The Fantastic Four: First Steps director reveals his comic book inspiration for the Marvel film

It took nearly two decades since the MCU's inception for Marvel's First Family to appear on the screen, but it's finally happening with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. They will be a part of their introductory project, followed by their appearance in Avengers: Doomsday. The recently released Thunderbolts* already hinted at their journey toward Earth-616, and that was enough to cheer up the Marvel fans. Like them, the First Steps director Matt Shakman is excited to see the four heroes in the universe.

Previously, Shakman mentioned Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey as a key inspiration for how he envisioned his movie. In a recent discussion with Variety, he shared another inspiration that is too close to his heart. He has been a fan of the First Family for several years and understands their value in the expanded comic universe from Marvel. So, while bringing them to the screen, he was keen on introducing them as a family with a clear understanding of everyone's place within the unit.

To achieve it with sincerity and heart, Shakman took inspiration from Fantastic Four: Solve Everything, a 2023 volume by Jonathan Hickman. Hickman wrote the comic while Steve Epting, Neil Edwards, and Dale Eaglesham worked on the art. Shakman sees it as a major influence and points out the qualities that affected him in a forward. He praises Hickman's unique insight into Jack Kirby and Stan Lee's original creation by saying,

"It was Hickman’s deep insight into the specific family dynamics of the Four that affected me the most."

He further adds,

"Hickman is a poet, of both the everyday and the extraordinary. His work beats with a heart as big as Sue Storm’s, rendering an emotional journey that culminates in a scene that makes me tear up every time I read it. (I won’t ruin it… just wait for “Uncles.”) His writing is thrilling, thought-provoking, and tender…and, like the characters he writes about, fantastic."

The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman shares details about his inspiration for the MCU movie.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman is not new to the MCU. He was an integral part of the WandaVision creative team. In addition to the work for Marvel, he has extensive directorial experience on shows from Succession and Game of Thrones all the way up to The Boys and Fargo. So, he understands how to develop a family drama, a dark comedy, and a satire, among other things.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps shows him working with the team of Pedro Pascal (as Reed Richards), Joseph Quinn (as Johnny Storm), Vanessa Kirby (as Sue Storm), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (as Ben Grimm). In the foreword for Jonathan Hickman's book, he mentions what fascinates him about these characters and how Hickman effortlessly incorporates that in his work.

Shakman details Hickman's insight into the central couple:

"Hickman’s Sue may be the most powerful member of the Four — she’s the glue that holds the world together while Reed experiments in the lab with things that could destroy it. She brokers deals as the world’s finest diplomat, ending up as the Queen of the Sea."

He further adds,

"The author runs right at Mister Fantastic’s weakness: believing that he can and should do it all on his own. Reed is determined to “Solve Everything” — but he learns that the cost of solving everything is… everything"

Speaking about the rest of the family, Shakman adds,

"Johnny’s need to be taken seriously. Ben’s gentle nature, forever at odds with his appearance."

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 25, 2025.

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Also read: First look at Galactus revealed in The Fantastic Four: First Steps promo art

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