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On the Set with the 'Fantastic Four'!

October 19, 2004
Watch out Spider-Man and Batman, The Fantastic Four are finally coming to the big screen and we've got your first look at the highly anticipated flick based on the Marvel Comic!

"When I was 14 years old, every week I used to buy four Marvels: Thor, Iron Man, Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four," says MICHAEL CHIKLIS, who plays Ben Grimm, a.k.a. The Thing. "[This film's] one of those gigs that's sort of a childhood dream fulfillment kind of thing."

'Fantastic Four' follows a group of scientists who are blasted by cosmic rays while on a routine space mission. When they return to earth, they find themselves capable of different, extraordinary super powers. Joining Chiklis as the rock-hard, clobberin' Thing is IOAN GRUFFUDD ('King Arthur') as Reed Richards, a.k.a. the elastic Mr. Fantastic; CHRIS EVANS ('Cellular') as Johnny Storm, a.k.a. The Human Torch; and JESSICA ALBA ("Dark Angel") as Sue Storm, a.k.a. The Invisible Girl.

"I wasn't really into comic books," Alba tells ET. "The guys are usually the heroes; hardly ever do you get a Wonder Woman or female superheroes. But with [Sue Storm], not only does she have a voice and have confidence, but she's very maternal and she keeps the family together, and this movie's about family."

Alba's character also has her share of romance with Gruffudd's character, whether it's sharing a kiss while she's driving a car and he's on a motorcycle, or while she's invisible - and he's literally kissing thin air. Changing her look to resemble the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Sue Storm, Alba found other challenges on the set -- namely her blue contact lenses.

"I had to do this kissing scene with the Reed Richards character, with Ioan," says Alba, "and it got real dry and got stuck and so he saw the brown and the blue. It freaked him out. It's really not sexy when you're trying to do a kissing scene."

Of course, Alba has it easy compared to her co-stars, especially Chiklis, who has to wear a heavy "rock" suit that has no air conditioning whatsoever while they film on location in Vancouver.

"We all commend him for playing The Thing and putting that suit on and acting with all that," says Alba. "Imagine if you put your entire closet full of clothes on all at one time and then walked around as if it was a normal day. That's basically what it is; it's very claustrophobic. I'm glad all I have to do is go invisible."

Chiklis seems to take the heavy lifting in stride, however, focusing on the virtues of his character. "He's very much the emotional center of this group and of this movie," says "The Shield" star. "Unlike the others, they've acquired these powers but they're themselves. Johnny Storm, he's this studly, handsome kid; he says, 'Flame on!' and he becomes a torch -- that's neat. I, on the other hand, become this man in the iron mask; I'm trapped in stone. He really doesn't care that he becomes immensely powerful. He wants to be Ben Grimm again. He wants to be himself. There really is some pathos in that character and there's a lot of comedic moments."

Directed by TIM STORY ('Barbershop,' 'Taxi'), 'Fantastic Four' also stars ET's own MARIA MENOUNOS and "Nip/Tuck" star JULIAN McMAHON as the Four's nemesis, Doctor Doom. The film hits theaters summer 2005.