Fox insiders deny reports of a swap that would give Fantastic Four characters to Marvel so Fox can keep Daredevil

Fox is running out of time to make a Daredevil reboot before the character’s film rights go to Marvel Studios. A report on Monday morning suggested that in order to keep the character, Fox was going to give Marvel the screen rights to Fantastic Four characters, however Fox insiders have now denied that there are any talks of such a trade.

On Monday, Variety reported that Fox is in serious talks with Joe Carnahan to make a dark Daredevil reboot in the style of Frank Miller, which is very different than the family-friendly style that many of the Marvel/Disney films have. They have to get the project moving by Oct. 10 or Marvel regains the character. Unfortunately for Fox, the studio’s talks with Carnahan and potential co-financiers would be impossible to finish by that deadline.

Now, Variety reports that in order to keep Daredevil, Fox was in talks with Marvel to give it some key Fantastic Four characters, like Galactus, who could appear in the Marvel/Disney movies. This would mean that Fox wouldn’t be able to use these characters in a potential Joe Trank-directed Fantastic Four reboot.

On Monday night, Deadline’s Fox sources called the whole story bunk. Deadline notes that giving up key FF characters wouldn’t make sense for Fox, if the studio is really serious about making a good FF reboot. Even though Fox really wanted Carnahan to direct Daredevil, it looks like the studio is ready to give the blind superhero to Marvel.

The first Daredevil film was released in 2003 and starred Ben Affleck in the title role. Although it was met with mixed critical response, Fox did make the Jennifer Garner-starring spin-off Elektra in 2005.

In case you're wondering why Marvel doesn't own the screen rights to all of its characters, here's the reason: Before Disney bought Marvel, the comic book company gave the screen rights to select characters to other studios. That's why Sony has Spider-Man, who will never appear in an Avengers film, unless Sony gives up the character's screen rights or makes a deal with Disney. Fox has the rights to the X-Men characters, the Fantastic Four and Daredevil.