BlackFilm has asked director Tim Story just why exactly he chose Laurence Fishburne to voice the character of the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
Story told the site, “I had the opportunity to speak with Lawrence months before I started shooting the movie and all we talked about was Galactus and the Silver Surfer. He was a complete fan. So when it came the time to cast someone, his name came up immediately. Besides, who, aside from James Earl Jones, has a more powerful voice? He was perfect and I didn’t have to convince anyone; and him being a fan of the material was icing on the cake.”
Here’s the deal, the voice doesn’t need to be powerful it needs to be effective in the context of the film. Granted, I have not yet seen this film, but I have seen the trailers and the clips and hearing Fishburne’s big voice coming out of this tiny man, who is played by the wirey Doug Jones by the way, just doesn’t seem to fit. Then again, all the comedy and silliness we have seen in the trailers doesn’t fit either, but that is a different story. Also, why bring up James Earl Jones? Was he considering him for the part? Darth Vader presence vs. skinny silver dude on surf board. Seriously, it doesn’t add up.
The jury is still out on whether or not Fish’s voice will work as the intergalactic herald, and I will go in as I always do, with an open mind, but I am not holding my breath.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer hits theaters on June 15, I just wonder will press be invited to screen it?
You can check out a clip from the film in which the Surfer talks below, it is shockingly bad.
