I am not a fan of fan fiction, but somebody asked in the Fantastic Four group who we think should be the villain in the next movie, and it got me thinking what I would do if I were hired to write the script. It's the third movie of the series, so Hollywood will want to cram as many characters in there as possible. So this is what I came up with:

Fantastic Four 3: Attack of the Frightful Four

The movie opens a few years after Reed & Sue's wedding. Franklin Richards has been born, but there are problems. His infant body is emanating high levels of energy, causing a danger to himself and the world around him. Reed is working around the clock to help his son. Meanwhile, the celebrity-starved world wants to know why they've not seen Franklin in public (ala Tom Cruise's Suri). The FF fear that Franklin's unpredictable powers will turn the world against them.

During one particularly dangerous surge, Reed uses an untested power damper on Franklin. Sue is furious that he would take such a chance on their son, and leaves him. No longer having faith in Reed, the Fantastic Four split up.

Johnny can't give up the celebrity life and becomes a racecar driver (much to Frankie Raye's dismay). Ben can't take being treated like a monster any more (and walking in on Alicia and a hunky male model won't help) and ends up hiding on a deserted island, where he meets the Mole Man, who makes be the Prince of the strange creatures in the Underworld. Sue runs to Victor Von Doom (who of course, has survived from the last movie and is back in Latveria) in hopes of helping Fraklin. But Victor wants Franklin's powers for himself. He begins to drug Sue.

Reed's college friend, Bentely Wittman, joins him at the Baxter Building in hopes of solving Franklin's problems. Secretly, this is the Wizard, jealous of his friend's success and using the opportunity to take over Fantastic Four Enterprises.

Johnny appears to die in a fiery racing crash. Reed and Sue get into a physical fight at the funeral. Sue is unusually aggressive (Ben, suspiciously, has not heard about his friend's death). Sue runs back to Latveria.

Reed buries himself in solving Franklin's problem, and when he finds a solution, The Wizard takes this opportunity to attack Reed, using his anti-gravity discs, defeating him and taking over FF Enterprises.

The plot is revealed, but the Wizard was not alone, he was working with who the press will soon call the Frightful Four: The Wizard, The Mole Man, Doctor Doom-- and their most dangerous member, Malice (aka Sue Richards, brainwashed by Doom). Their plan? To have the Mole Man steal the world's power plants and force the government to pay billions to power their countries (and we all know Doctor Doom plans to use Franklin's power to take over the Frightful Four).

Underground, Ben is growing suspicious of the Mole Man's strange constructions and begins to investigate. He stumbles onto Reed and Johnny imprisoned, and breaks them free. They must fight the Mole Man's army of monsters in order to get back to New York.

Then follows the Battle Royale at the Baxter Building, and I think the place should the thrashed. The last member standing will be Malice, and yes, it will be the love for her family that brings her back to Sue Storm (this is a Hollywood movie after all). And of course, Reed is able to cure Franklin (for now!). Happily ever after.

A funny tag would be the Wizard in prison, trying to "put the band back together" by interviewing new members of the Frightful Four. One gentleman named "Paste-Pot Pete." "The first thing we need to do," the Wizard will say, "is get you a new name."