Chris Columbus Speaks Out: What Really Happened on 'Fantastic Four' 2005

I have to admit, I was surprised to hear this. Chris Columbus, the mind behind Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the first two Harry Potter films, was apparently attached to 2005’s Fantastic Four — only to be abruptly fired before filming even began. He recently explained on the Fade to Black podcast that it all came down to one thing: having "too much of an opinion."

Columbus said he was involved as a writer and executive producer and had ideas about keeping the film true to the comic book’s roots.

"Some of this conceptual art should feel more like Jack Kirby, the creator of the Fantastic Four, and should feel more like the Silver Age of Marvel," he told the director in a meeting.

That meeting ended, and shortly after, Columbus got the call: he was out.

Honestly, I can kind of see it. Big studio productions can be a minefield, and it seems like Columbus’ passion for staying faithful to the comics clashed with Fox’s vision. The resulting film starred Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis, and while it did alright at the box office, critics were less than impressed — 28% on Rotten Tomatoes.

For me, this just adds another layer to how complicated making superhero movies can be. Even someone as talented and experienced as Columbus wasn’t immune to studio politics. It’s wild to think that the first live-action Fantastic Four might have looked very different if he had stayed on.