It looks like Marvel may have found a replacement director for their upcoming Fantastic Four movie after Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts parted ways with the production. WandaVision’s Matt Shakman is looking to take up the director role as Marvel quickly began looking for Watt’s replacement.
Deadline is reporting that Shakman is in early talks to direct Marvel’s new Fantastic Four pic, which is also rumored not to be an origin story as well. Sources for the report are now saying that while a formal offer hasn’t been presented, “early discussions have begun and that things are headed in the right direction.”
Much like how the Fantastic Four were the epicenter of the launching of the Marvel Universe back in 1961, WandaVision successfully launched Marvel’s limited series strategy for Disney+ but also earned several Emmy nominations, including a Best Director nod for Shakman.
Shakman began his career as a child actor, playing “J.R.” Lubbock, Jr. in the Growing Pains spin-off television series Just the Ten of Us. Among his directing credits include Succession, The Boys, Mad Men, Six Feet Under, The Great, House M.D., Fargo, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Shakman is also directing a Star Trek film in the near future as well.
Fantastic Four has been a highly-anticipated property for the MCU going back to when Disney acquired Fox and absorbed all its assets in late 2017. Marvel’s first family was hinted at the end of Marvel’s Comic-Con presentation back in 2019, where they also announced the return of Blade and the coming of the Eternals. Phase 5 of the MCU will start with Wakanda Forever this November, with Fantastic Four being part of Phase 6.
At this year’s presentation, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said the film would kick off the MCU’s Phase 6, with a scheduled premiere date of November 8, 2024.
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