Shakman, Matt Leaving ‘Star Trek’ After ‘Fantastic Four’ Directing Job Talks

Matt Shakman, the director of WandaVision, is in early talks to direct Marvel’s Fantastic Four, according to Deadline. As a result, he’s leaving the Star Trek film he was previously attached to direct for Paramount/Bad Robot.

“Matt Shakman is an incredibly talented filmmaker, and we regret the timing didn’t align for him to direct our upcoming Star Trek film,” says Paramount Pictures in a statement. We are grateful for his many contributions, excited about the creative vision of this next chapter, and eager to bring it to audiences all over the world.”

The film, written by the feature franchise’s first female writers, Lindsey Beer and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, is set to be released on December 22, 2023. Shakman’s involvement with Star Trek was first reported by Deadline in July 2021. Previously, The Revenant’s Mark L. Smith (for Quentin Tarantino) and Noah Hawley attempted Star Trek scripts.

The Fantastic Four will be released on November 8, 2024. Fantastic Four, as Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige stated at the San Diego Comic-Con, kicks off Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.