Matt Shakman, the director of *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*, has discussed the creative freedom he was given while working on the film, despite worries that the studio might have imposed strict rules. This new adaptation is the first to bring the classic comic book family into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and there was a lot of anticipation after two earlier attempts at a movie franchise. Like all Marvel films, it needed to align with the overall MCU storyline, which led to online speculation that Kevin Feige might have limited Shakman’s creative control.
However, that doesn’t appear to be what happened. In an interview with Next Best Picture, Shakman explained that Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, didn’t ask for any elements to be added to the movie to connect it to future Marvel Cinematic Universe projects.
The director of *First Steps* clarified that Kevin Feige didn’t give any instructions to hint at future Marvel movies or shows. They confirmed the only planning done during the making of *Fantastic Four* was to create a unique, retro-futuristic alternate Earth inspired by the 1960s, distinct from the main Marvel universe (Earth-616).
I was really curious to know if Kevin Feige, being the mastermind behind the MCU, ever gave anyone specific instructions while making the movie. Like, did he ask them to sneak in something to set up a future character or storyline? It’s gotta happen, right?
We weren’t planning ahead for future movies at all,” Shakman explained. “Our priority was simply to tell this story, create this unique, vintage-futuristic world inspired by the 1960s, and introduce the Fantastic Four. We were completely focused on making this film stand on its own.”
I was really interested to hear what Kevin Feige had to say about the new *Fantastic Four* movie. It’s no secret he often guides the creative direction of Marvel films, so I wanted to know if he’d given director Matt Shakman any specific instructions for these characters. What he shared was pretty fascinating. Feige emphasized they both agreed *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* needed to be its own, self-contained story, existing in its own universe. And Shakman was apparently thrilled with that! Feige said the director saw it as a chance to really make the movie his own and bring something fresh to the MCU.
From the very beginning, we envisioned this as a separate, self-contained film. We wanted it to exist in its own universe – Earth-828, for those following along – and Matt Shakman was immediately on board. He was excited by the opportunity to create something truly original, something that would eventually connect to our wider universe, but could be enjoyed on its own terms, without needing any previous knowledge. He jumped in with both feet.
The new movie, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*, features Marvel’s iconic family as they try to save Earth from Galactus, a powerful being who plans to destroy the planet. It hit theaters on July 25th and stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Fantastic Four.
Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Freedom Worked in the Film’s Favor
Compared to other Marvel Studios movies, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* allowed for a surprisingly large amount of creative independence. Since the Marvel Cinematic Universe began in 2008 with *Iron Man*, it’s been carefully constructing a connected timeline and world where each story can influence the others.
Because *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* takes place on a different Earth, director Shakman wasn’t constrained by the existing Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. This approach, approved by Marvel head Kevin Feige, enabled a more accurate and upbeat adaptation of the comic book characters, particularly through the film’s distinct 1960s aesthetic, which the alternate Earth setting made possible.
Though the Fantastic Four will eventually join the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe in upcoming *Avengers* movies like *Doomsday* and *Secret Wars*, letting them have their own standalone story first was a smart way to introduce them to the MCU.
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2025-10-12 00:05