In “Fantastic Four: First Step,” director Matt Shakman had the opportunity to create something completely separate from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“We’re our own universe, and it’s wonderful and liberating,” the film director said in an interview with Empire Out’s Friday about the blockbuster that takes place in a different reality than other Marvel movies and TV shows. “Not really [other] Superhero. There are no Easter eggs. You will never come across Iron Man or anything like that. They are that in this universe. I love the interconnected Marvel universe, but we can do things that are so new and different. ”
“Fantastic Four: First Step” is set in a retro-future reality inspired by the space races of the 1950s and ’60s, as it marks the first crack of Marvel Studios in realizing the iconic first superhero team in live-action format. Its heroes, Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Evon Moss Bachalach), are teams of astronauts who gain the power of superheroes in space travel.
“This is about the spirit of space racing. It’s about JFK and optimism. I imagine these four going into space instead of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin,” Shakman teased. “The idea is that because they are adventurers, explorers, astronauts, they are not because they are superheroes, but because they are the most famous people in America. They’re back and they’re superheroes on top of that.
Previous director credits include episodes of Marvel’s “Wanda Vision,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Shakman described the film as “a combination of Marvel and “Apollo 11.” Booster rocket. ”
Shakman not only wanted the “Fantastic Four” to evoke the technology, spirit and aesthetics of the 60s, but also wanted to feel like it was actually filmed decades ago. “I really wanted to feel like it was made in 1965. [‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ director] Shakman added. This meant relying on practical sets and props more than Marvel fans were used to seeing, including the 14-foot-high miniatures of the spacecraft.
Shakman told Empire that he and his “first step” collaborators “used an old lens and took an approach to filmmaking.” That said, the filmmaker said, “Of course there’s still a lot of CG.”
Though “Fantastic Four” is set in its own world, Shakuman admitted that it’s not too far away from seeing the characters actually interact with other MCU heroes. That fact has already been confirmed by Marvel, including Quinn, Moss Bachalach, Kirby and Pascal, in the announcement of the live cast of “Avengers: Doom Day.”
“In the end, this world will meet other worlds,” he admitted. “But for now, this is our own little corner.”
“Fantastic Four: First Step” is scheduled to hit theaters on July 25th..
The director of “Fantastic Four” says Marvel films are completely independent. “This is our own little corner” first appeared in The Wrap.
