FEBRUARY 13, 2023 - Star Trek IV, or XIV, depending on how you count it, the sequel to the 2009 feature film starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto has been in the news quite often lately.  Sadly, it’s usually from another of the main cast saying that they’d love to do the next movie…but…

Now, the latest director to pull out of the project is Matt Shakman. He went on record, stating;

I had a great time working on ‘Star Trek’ for a little over a year, working closely with J.J. Abrams and everyone at Paramount, and I love that franchise, and I love that cast that J.J. put together, and it would have been an unbelievable pleasure to work with them on the fourth installment there. But movies have different journeys and momentums and schedules are a little bit mercurial, so when the ‘Fantastic Four’ opportunity came up, it was just too hard to pass up, and to go back home to Marvel, a place that I worked on ‘WandaVision’ at, with those people who are wonderful collaborators.

He spoke about Marvel being a family and had been given the opportunity to go back and tackle something that he really loves.  He went on to mention how the two franchises, TOS and FF both began in the 60s and both had a message of hope, collaboration, and people coming together, to become a family and work together.  They’re both about science and using technology to solve mankind’s problems. 

In late August of 2022, Spider-Man: No Way Home director, Jon Watts, stepped away from the Fantastic Four movie, leaving it open for Shakman to step in and take over. Fantastic Four was initially set for a November 2024 release, but was pushed back last October alongside other MCU projects like the Mahershala Ali-fronted Blade, Deadpool 3, and Avengers: Secret Wars.

The Fantastic Four characters have appeared in four previous films: a 1994 unreleased movie executive produced by Roger Corman that was made solely for Constantin Film to maintain film rights. (It’s available on the ‘Tube’ to watch, but be aware, it’s totally 80’s with the big hair, bright smiles, and a Mr. Fantastic who takes seven minutes to stretch his arm down the hall to unlock a door – It’s brutal!)   

Two 20th Century Fox movies directed by Tim Story (released in 2005 and 2007, respectively) with stars Jessica Alba and Chris Evans.  These movies were just FUN and made for the whole family to enjoy.  No profanity, no gratuitous violence, and nothing you have to cover the kid’s eyes for.

Then…then came 2015 and the absolute garbage truck directed by Josh Trank (featuring Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell.) This was intended to be the start of Fox’s MCU as they intended to combine future movies with their equally abysmal Young X-Men!  (Thank you, Disney, for buying Fox and giving us hope again!)  

Additional details about Fantastic Four are sparse; there has been no word yet on the leading stars or plot synopsis.  Please DO NOT make the cast 20-somethings that are ‘super genius’’ and didn’t have to work for anything!  (Yeah, I’m still talking about you, Fox!) 

Shakman made his Marvel debut directing all episodes of the acclaimed Disney+ series WandaVision, for which he earned an Emmy nomination for Limited Series, Direction.

For even more details, head over to TheWrap.