Marty Langford’s Doomed! The Untold Story of Roger Corman’s The Fantastic Four is a documentary that chronicles the strange and troubled history of the 1994 Fantastic Four movie produced by Roger Corman and directed by Oley Sassone. Intended to be the first big-screen adaptation of Marvel’s first family, the film was secretly greenlit and rushed into production with a budget only slightly higher than that of a typical Roger Corman movie. Cast members, including Alex Hyde-White (Reed Richards), Jay Underwood (Johnny Storm), Rebecca Staab (Sue Storm), and Michael Bailey Smith (Ben Grimm), all believed this was an earnest attempt to make a legitimate Marvel movie.
The documentary follows the cast, crew, and even on-set journalist Chris Gore as they share memories of the breakneck, low-budget shoot. They describe the inventive special effects team trying to make cosmic superpowers work on a shoestring, and the camaraderie that formed between the actors as they poured their hearts into what they thought would be their big break. As production wrapped, enthusiasm was high, with everyone expecting a theatrical release. The cast even went on a publicity tour, including a signing at the Film Threat booth at San Diego Comic Con. But the completed film was quietly shelved, its existence denied by the studio.
Through interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, Doomed! reveals the truth behind why the film was never released…or as some speculate, was never meant to be released. We even get some details behind the appearance of bootleg copies emerging at various cons and shows around the world.
“…chronicles the strange and troubled history of the 1994 Fantastic Four movie…”
Watching Doomed!, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a time when making movies was fun, like when the Little Rascals or Mickey and Judy would put on a show. There was nothing but excitement on the set of The Fantastic Four, where the dream of appearing on the big screen felt so real you could touch it. Then there’s the movie magic involved in bringing superpowers to life. Ironically, this was the year Jurassic Park premiered, ushering in a new world of CG-visual effects. I still think the Thing mask is a robotic marvel.
The final act reveals the reason behind the film’s cancellation. It’s heartbreaking because fans were denied the chance to see the Fantastic Four on screen, and soul-crushing how studio politics took precedence over the promotion and anticipation.
In the end, Marty Langford tells a compelling story. It feels complete, and it feels true. He effectively evokes nostalgia for a film that has “never been seen.” He also ends on a bright note, considering everyone got screwed. Many make-goods were made for director Oley Sassone, and even the cast of this Fantastic Four found their way into cameos in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
"…soul-crushing how studio politics took precedence over the promotion and anticipation."
