Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

American superhero film Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) is the sequel to the film Fantastic Four (2005). Both films are based on the 'Fantastic Four comic book and were directed by Tim Story. The film stars Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis as the world's most famous team of astronauts-cum-superheroes, with Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Andre Braugher, Beau Garrett, Doug Jones, and Laurence Fishburne in supporting roles. The plot follows the Fantastic Four (and Doctor Doom) as they confront, and later ally with, the Silver Surfer to save Earth from Galactus.


Belgian postcard by Boomerang.be. Image: Marvel / 20th Century Fox. Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic / Reed Richards in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Tim Story, 2007). Caption: I have a fantastic thing to tell you.


Belgian postcard by Boomerang.be. Image: Marvel / 20th Century Fox. Jessica Alba as Invisible Woman / Susan Storm in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Tim Story, 2007). Caption: See you one of those four?

An impending superhero-studded wedding celebration

With Fantastic Four (Tim Story, 2005) grossing $330 million worldwide, 20th Century Fox hired director Tim Story and screenwriter Mark Frost in December 2005 to return for the superhero team's sequel.

The story of Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, both inspired by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's Fantastic Four comic-book storyline 'The Galactus Trilogy' and Warren Ellis's comic-book 'Ultimate Extinction', features the Silver Surfer, whose cosmic energy has been affecting the planet Earth and leaving craters around the planet.

Set against an impending superhero-studded wedding celebration between Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd) and Sue Storm aka The Invisible Girl (Jessica Alba), the U.S. Army recruits the Fantastic Four to help stop the Silver Surfer, and separately gain help from Doom.

The villain/hero The Silver Surfer was created by combining the performance of actor Doug Jones, the voice of Larry Fishburne, and a grey-silver suit designed by Jose Fernandez and created by FX shop Spectral Motion which has then been enhanced by a new computer-generated system designed by WETA.

Michael Chiklis' prosthetics as Ben Grimm aka The Thing were also redesigned to allow him to take it off in between takes and for better ventilation.


Belgian postcard by Boomerang.be. Image: Marvel / 20th Century Fox. Chris Evans as Human Torch / Johnny Storm in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Tim Story, 2007). Caption: I would like to declare my flame to you.


Belgian postcard by Boomerang.be. Image: Marvel / 20th Century Fox. Michael Chiklis as The Thing / Ben Grimm in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Tim Story, 2007). Caption: Stop playing hard guys...

Sometimes tone is everything

Upon its release in 2007 in North America, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) received mixed reviews from critics, though some considered it an improvement over the first film.

Jeremy Wheeler at AllMovie: "thankfully they got it a bit more right this time, despite the appearance of some of the same hiccups that will continue to plague the series. What the sequel does right is bring with it an air of fun that families and uncritical fans can sit back and enjoy after suffering through far too many mega-serious comic adaptations (Superman Returns) or commercial junk that somehow earned money despite its high reading on the junk meter (Ghost Rider -- you're it). Sometimes tone is everything, and that's really what saves Rise of the Silver Surfer from its obvious blemishes."

While it was the highest-grossing film during its first week, the film ultimately made less than its predecessor. A third film was planned, but due to conflicts between the director and Jessica Alba, and the producers having trouble finding a new director for a planned Silver Surfer spin-off, the franchise ended up in development hell.

The series was rebooted in 2015 with the release of Fantastic Four (Josh Trank, Stephen E. Rivkin, 2015) to poor critical and commercial reception. Marvel Studios eventually claimed the film rights of the characters after the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney.


Belgian postcard by Boomerang.be. Image: Marvel / 20th Century Fox. Doug Jones as The Silver Surfer in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Tim Story, 2007). Caption: You are at the top of the wave!


Belgian postcard by Boomerang.be. Image: Marvel / 20th Century Fox. Poster for Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Tim Story, 2007).

Sources: Jeremy Wheeler (AllMovie), Nathan Southern (AllMovie), Wikipedia, and IMDb.