Jon Watts to Direct the MCU’s Fantastic Four Movie

Marvel’s First Family are finally coming home in the Fantastic Four, who are getting their first MCU film as directed by Jon Watts. Disney announced on Thursday during Disney Investor Day 2020 that Watts (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home) will direct the film, which will introduce the Fantastic Four to the MCU after years of being a Fox property.

The foursome — Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing — and their primary adversary Doctor Doom have been depicted on film in two versions over three films. The first Fantastic Four film to see official release came in 2005 from director Tim Story and starred Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, and Julian McMahon as Doom. That film was not well-loved by fans or critics but was a big enough hit for 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer which disappointed at the box office.

The franchise was then defunct until 2015’s infamous Fantastic Four directed by Josh Trank and starring Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, and Toby Kebbell. That film was the subject of massive production issues and bombed at the box office. There was also an unreleased 1994 film version executive produced by Roger Corman, which was produced just to keep the rights. It was never officially released, though bootleg versions of it are popular sellers at conventions.

No word on casting for the new film, nor a potential release date.

Jon Watts will direct the new feature film for Marvel's First Family, Fantastic Four! pic.twitter.com/Eu26ghxbGT

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020