Josh Trank didn't like previous versions of 'Fantastic Four'

The 31-year-old director thinks Simon Kinberg's 2005 and 2007 adaptations of the comic book film - which starred Jessica Alba and Chris Evans - ''weren't very good'', and, for this reason, he understands why audiences are skeptical about his upcoming interpretation, starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell.

Josh said: ''I get the skepticism going into it because the previous movies weren't very good. It's a very hard title to crack.''

However, the screenwriter insisted that his version of the superhero movie - due for release in August - is going to be a ''slugfest''.

Speaking to EntertainmentWeekly.com, Josh said: ''The audience should expect an epic, massive, huge, multipower slugfest. This movie is big. A lot of stakes.''

While 'Fantastic Four' is Josh's first superhero movie, it isn't the first film he's directed that has included superpowers, having previously directed 'Chronicle' - which also starred Michael as one of three teenagers who discover they have kinetic powers after a freak accident - and Josh thinks the two films are linked in some way.

Josh said: '''Chronicle' was all about the discovery and evolution of those powers. ('Fantastic Four') is like, 'What if it's a couple years later and it sucks?'''