With the production of the latest attempt at Marvel’s First Family due to start next year ready for a November 2024 release, news of the cast of Fantastic Four is expected any day now. As important as those portraying the four superheroes is, equally important is who’s going to be directing the film. Many were expecting to find out the answers to these questions during the upcoming Disney Expo, and whilst that’s still probably the case, the director for the film may well have been leaked early.
The First Family of Marvel
For those not in the know, the Fantastic Four has been a staple of Marvel comics since their introduction back in November 1961. The team itself may have changed over the years, but the family has always stayed the same, with Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm aka The Invisible Woman, Ben Grimm aka The Thing, and Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch.
The upcoming 2024 film will mark the fifth iteration of the family, this time under the wing of Marvel Studios and the MCU itself. The first by Roger Corman never gained theatrical release, and many theorized it was produced as a way to keep the rights and nothing more, then we have the 2005 and 2007 sequels, which whilst not setting the world on fire, weren’t terrible. And then we had the catastrophic 2015 version which managed to offend the world of comic book fans with their portrayal of Dr. Doom, among other faux pas.
No news of the cast of the latest version is known, although a multiversal Reed Richards was played by John Krasinski in the recent Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness, and whilst it was a cameo, fans loved it. Although Krasinski has commented several times he doesn’t wish to be tied down to multi-year contracts, he’s still the number one fancast for the role. And after the cameo, fans remain hopeful we’ll see him again.
The Director’s Chair
Not too long ago we already knew the director of the film, with Tom Holland starring Spider-Man trilogy director Jon Watts taking the helm. Stating burnout after five years of working on three Spider-Man films, Watts stepped aside, vacating the chair and leaving many of us wondering who would be taking over.
If reports are to be believed, we now have the answer. Matt Shakman of Wandavision fame has supposedly signed on to direct the new Fantastic Four film. Delivering the opening entry into Phase Four of the MCU with Wandavision, Shakman isn’t a stranger to the MCU and gave us one of the better Disney+ television offerings. Although many will still remember the Ralph Bohner misdirect and hope we don’t have something similar in that regard.
Related: Doctor Doom vs. Galactus; Who Should Be the Villain in MCU’s Fantastic Four Reboot
A director highly sought after, he’s currently slated to direct the next Star Trek offering in Star Trek 4, as well as the Apple TV-produced Monsterverse television show Godzilla and the Titans. Far more familiar with television than a feature film, having directed episodes of Game of Thrones, Succession, and of course Wandavision, if this is indeed true, it’s quite the vote of confidence from Marvel Studios to hand such an inexperienced feature film director arguably their biggest introduction to the MCU since Spider-Man.
As always, take this with a grain of salt as it is just a rumor, albeit more substantial than the recent Steven Spielberg ones. But hopefully, we won’t have to wait long for confirmation, with Disney Expo just round the corner.
Source: The Direct
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