History of Fantastic Four 1994
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Flashback to 1992. Neue Constantin Films of Germany had owned the film
rights to the FF property for several years but these rights were to expire on
December 31st and revert back to Marvel. Neue Constantin wished to renew
their option but were denied by Marvel who, up to this time, had yet to experience
any success with adapting their characters to the big screen. There was the
ill-fated Punisher film with Dolph Lundgren and the direct-to-video Captain
America production. Conan the Barbarian (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in
the role that made him a household name) was considered the only bright star
in Marvel's stable. Times were changing though and it appeared Marvel was
intent on regaining control of their flagship title.
In order for Neue Constantin to retain their option, they would need to rush into
production before year's end. They entered into a partnership with Concorde
Pictures in the Autumn of '92 and under the helm of B-movie king, Roger
Corman, a paltry budget was raised. Principal shooting of the first Fantastic Four
movie commenced on December 28, 1992.
Sassone (left) with Rebecca Staab
Assigned to the directorial reins was Oley Sassone. Sassone had cut his teeth
in the biz by directing over 100 videos and was no stranger in working with
limited budgets and constrained schedules. He was aware of the comic genre's
failure in Hollywood and was intent on not letting the fans of the FF down.
"I went back and read every single issue of The Fantastic Four Marvel
Masterworks series before I went to bed, just to re familiarize myself with these
characters," said Sassone who believed big-budgeted films like Batman failed
to meet people's expectations because they did not feature enough character
development. "You've got to touch people on an emotional level, whether its The
Fantastic Four or On The Waterfront."
Despite the meager funding his film received, Sassone seemed to take the
Francis Ford Coppola approach to filmmaking who once stated: "...my attitude
towards money is I don't have very much of it but if I use it in a very audacious
way, it multiples itself. If you have a thousand dollars but willing to use it, not
caring of risk, you can make it feel like ten thousand." Indeed such a philosophy
seemed to work because Sassone's cast and crew poured themselves into the
25-day shoot, working upwards of twenty hours a day, transforming a modest
motion picture into something much grander.
"Having the opportunity to bring these mythological characters to life is great,"
reflected Sassone. "Stan and Marvel have already made them a legend and it
was like being handed gold."
But would Sassone's optimism last? Once principal photography wrapped in
late January 1993, it was still a long path before the film made its way to
"opening night." A night that Sassone and company would unknowingly never
experience.
rights to the FF property for several years but these rights were to expire on
December 31st and revert back to Marvel. Neue Constantin wished to renew
their option but were denied by Marvel who, up to this time, had yet to experience
any success with adapting their characters to the big screen. There was the
ill-fated Punisher film with Dolph Lundgren and the direct-to-video Captain
America production. Conan the Barbarian (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in
the role that made him a household name) was considered the only bright star
in Marvel's stable. Times were changing though and it appeared Marvel was
intent on regaining control of their flagship title.
In order for Neue Constantin to retain their option, they would need to rush into
production before year's end. They entered into a partnership with Concorde
Pictures in the Autumn of '92 and under the helm of B-movie king, Roger
Corman, a paltry budget was raised. Principal shooting of the first Fantastic Four
movie commenced on December 28, 1992.
Sassone (left) with Rebecca Staab
Assigned to the directorial reins was Oley Sassone. Sassone had cut his teeth
in the biz by directing over 100 videos and was no stranger in working with
limited budgets and constrained schedules. He was aware of the comic genre's
failure in Hollywood and was intent on not letting the fans of the FF down.
"I went back and read every single issue of The Fantastic Four Marvel
Masterworks series before I went to bed, just to re familiarize myself with these
characters," said Sassone who believed big-budgeted films like Batman failed
to meet people's expectations because they did not feature enough character
development. "You've got to touch people on an emotional level, whether its The
Fantastic Four or On The Waterfront."
Despite the meager funding his film received, Sassone seemed to take the
Francis Ford Coppola approach to filmmaking who once stated: "...my attitude
towards money is I don't have very much of it but if I use it in a very audacious
way, it multiples itself. If you have a thousand dollars but willing to use it, not
caring of risk, you can make it feel like ten thousand." Indeed such a philosophy
seemed to work because Sassone's cast and crew poured themselves into the
25-day shoot, working upwards of twenty hours a day, transforming a modest
motion picture into something much grander.
"Having the opportunity to bring these mythological characters to life is great,"
reflected Sassone. "Stan and Marvel have already made them a legend and it
was like being handed gold."
But would Sassone's optimism last? Once principal photography wrapped in
late January 1993, it was still a long path before the film made its way to
"opening night." A night that Sassone and company would unknowingly never
experience.