Star Trek 4: Matt Shakman Reflects on Exiting as Director

Matt Shakman is currently set to direct the upcoming Fantastic Four, but prior to that, the director was tabbed with handling the upcoming Star Trek sequel.

Speaking to TheWrap about his decision to leave the Star Trek project, Shakman revealed that while he did enjoy his time working with the likes of J.J. Abrams and others on Star Trek, the opportunity to lead the Fantastic Four film was simply too hard to say no to.

“I had a great time working on Star Trek for a little over a year, working closely with J.J. Abrams and everyone at Paramount, and I love that franchise, and I love that cast that J.J. put together, and it would have been an unbelievable pleasure to work with them on the fourth installment there,” Shakman said. “But movies have different journeys and momentums and schedules are a little bit mercurial, and so when the Fantastic Four opportunity came up, it was just too hard to pass up, and to go back home to Marvel, a place that I worked on WandaVision at, with those people who are wonderful collaborators.”

Shakman also touched on the familial aspect of returning to Marvel, noting that in a way, both Star Trek and the Fantastic Four are similar to one another.

“It’s really a family there and to be able to go back and tackle something that I truly love, and they’re very similar in some ways: they both were launched in the ’60s at the same time, they’re both about optimism and looking to the stars and technology can solve everything and they’re about family too — the family you have, the family you make. So they’re aligned in many ways and speak to my heart and equally, so I’m excited to be working on Fantastic Four.”

Marvel’s Fantastic Four comic book series, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, debuted in 1961 and was the first superhero team title produced by Marvel Comics. The film is set to make its debut during Phase 6 of the MCU, on February 14, 2025.