When it comes too Marvel’s first family of superheroes, we all know that third time needs to be the charm. Ever since theFantastic Fourreverted back to Marvel Studios to be produced underKevin Feige, fans have built up expectations as to how they are going to be re-introduced to the new superhero layout. And it seems that Marvel is worried too:Josh Friedman(Avatar: The Way of Water) has been selected to do re-writes on the script of the upcoming blockbuster.
Friedman has had a prolific career as a writer and story developer. As well as having written the story for James Cameron’s 2022 blockbuster, the screenwriter also developed TV seriesSnowpiercer,Foundation, andEmerald City. He also wrote the story forTerminator: Dark FateandSteven Spielberg’sWar of the Worlds. His background as a science fiction writer certainly will make a difference when approaching the family of superheroes, especially when it comes to the leader and scientist Dr. Reed Richards (played byJohn KrasinskiinDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness).
Originally, the screenplay for the newFantastic Fourhad beenco-written byJeff KaplanandIan Springer, who previously had worked onThe Last of the Great RomanticsandBert and Arnie’s Guide to Friendship. We’ll still need to know at what capacity Friedman has been hired to do re-writes: A complete re-write could impact themovie’s expected 2025 release date, but Friedman could have been hired as a “script doctor” as well, meaning that he would tweak and improve the story written by the duo.
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Is Marvel Going Back to the Drawing Board?
Marvel Studios seems to be making a point of working on their upcoming scripts. Just one day ago, it was announced that another upcoming title,Thunderbolts, is alsogetting re-written by Netflix’sBeefcreatorLee Sung Jin. Those changes could be an indication that mega-producer Kevin Feige is taking another look at what’s to come in Phase Five and trying to improve it, since the Marvel titles have not been getting the same reception that the ones in previous phases. ForFantastic Four,Matt Shakman(WandaVision) is still attached to direct.
True to the studio’s history, Marvel is keeping mum about details fromFantastic Four. So far, we don’t knowif Krasinski will reprise his role of Reed Richards, and the actor suggested that this is unlikely. We also don’t know how the family of superheroes will be factored into the MCU, sinceFeige himself confirmed the movie won’t be an origin story. At the same time, the producer suggested that the group will be introduced in a way that makes them feel indispensable for future phases.
Fantastic Fourisstill slated to begin filming in early 2024.You can check out our interview with the film director Matt Shakman below:
