'Fantastic Four' Reboot Ramps Up with Writer Jeremy Slater (Exclusive)

Courtesy Marvel Comics

Fox is really hustling with its Fantastic Four reboot.

our editor recommends

'Chronicle' Director Josh Trank Developing 'Shadow of the Colossus'

'Chronicle' Director Josh Trank on His Surprising Success, Possible Sequel

Just days after putting Chronicle director Josh Trank on the project, the studio is finalizing a deal to have Jeremy Slater write the script.

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Fantastic Four is the comic title that ushered in the so-called Marvel Age of Comics and features a “family” of heroes -- scientist Mr. Fantastic, his wife Invisible Girl, her brother the Human Torch and Fantastic’s best friend, The Thing -- who have sci-fi-tinged adventures.

Fox made two movies with a cast that included Chris Evans and Jessica Alba in 2005 and 2007, but despite doing solid business, they were not well regarded by the geek community.

Hiring Trank and now Slater, who are steeped in the genre world, indicates that Fox is hoping to capture the geeks’ hearts this time around.

Slater is an up-and-coming writer who has the horror spec Tape 4, centering around the mythology of writer H.P. Lovecraft, set up at Lionsgate with Primal Pictures producing.

He also wrote My Spy, a teen spy comedy spec that initially was set up at CBS Films but this week jumped to Universal with Jake Kasdan attached to direct and Lorenzo di Bonaventura producing.

He is repped by UTA and Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment.