It looks like Fox’s troubled Fantastic Fourfranchise to be might be cutting its losses after a dismal opening of the first installment.
Twentieth Century Fox quietly left Fantastic Four 2 off its upcoming release slate; the sequel has previously been scheduled for a June 9, 2017 debut. The first installment of the Fantastic Four reboot series, directed by Josh Trank and starring Kate Mara and Miles Teller, was a critical and box office disaster — earning just under $168 million worldwide (on a $120 million production budget that does not include marketing expenses) and a 10% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Trank and Fox reportedly butted heads from the very beginning, and the director expressed his disappointment with the final product on the eve of its release, in a tweet he later deleted.
As the Independent reported, Fox’s deal with Marvel expires in 2022; if Fantastic Four 2 is not produced before then, the franchise rights will revert back to German production company Constantin Films.
Photos by Twentieth Century Fox