“Fantastic Four” director is already reaching into the MCU’s big bag of clichés
It’s been over four years since the project was first announced, and in that time, so has the Marvel Cinematic Universe Fantastic Four reboot was fraught with struggles, most of which were not of his own making.
Original director and franchise veteran Jon Watts departed and was replaced by other MCU alums WandaVision Steward Matt Shakman, before multiple rewrites, release date delays and two-pronged strikes slowed things down so much that rumors even began circulating that a third filmmaker might be enlisted to wield the megaphone when the cameras actually started rolling.
Based on Shakman’s comments in an interview with ColliderBut he’s on board and 100 percent committed, even if he’s touted a party line so familiar to anyone who’s followed the MCU through its ups and downs that it’s enough to make your eyes roll.
“It’s different in many ways. I wish I could be specific. I wish I could say more. But we do things very differently, from a story standpoint, from a filmmaking standpoint Really fits the material. I wish I could say more. I would like to do it, but I can’t. But I think it’s going to be different than anything you’ve seen before, and certainly different than anything you’ve seen from Marvel before.”
As for the great casting carousel that’s been spinning forever for years? Shakman wouldn’t confirm whether contracts are in place for the titular team, but he did hint that “there will be a plan at that point once the actors’ strike is over,” although he acknowledged that “the Internet is doing very well.” “I’m excited to find out,” which is an understatement if there ever was one.
will Fantastic Four really be “unlike anything” we’ve seen from Marvel, or will it be the latest victim that promises a radical departure just to follow the saga’s expected beats with a different coat of paint? Only time will tell, but at least things are getting closer to finally having proper momentum.
