the accurate narrative may forever remain a mystery. In 2016, an illuminating documentary titled Doomed!: The Untold Story of Roger Corman's The Fantastic Four aimed to shed light on the troubled production history of this movie.
How Does The Unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four Movie End?
The group has discovered that Doctor Doom is actually Victor Von Doom, a friend of Reed's from college who was thought to be dead. They decide to use their newfound powers to thwart Doom's plans. Doom intends to use a diamond to power a highly destructive weapon that can level New York City. Instead of surrendering, the group confronts Doom at his castle. Despite Doom successfully firing his weapon, the Human Torch manages to prevent any damage. Mr. Fantastic engages in a battle with Doom and eventually knocks him out of an opening. However, Doom clings onto the ledge, and Mr. Fantastic tries to save him. Unfortunately, Doom falls into the mist below, leaving behind only one of his gauntlets that moves on its own. Meanwhile, the Human Torch redirects the laser beam from the weapon away from the city, ensuring no harm befalls New York. Even The Thing finds happiness as Alicia accepts his monstrous appearance.
With Doom vanquished, Reed and Susan tie the knot amidst the presence of their loved ones. The film concludes with heartwarming well-wishes exchanged among the group, as Reed and Susan embark on their journey as newlyweds. As they drive away, one of Reed's elastic limbs playfully protrudes through the sunroof. The Fantastic Four have now established themselves as genuine heroes, fully prepared to confront any malevolence that jeopardizes the world—although Reed requests that any impending threats be considerate enough to wait until after his honeymoon.
Fantastic Four
Created by Jack Kirby, Stan LeeUpcoming Films Fantastic Four (2025)
