Matt Shakman, who’s directing the upcoming “Fantastic Four: First Steps”, has emphasized on returning to the roots when it comes to his work with Marvel’s original family. Given his successful stint with “WandaVision”, it wasn’t unexpected that Marvel Studios chose him for this task, marking his return with a new version of the Fantastic Four – the third reboot in two decades. Contrary to some directors who might have hesitated taking on such a project, especially after the 2015 “Fantastic Four” film didn’t fare well. In an interview with ComicBook, Shakman shared that he looked towards the original run of Fantastic Four comics as his compass, aiming to strike a balance between making “First Steps” feel innovative while preserving the essence of the team.
Shakman confided in Chris Killian from ComicBook that he’s an avid comic book enthusiast himself, which led him to emphasize the original source material more than creating a distinctive movie version of the team compared to previous cinematic adaptations.
Shakman firmly stated, ‘I have no desire to speak ill of them.’ In fact, I found great pleasure in watching them when they were initially released. However, being a die-hard comic book enthusiast, particularly of Kirby and Lee, influenced my thought process while planning this movie. It reminded me of the original run that kickstarted it all.
Shakman references Marvel Comics’ Fantastic Four Volume 1, Issue 1 (August 1961), followed by Issues 48 to 50 (December 1965 – February 1966) as the foundation for both the futuristic aesthetic and central plot of the movie. These particular issues feature key adversaries such as Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and Mole Man (Paul Walter Houser), who appear in the film. Notably, Shakman has swapped Norrin Radd with his lover Shalla-Bal (Julia Garner), transforming her into the Silver Surfer’s emissary in the storyline.
Apart from being influenced by the initial phases of the Fantastic Four comics, Shakman also incorporated his personal experiences as a parent into First Steps, serving as another significant source of inspiration.
In the comics, I’ve always admired the daring approach of making the Fantastic Four a real-life family. It resonates with me because they feel relatable, much like us. So, I pondered, how can I capture the essence of these characters that I love so dearly, and at the same time, infuse my own personal journey into it? As a husband and father, the most extraordinary event in my life has been the birth of my child. This project is about exploring the fantastic realms of space and encountering Galactus, but it’s also about embarking on the unknown adventure of parenthood – both are equally awe-inspiring.” Shakman expressed.
In a significant deviation from past film adaptations of the Fantastic Four, Sue Storm (played by Pedro Pascal) is shown at the start of the movie as pregnant with her and Reed Richards’ son, marking the first time we see the character Franklin Richards on screen. Given that Shakman showcased unique superhero parenthood sensitively in WandaVision, and skillfully introduced Maximoff Twins Billy and Tommy into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we’re optimistic about his capacity to blend the 60-year-old Fantastic Four comics with universal themes of parenthood in his upcoming Marvel project.
Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters Friday, July 25th.
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2025-07-20 14:39