Chris Rock to J.J. Abrams: 'Could YOU direct "The Fantastic Four?"'

NEW YORK, April 16 (UPI) -- Comedian Chris Rock pleaded with J.J. Abrams -- a filmmaker known for jump-starting movie franchises -- to take a stab at one of his favorite comic-book properties, which has been unsuccessfully adapted for the big screen several times.

"Could YOU direct The Fantastic Four?" Rock asked Abrams during a panel discussion Friday night at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

"I love The Fantastic Four and they keep [expletive]ing it up!" Rock laughed. "That is my favorite of all of them. Spider-Man, too, but they have made far too many Spider-Mans."

"Get in there with Denzel, man, you do it," Abrams replied, referring to Rock's earlier suggestion that Abrams collaborate with double Oscar-winner Denzel Washington.

"I would love to do The Fantastic Four, but I'm too old, though," said Rock, who is also an actor, writer, producer and director. "I guess I'm not too old to direct it, but they need somebody better than me. I like it so much, I don't want to direct it."

Abrams' film credits include Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Rock has helmed Top Five, I Think I Love My Wife and Head of State.