The actor who played Victor Von Doom in Roger Corman’s low-budget 1994 Fantastic Four movie, Joseph Culp, is still campaigning for fans to get the movie officially released.
The $1 million production has never officially been released, but you can watch a VHS-quality version of it on YouTube, for those of you who are curious. No one was ever meant to see this movie, but it leaked out anyway, and it’s gloriously bad.
The movie was produced by German filmmaker Bernd Eichinger, who was about to lose the film rights to the property. So, to keep those rights he rushed out this film production with Corman.
Culp previously called for the film’s release a few months ago and now he’s shared a link to a petition with thousands of signatures urging Marvel/Disney to officially release the movie as they are in production on the new Fantastic Four movie.
The petition reads: “Devoted fans of Marvel’s Fantastic Four have long been aware of a missing piece in our beloved F4 history – the unreleased 1994 film originally produced by Roger Corman and directed by Oley Sassone.
“This film, while produced on a ‘shoe-string’ low budget, was in fact based on a treatment written by Stan Lee. It was famously held back from release due to behind the scenes deals and only became available through underground bootlegs for the last thirty years.
“The film remains an important part of the F4 franchise’s legacy and deserves a pristine version to be seen by fans old and new — fans who believe this first film also captures the true spirit of the original comic, with humor, drama, and heartfelt, vivid characterizations — becoming the undeniable fan favorite to this day despite three other big budget versions. The ironic underdog, F4 ’94 has become an enduring cult classic.
“We are calling on Marvel Studios to remaster and release this hidden gem through streaming platforms, Blu-Ray, and live screenings.
“GIVE IT SOME UPGRADES–Remastering this faithful film adaptation with state-of-the-art upgrades will not only enhance its viewing experience for fans but also pay homage to its creators, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, while solidifying its place in cinematic history.
“Improved special visual effects, a new audio mix, and using the latest CGI technology can bring this classic story into the modern era without losing its original charm.
“FANS WANT THE HISTORY–Furthermore, including supplemental material such as interviews, commentary, and historical context from the original cast and crew will provide valuable insights into how this unique piece was created.
“It’s estimated that there are over 20 million Fantastic Four fans worldwide who would appreciate these insights (source: Statista). It’s a testament to film’s legions of fans that The Fantastic Four 1994, while never officially released, has been the subject of numerous articles, podcasts, books, and some excellent documentaries.
“It’s time for Marvel to join their fans in celebrating this now historic film and allow it a place in the MCU canon and ‘multiverse’.
“LIFT THE ‘CURSE’–Releasing this film isn’t just about adding another title to Marvel’s catalog; it’s about filling a gap in our understanding of how one of cinema’s most enduring franchises has evolved over time.
“By releasing and remastering the 1994 Fantastic Four film, we can shine a light on an overlooked chapter in superhero movie history. The fanbase will feel gifted, the mystery lifted, and ready to embrace the next version of The Fantastic Four in the ever expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Please join us in urging Marvel Studios to release this significant piece of cinematic history for all fans to enjoy. SIGN OUR PETITION TODAY!”
As of writing this, the petition has over 4,000 signatures. But, lets be honest, Marvel and Disney are never going to release this movie.
According to Corman the movie was never released because Eichinger landed a deal with Fox. They would make a big-budget version of the movie, and as part of the deal, Eichinger would agree never to release the $1 million version.
Corman said years ago: “It can’t get an official release. It really started with Bernd Eichinger, a German producer who had the rights to the Fantastic Four. He came to me, I think, in October of one year and said his option on the rights was going to expire if he didn’t start shooting by the end of the year, and he had a $30 million budget and he didn’t have the $30 million.
“Could I make it for less money? I said, ‘how much do you have?’ He said, ‘I’ve got a million dollars.’…Cutting $29 million out of a $30 million budget is pretty extensive surgery, but we ended up making the film.
“Part of the deal was, he would have a certain amount of time to see if he could make a deal with a major studio. If he didn’t, I would release it, but if he did, he would pay me some additional money.
“He came almost up to the period where I was going to release it, and he made a deal with Fox, and part of the deal was that he would not release the million-dollar picture because it would interfere with what eventually became a $60 million picture.
“So simply by contract, that picture cannot be officially released, but there are bootleg copies around.”
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