Fox’s X-Men vs Fantastic Four movie: Everything we know
By Liam Clark
The film would have adapted the Civil War storyline
It was revealed back in 2019 that Fox were building towards a crossover film that would adapt the events of Civil War – the hugely popular 2006 series which pitted superheroes against each other as the government tried to force individuals such as the Avengers, X-Men, Spider-Man and the rest of Earth’s super-powered beings to work for the government.
According to THR, the X-Men vs Fantastic Four film would have seen Johnny Storm incite Fox’s version of the Superhero Registration Act, as the hero accidentally causes damage to Manhattan. As IGN wrote, the film would have seen Storm “going supernova” and ultimately causing the damage that sparks the conflict.
The igniting event would have been similar to the event that kicked off the storyline in both the comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe – which adapted the storyline of the comic series – which sees the New Warriors’ member Nitro explode and kill a vast number of people (including school children) while battling super villains.
Likewise, Captain America: Civil War saw the government presenting the Sokovia Accords to the Avengers after Scarlet Witch accidentally killed numerous Wakandan humanitarian workers when she diverted Crossbones’ explosion in an attempt to save Captain America’s life.
Both conflicts pitted groups led by Iron Man and Captain America against each other, which would have left Fox’s adaptation feeling very different. While the Fantastic Four (particularly Reed Richards) played massive roles in the original comic book storyline, the X-Men elected to stay neutral.
Fox’s film would have seen Marvel’s First Family pitted against the mutants over the Superhero Registration Act, finishing with a climactic battle between Wolverine and Reed Richards, resulting in Reed “extending his hands until they’re one molecule wide, and using them as scissors to cut the mutant’s arms off.”
Even though the superhero teams would have likely made peace by the end of the film, I doubt it may have been a bit awkward between Wolverine and Mr Fantastic after that…