I think that's definitely true, in the sense that the X-Films have really been discrete film-by-film affairs. Even when they try to set something up like Phoenix at the end of X2 or Apocalypse at the end of DOFP, it's only vaguely defined at the time that they tease it. But I suspect that will change with Deadpool and Gambit, with possibly New Mutants, X-Force, and FF crossovers on the horizon.20th Century Fox isn't in the comic book film business. They just care if the film makes money but as to what goes into it, there isn't any kind of stock. Marvel Studios had a plan, from the beginning, to make a shared universe and one that built upon itself with every film. Even the less than stellar ones still had that goal in mind. Warner Bros is on that plan as well right now.
As far as 20th Century Fox is concerned, if someone has an idea no matter how bat**** crazy, if they can convince the studio heads that it will make money, that's all that matters. Sure the first FF was corny but good enough to warrant a sequel which underperformed. On paper with an exciting new director and then a cast which is comprised of some talented folks, I'm sure they thought slam dunk before seeing the actual thing.
Even Kevin Feige has a finish line in sight dealing with these on every turn whereas the folks at 20th Century Fox are just trying to make it profitable. It's not The Fantastic Four as a license or subject, it's 20th Century Fox not getting the right folks.
Look at X3 and X-Men: First Class. A perfect example how the right group makes all the difference. 20th Century Fox didn't give a **** about the groups, just that they made them money so they greenlit them both.
Well I think there are two things here. One, Marvel Studios does obviously have a more top-down approach. They certainly didn't demonstrate that they have the executive leadership to ensure that movies don't turn into train wrecks when creative teams are given too much autonomy without the right track record. But two, I think they're just better judges of directors to handle a given property. Who knows what they saw in the Russos that suggested they could handle Winter Soldier, but Feige et al. saw it and went for it, and it paid off in spades. It's like being a good college recruiter or baseball scout. Fox doesn't always seem to have that skill.This sounds like the Marvel way though.
James Gunn wasn't really proven when he made Guardians, Shane Black was proven when he made Iron Man 3, Alan Taylor still isn't proven, Payton Reed is pretty much equivalent to Tim Story, the Russos were not proven when they made The Winter Soldier and even Whedon wasn't really proven when he directed The Avengers.
Marvel Studios only make comic book movies, so it makes sense that they have a stronghold on things at all times, they have a vision for each movie and before they hire their director's they make sure that director is willing to follow their vision. That's not the Fox way obviously, they have so many other properties. Sometimes things work like Singer's X-Men and sometimes they don't which is the case with F4.
I think getting Trank after he directed Chronicle was an inspired choice, it made sense. Things just didn't work out but it's not like Sony getting Marc Webb to direct their Spider-Man movies after he directed one good romantic comedy.
True dat, playa.I think Fox tried to emulate WB more than anything else. Indie director + comic source material = Batman Begins. The problem was Chronicle was no Memento and Trank sure as heck isn't Nolan.