Fantastic Four First Steps Director Reveals Its Comic Book Influences

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Fantastic Four First Steps Director Reveals Its Comic Book Influences

As a lifelong comic book enthusiast and devotee of all things Fantastic Four, I couldn’t be more thrilled about Matt Shakman’s approach to the upcoming “Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Having grown up with the original Kirby and Lee comics and following the characters through various iterations, it’s refreshing to hear that Shakman is focusing on the source material rather than rehashing Marvel’s previous attempts at adapting the beloved franchise.

It’s reassuring to know that Director Matt Shakman’s upcoming film, “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” won’t be a rehash of Marvel’s past errors with the comic book series. Instead, Shakman has emphasized in a recent interview that this production is rooted in the original comics, not following in the footsteps of Marvel’s previous attempts to bring the esteemed First Family to life on the big screen within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“Rather than focusing on other film adaptations, I’m diving deep into the comics themselves. As a longtime comic book enthusiast, I’ve been captivated by the Fantastic Four since my childhood days. So, delving into the works of Kirby, Lee, Byrne, and more recent creators like Hickman, Waid, and Ryan North, I’m trying to understand these characters on a personal level and bring them to life in the most authentic way possible.”

Fans of the Jessica Alba and Chris Evans’ “Fantastic Four” (2005) and its sequel, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” or even the controversial 2015 reboot, should not anticipate any references or tributes to these films as Shakman has surprisingly never watched any of them. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, “The First Steps” director admitted he has not seen any of the movies.

I haven’t watched those movies yet because when I started working on this project, it didn’t resonate with me as a productive use of my time. With my extensive background in the field, I often find myself asked questions like “How is this different from those other ones?” However, I believe that creating something new doesn’t have to be about opposition or comparison to existing works; instead, it should aim to contribute something fresh and unique to the conversation.

Fantastic Four: First Steps Isn’t Another Origin Story

Fantastic Four First Steps Director Reveals Its Comic Book InfluencesFantastic Four First Steps Director Reveals Its Comic Book InfluencesFantastic Four First Steps Director Reveals Its Comic Book InfluencesFantastic Four First Steps Director Reveals Its Comic Book Influences

Matt Shakman, director of Fantastic Four, remains silent about the possibility of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom appearing in First Steps. Instead, he is choosing to trust the audience and not force another origin story onto moviegoers. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Shakman described First Steps as a unique project that stands on its own.

One approach to rephrasing the given text in a more natural and easy-to-understand manner could be:

Although Shakman has hinted at Ralph Ineson’s character as Galactus, the eagerly anticipated “First Steps” project will portray the space race differently. Instead of the historical figures who made “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” the Fantastic Four, with their superhero abilities, will spearhead this new depiction. During the same interview, Shakman stated:

“The comic book emerged in the early ’60s, coinciding with the commencement of the space race. Consequently, it embodies the concept of gazing towards the cosmos and envisioning a time when we would be astronauts. As such, I was eager to incorporate elements from Apollo 11 and fantasize about a scenario where instead of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, it was the Storms, Ben Grimm, and Reed Richards embarking on a space voyage.”

Shakman’s “Fantastic Four: First Steps” is being filmed right now, and the film is scheduled to hit theaters on July 25, 2025, a mere two weeks after James Gunn’s “Superman” premieres in theatres. The cast, which includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Fantastic Family, faces a significant challenge, regardless of RDJ’s participation. This is because Ineson’s Devourer of Worlds poses a formidable threat.

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2024-08-18 03:31