Fantastic Four to be based on original, unpublished Jane Austen story

The original script for the MCU take on Fantastic Four has been abandoned, and will be replaced by a new one by Avatar writer Josh Friedman based on an original, unpublished story by Jane Austen.

Set in Georgian England, the story will centre around Lord Fantastic and one of his much-admired balls.

Susan Storm is the feisty daughter of a country squire whose ability to turn herself invisible is a source of shame for her parents. Her brother, John, loves his sister and encourages her to be herself, regardless of what their parents and society think.

“It’s pretty incredible that Jane Austen was actually thinking about the Fantastic Four 200 years ago, before Marvel was even created. She really was one of the greatest literary pioneers in the English language,” explained Josh.

“It’s a great story that really works as an introduction to Marvel’s First Family. We see Sue fall for Lord Fantastic at one of his balls. Johnny’s ability to light himself on fire makes him a real hit with the society girls of the day, and Ben being a big pile of stones is handled with real sensitivity and pathos.”

Fans were excited by the news.

“It’s been a long time coming, but I am pleased that Marvel is finally getting to Georgian England,” tweeted Marvel blogger Stewart James.

“I mean, Endgame was brilliant, but it would have been so much better if it were set in a National Trust property, if Nick Fury was a caustic, wealthy old dowager, and everyone wore bonnets.”

It is thought that Fantastic Four will usher in a phase six set largely in Georgian/Victorian England culminating in Avengers: Secret Wars, which will be a very loose interpretation of Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure.