Marvel Studios’Fantastic Fourreboot has been in development for some time now, and it appears the project has found its ideal director inWandaVisionhelmer Matt Shakman.
The Hollywood Reporterhas learned Shakman is in early talks to helm Marvel Studios’Fantastic Fourfilm. As previously mentioned, Shakman helped Marvel Studios launch the television corner of the MCU by directing all episodes ofWandaVision, the first MCU series to premiere on Disney Plus.
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According to THR, Shakman is just one of the filmmakers who met with Marvel Studios about potentially helming theFantastic Fourfilm. Other candidates includedLove and Monstersdirector Michael Matthew and Reid Carolin, who recently co-directedDogwith Channing Tatum. The search for a new director to spearheadFantastic Fourstarted after Jon Watts, who helmed Marvel Studios and Sony’sSpider-Mantrilogy starring Tom Holland, exited the project.Watts' departure fromFantastic Fourwas said to be amicable, as the filmmaker reportedly wanted to step away from superhero films after working on theSpider-Mantrilogy for nearly five years.
Shakman’s directing credits before working onWandaVisioninclude episodes ofIt’sAlways Sunny in PhiladelphiaandGame of Thrones. He had beentapped to direct the newStar Trekfilmfor Paramount as recently as last summer, but it now remains unclear if he’s still attached to the project. Should Shakman officially sign on to helmFantastic Four, it won’t be the only major franchise on his slate. He is currently set to direct the first two episodes of Apple TV Plus’Godzillaseries in the MonsterVerse franchise, in addition to serving as an executive producer.
At this point, it is currently unclear what Marvel Studios has planned for the Fantastic Four. Aside from the release date and confirmation thatFantastic Fourwon’t retell the originof the titular team, the only other bit of information fans know is that the film will launch Phase 6 of the MCU, which also includesAvengers: The Kang Dynasty andAvengers: Secret War.
Shakman clearly has the credentials to helm a blockbuster, so fans will likely be relieved to know theFantastic Fourfilm would be in more than capable hands with him at the helm. Plus, theWandaVisionfinale included a scene where Wanda, Vision, and their two children united to take on S.W.O.R.D. agents, so Shakman already has some experience with a family of four superheroes.
Fantastic Fouris scheduled to be released in theaters on Jun 27, 2025.
