The Fantastic Four does not have the best reputation in just about any film iteration, though the most recent version has probably the worst reviews of all. Still, that hasn’t stopped Fox from wanting to cling as tightly to their hold on the franchise as possible, just in case someone else comes along to try and deprive them of that sweet, sweet superhero money.

I kid (mostly), but the fact that Fox is still trying to make Fantastic Four happen is nothing short of silly at this point, and the speculation about their latest plan for these heroes is definitely raising some eyebrows.

The ‘Fantastic Four’ has a new target audience

Rumor has it that instead of focusing on the actual Fantastic Four themselves, the next venture into this franchise will actually focus on the children of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, Franklin and Valeria. The actual Fantastic Four will be there too, but the film is going to be much more child-focused, with a similar audience in mind, going for a vibe that Bleeding Cool is describing as very much like The Incredibles.

Considering who’s writing the script for the next installment in the franchise, this is definitely a twist: Seth Grahame-Smith of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies fame is currently working on the story. Grahame-Smith is also known for Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter and has some experience in the Marvel Comics universe, having worked on The Spider-Man Handbook: The Ultimate Training Manual and Marvel Zombies Return.

With all the creatures in Grahame-Smith’s past, you can’t help but wonder what sort of beasties the Fantastic Four children are going to come up against. Does it even count as a Fantastic Four film at this point? Or is it the Fantastic Two?

Regardless, it should come as no surprise that we won’t be getting a direct sequel to the Fantastic Four film after it’s dismal turn out, and who knows? Maybe a new audience is exactly what this franchise needs. Only time will tell!