Matt Shakman On What To Expect From Fantastic Four, Will Begin Filming Next Year

Director Matt Shakman is bringing the Fantastic Four into the MCU, and he recently teased what to expect from the film. Shakman spoke with Collider for a new interview and noted that they are holding off on announcing the cast due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, while adding that the film will begin filming early next year in London.

The film is currently set for a May 2nd, 2025 release as part of the MCU’s Phase Six. You can see some highlights below from the interview:

On working on the film: “Absolutely having a great time. It’s a dream of mine to be able to work on that. I’ve loved those characters since I was little. It’s such an awesome world to be in. The script is awesome, the characters are brilliant. I’m super excited. I’m obviously very happy now that the writers’ strike has resolved in such a good way, and we’re able to reunite with Josh Friedman, our amazing screenwriter. I’m really hoping for a fair and equitable resolution to the actors’ strike soon, too. Keeping our fingers crossed. But we’re going! We’re a snowball heading downhill. It’s awesome. It’s got a lot of momentum. It’s really fun.”

On the filming schedule: “Yes, we are definitely gonna go in front of cameras next year. Probably the spring.”

On the work on the visual effects: “We have been nonstop. Despite the strikes, yes, we’ve been working with the effects and with production design and building our world, and that’s been incredibly exciting. You know, how do you translate those skills into live-action in dynamic ways? Because some things that work beautifully in John Byrne and Jack Kirby are a little tougher when you’re filming them. How do you make sure that things are exciting but also grounded in a scientific thing, which is also part of the Fantastic Four that I love? There’s some stuff I’m super excited about. I can’t say too much, you know?”

On when the casting will be revealed: “Hard to say. Like I said, we’re in the middle of a SAG strike, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they get a great deal really soon and we can go back. Then, once that’s resolved, there’ll be a plan at that point, but I can’t say too much. There will be an announcement at some point! I know that the internet is very excited to find out, and I’m excited to share it. I just can’t do it yet.”

On what to expect from the script: “It’s different in so many ways. I wish I could be specific. I wish I could say more. But we are doing things very differently from a story standpoint, from an approach to the filmmaking standpoint, that really fits the material. I wish I could say more. I would love to, but I can’t. But I think it’s going to be unlike anything you’ve seen before, and certainly unlike anything at Marvel that you’ve seen before.”