Marvel Fans Worried as Matt Shakman’s New Project Puts ‘Fantastic Four’ Sequel in Question
Matt Shakman’s next big directing job is already making Marvel fans nervous about the future of the Fantastic Four franchise.
The filmmaker, who directed “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” has officially signed on to helm a brand-new “Planet of the Apes” movie for 20th Century Studios, and many fans are now wondering whether he will still return for a Fantastic Four sequel.
According to reports, Marvel Studios has not officially confirmed “Fantastic Four 2,” even though a follow-up is believed to be in early development. The situation has led to growing speculation online, especially after insider Jeff Sneider and The Rocha Says claimed Shakman may not come back for the sequel at all.
Matt Shakman will reportedly not return to direct the sequel to ‘THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS’.
— GoldenSeries (@series_golden) May 11, 2026
(Via @TheRochaSays) pic.twitter.com/K9ZdyYbbZT
The uncertainty comes at an interesting time for Marvel. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” was released in 2025 as the official introduction of Marvel’s First Family into the MCU. Directed by Shakman, the movie starred Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the iconic superhero team. The story took place in a retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired world where the group faced Galactus, the planet-devouring cosmic villain played by Ralph Ineson.
The movie performed well at the box office, earning more than $521 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing Fantastic Four movie ever made. Critics were generally positive toward the film, especially praising its visual style and cast chemistry. Still, some reports suggest Marvel may have expected even bigger numbers considering the importance of the franchise moving into Phase Six of the MCU.
Marvel could already be looking at other directing options for the sequel. While nothing has been confirmed publicly by the studio, fans are worried that losing Shakman could completely change the tone and direction established in the first film.
At the same time, some fans believe the situation may not be as dramatic as it sounds. The new “Planet of the Apes” film is still in early stages, and Marvel reportedly does not plan to release another Fantastic Four movie until sometime close to 2029. Because of that long timeline, there is still a chance Shakman could return after finishing his other project.
Online reactions have been divided. Some viewers are disappointed by the possibility of Marvel changing directors so quickly after finally finding a version of Fantastic Four that audiences connected with. Others think Disney continuing to work with Shakman on another major franchise could actually be a positive sign for his future relationship with Marvel.
For now, Marvel Studios has remained quiet about the sequel’s status. No official release date, cast updates, or director announcements have been made. But with Shakman now attached to another major sci-fi franchise, fans are already debating what the future of the Fantastic Four could look like without him behind the camera.
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