A sequel for Marvel’s Fantastic Four may not be coming anytime soon, as director Matt Shakman is reportedly moving on to another major franchise.
Deadline reports Shakman is set to direct a new untitled Planet of the Apes movie for 20th Century Studios at Disney. Too boot, Josh Friedman, who also co-wrote The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is writing the script for Shakman’s new Apes flick.
Shakman will also produce the new Apes movie alongside longtime franchise producers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.
New Planet Of The Apes Movie In The Works
Plot details are being kept quiet, but Deadline says the movie will return to the planet where apes are the superior species and rule over all.
The report also says this is not expected to be a continuation of 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Instead, Shakman and Friedman are developing a new original story.
That makes the move a pretty big one for Shakman, who helped spearhead Disney+ with WandaVision and relaunch Marvel’s First Family with The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
What Does This Mean For Fantastic Four 2?
The obvious question is what this means for Fantastic Four 2.
Marvel has not officially announced a sequel to The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The movie made only made $521.8 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, which is teeters on being a flop, but it also does not scream automatic billion-dollar MCU franchise.
The cast is next confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday and possibly Avengers: Secret Wars, which are set for Dec. 18, 2026 and Dec. 17, 2027.
That already pushes the next solo Fantastic Four movie out by several years, assuming it happens at all.
Marvel Already Has A Crowded Post-Secret Wars Slate
Disney and Marvel have several untitled Marvel release dates on the calendar after Secret Wars, including July 28, 2028, Dec. 15, 2028, May 4, 2029, and July 13, 2029.
The problem for Fantastic Four fans is that those dates are already expected to be highly competitive inside Marvel.
The X-Men reboot is believed to be one of Marvel’s top priorities after Secret Wars. Black Panther 3 is also expected to happen, with Ryan Coogler still one of Marvel’s biggest names after the success of the first two Black Panther movies.
That leaves Fantastic Four 2 with no clear path forward.
Marvel could always slot the sequel into one of those dates, but Shakman now taking on Planet of the Apes suggests the studio may not be rushing it.
If the plan were to fast-track Fantastic Four 2 for 2028, it would be surprising to see its director jump to another effects-heavy franchise at another Disney-owned studio.
Fantastic Four May Be Folded Into Avengers First
For now, the safer bet is that Marvel uses the Fantastic Four as part of the larger Avengers storyline before deciding what comes next.
That could mean The Fantastic Four: First Steps ends up being less of a launchpad for a quick sequel and more of a setup movie for Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Marvel has been cutting back and slowing down after years of flooding theaters and Disney+ with subpar content.
A Fantastic Four sequel is still possible, but between the $521 million box office, Shakman’s Planet of the Apes move, and Marvel’s packed post-Secret Wars slate, it no longer feels like a sure thing.
