In an announcement made during the D23 panel “Studio Showcase, Day 2: Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Fox,” it was revealed that it’s now confirmed that WandaVision director Matt Shakman had been tapped to direct the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe Fantastic Four movie, scheduled to be released in theaters on November 8th, 2024.
Marvel Studios Head Boss in Charge Kevin Feige revealed the information by pointing out Shakman in the audience. However, the director did not take to the stage, and no further information about the upcoming and highly-anticipated movie was shared (because there was nothing else to share).
This will be the fifth time that The Fantastic Four team will appear on the big screen, with the first time in 1994 when Roger Corman made an infamous adaptation for New Horizon Studios. Despite having a trailer and promotional tour, this cut was never released in theaters. It has been accused of being an “ashcan copy,” or a movie made only to retain the license to the intellectual property.
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The Fantastic Four Has Been a Box Office Success Before
20th Century Fox
A more successful incarnation of The Fantastic Four team made it to the big screen in 2005. Directed by Tim Story and produced by 20th Century Fox, this FF adaptation featured Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm, and Julian McMahon as Doctor Victor Von Doom. This incarnation was a box office success, earning more than $333 worldwide and earning a sequel. In 2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was released, adding Doug Jones and Laurence Fishburne to the cast (whose combined performances equal the eponymous Silver Surfer).
In 2015, a rebooted Fantastic Four movie was released. This incarnation was directed by Josh Trank and featured Miles Teller as Richards, Kate Mara as Sue Storm, Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm, Jamie Bell as Grimm, and Toby Kebbell as Doom. This adaptation was loosely based on the Ultimate Fantastic Four series from Marvel Comics. However, critics widely panned it, and after a poor performance at the box office, a planned 2017 sequel was never made.
As far as the MCU goes, Mr. Fantastic has made an appearance: in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, released in theaters earlier this year. However, it is unclear whether John Krasinski, who portrayed Richards in that film, will be reprising the role in the MCU’s prime timeline or if the role will be cast with another actor.
