Fanstasic Four director speaks on 'passing the baton' to Russo brothers for Avengers: Doomsday
The 49-year-old filmmaker – who helmed the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie – revealed the directing duo had visited the set of The Fantastic Four: First Steps to get a feel of the titular family for their 2026 blockbuster.
Speaking with Deadline, Shakman said of the Russo brothers: "They were very curious about what we were doing - they came to tour our sets, they would watch scenes that we were cutting together.
"They wanted to get to know these people as they were working on their story and their script, so that I could pass the baton to them and these characters would be well cared for."
The Fantastic Four: First Steps – which stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing – follows the titular family as they gain extraordinary powers after a cosmic accident during their exploration of outer space.
As they grapple with their new identities, the Fantastic Four must unite to stop the rising threat of Galactus (Ralph Ineson), who is hell-bent on destroying the destroy Earth.
While he has "no idea" what Marvel boss Kevin Feige has in store for fans with Avengers: Doomsday, Ineson insisted he would "of course" team up with Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in the MCU if he was given the chance.
He said: "I have no idea what Kevin Feige and everybody have planned, but I worked with Robert a few years ago on Dolittle for a few days, and he's an absolute gentleman and amazing actor, so I loved having the chance to work with him and watch him work.
"So, yeah, if I got the chance to team up with him again, of course I would."
As well as the Fantastic Four, Avengers: Doomsday will see the return of X-Men stars like Sir Ian McKellen's Magneto, Sir Patrick Stewart's Professor X, James Marsden's Cyclops, Rebecca Romijn's Mystique, Kelsey Grammer's Beast and Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler.
Other cast members for the movie include Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Sebastian Stan as James 'Bucky' Barnes, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man and Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova.
While exact plot details about Avengers: Doomsday are being kept under wraps, the film – which is slated to hit cinemas on December 18, 2026 – will likely see the Avengers, the New Avengers, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four team up to stop Doctor Doom from carrying out his catastrophic plans for the Multiverse.
With production on the movie currently underway, Feige revealed Avengers: Doomday's script is being tinkered with on set.
He said at a recent press event: " There's plus-ing happening every day on the Avengers: Doomsday set right now, and it is amazing to watch because what those filmmakers, those actors, both the ones that are playing these characters for the first or second time and the one playing them for the 10th or 12th time, are the best in the world at it, and know these characters so well.
"So if they have an idea, you want to listen to it and you want to adjust to it and you want to improve it. I wouldn't want to change that."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Jodhi Meares opens up about new life in Byron Bay after leaving Sydney: ‘I don't get bored'
Jodhi Meares has opened up about the real reason she left Sydney for Byron Bay, and the private life she has created for herself in the hinterland. In a new interview with Stellar, the fashion mogul and ex-wife of James Packer admits she was never comfortable in the spotlight and is 'definitely a behind the scenes person'. 'I'm a true introvert. I like to be able to watch people. I find people really interesting. 'Being in the public eye wrecked that a little bit,' Meares told Stellar. Late last year, Meares purchased a four-bedroom, Modernist-inspired home – which features an avocado, citrus, banana and papaw orchard, at Brooklet. The property is located inland between Ballina and Byron Bay in the NSW Northern Rivers region – and was purchased for a reported $4.1 million. Listen to a new episode of the Stellar podcast Something To Talk About below: Speaking to Stellar, The Upside designer explains why she is at home among the papaya trees, a dog named Soda Pop, and her five cows. 'I don't get bored and I don't get lonely. I suffer from other things, but I don't suffer from those things,' Meares said. 'Sometimes I have to ask myself, 'How many days has it been? I need to just go somewhere and speak to another human …'' The former Australia's Next Top Model host and Tigerlily founder also made a surprising confession about her time as a model, saying she 'never really loved having my photos taken'. 'It's been a means to an end. But I felt very lucky to be able to do it because I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I was young. 'And school and I didn't get along that well.' In the Stellar cover story, Meares also reflected on interviewing Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson – who stars in a new campaign for Meares' activewear brand, The Upside – for Stellar earlier this year. 'She's such a phenomenal woman. Elle doesn't have to do these things. I thought it was just very special,' Meares said. 'It was very beautiful, really touching that she was able to do that.' Listen to a new episode of the Stellar podcast Something To Talk About below:
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Superhero films ignite Marvel, DC comic fans' rivalry
Comic fans are embracing the latest showdown between Marvel and DC as their superhero films Fantastic Four and Superman compete for box-office dominance, reigniting a rivalry spanning eight decades. Whether it's the thrill of seeing the comic book superhero The Thing shout "It's clobbering time!" before throwing a punch or watching Superman and his faithful pup Krypto save the day, fans are heading to cinemas to support their favourite films. "Well, clearly I'm a Marvel fan," said Danielle Stroski, who was dressed as the shapeshifter character named Mystique from Marvel's X-Men comics, at the San Diego Comic-Con. "But I have a little white dog at home, so I love me some Superman as well. "And I know the little white dog is stealing the show for Superman, so it's going to be close, but I've got to go Marvel." The 42-year-old from California predicted Fantastic Four would outperform Superman at the box office. DC fan Lito Loza, dressed as Superboy, voiced his support for Superman. "I've already seen Superman three times, and I'm very, very happy with what James Gunn did with it," he said, referring to the director. "It makes me feel hopeful." The filmmakers, meanwhile, encourage fans to support both movies. "I'm a huge Superman fan. I'm a huge James Gunn fan. I'm thrilled that both of us are coming out this month," Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman told Reuters at the film's London premiere. "I think we share a lot of similar optimism in our tone and our feeling in the worlds that we're building. And there's room for Superman; there's room for Fantastic Four. "I'm thrilled. Go see both," he said. Comic fans are embracing the latest showdown between Marvel and DC as their superhero films Fantastic Four and Superman compete for box-office dominance, reigniting a rivalry spanning eight decades. Whether it's the thrill of seeing the comic book superhero The Thing shout "It's clobbering time!" before throwing a punch or watching Superman and his faithful pup Krypto save the day, fans are heading to cinemas to support their favourite films. "Well, clearly I'm a Marvel fan," said Danielle Stroski, who was dressed as the shapeshifter character named Mystique from Marvel's X-Men comics, at the San Diego Comic-Con. "But I have a little white dog at home, so I love me some Superman as well. "And I know the little white dog is stealing the show for Superman, so it's going to be close, but I've got to go Marvel." The 42-year-old from California predicted Fantastic Four would outperform Superman at the box office. DC fan Lito Loza, dressed as Superboy, voiced his support for Superman. "I've already seen Superman three times, and I'm very, very happy with what James Gunn did with it," he said, referring to the director. "It makes me feel hopeful." The filmmakers, meanwhile, encourage fans to support both movies. "I'm a huge Superman fan. I'm a huge James Gunn fan. I'm thrilled that both of us are coming out this month," Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman told Reuters at the film's London premiere. "I think we share a lot of similar optimism in our tone and our feeling in the worlds that we're building. And there's room for Superman; there's room for Fantastic Four. "I'm thrilled. Go see both," he said. Comic fans are embracing the latest showdown between Marvel and DC as their superhero films Fantastic Four and Superman compete for box-office dominance, reigniting a rivalry spanning eight decades. Whether it's the thrill of seeing the comic book superhero The Thing shout "It's clobbering time!" before throwing a punch or watching Superman and his faithful pup Krypto save the day, fans are heading to cinemas to support their favourite films. "Well, clearly I'm a Marvel fan," said Danielle Stroski, who was dressed as the shapeshifter character named Mystique from Marvel's X-Men comics, at the San Diego Comic-Con. "But I have a little white dog at home, so I love me some Superman as well. "And I know the little white dog is stealing the show for Superman, so it's going to be close, but I've got to go Marvel." The 42-year-old from California predicted Fantastic Four would outperform Superman at the box office. DC fan Lito Loza, dressed as Superboy, voiced his support for Superman. "I've already seen Superman three times, and I'm very, very happy with what James Gunn did with it," he said, referring to the director. "It makes me feel hopeful." The filmmakers, meanwhile, encourage fans to support both movies. "I'm a huge Superman fan. I'm a huge James Gunn fan. I'm thrilled that both of us are coming out this month," Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman told Reuters at the film's London premiere. "I think we share a lot of similar optimism in our tone and our feeling in the worlds that we're building. And there's room for Superman; there's room for Fantastic Four. "I'm thrilled. Go see both," he said. Comic fans are embracing the latest showdown between Marvel and DC as their superhero films Fantastic Four and Superman compete for box-office dominance, reigniting a rivalry spanning eight decades. Whether it's the thrill of seeing the comic book superhero The Thing shout "It's clobbering time!" before throwing a punch or watching Superman and his faithful pup Krypto save the day, fans are heading to cinemas to support their favourite films. "Well, clearly I'm a Marvel fan," said Danielle Stroski, who was dressed as the shapeshifter character named Mystique from Marvel's X-Men comics, at the San Diego Comic-Con. "But I have a little white dog at home, so I love me some Superman as well. "And I know the little white dog is stealing the show for Superman, so it's going to be close, but I've got to go Marvel." The 42-year-old from California predicted Fantastic Four would outperform Superman at the box office. DC fan Lito Loza, dressed as Superboy, voiced his support for Superman. "I've already seen Superman three times, and I'm very, very happy with what James Gunn did with it," he said, referring to the director. "It makes me feel hopeful." The filmmakers, meanwhile, encourage fans to support both movies. "I'm a huge Superman fan. I'm a huge James Gunn fan. I'm thrilled that both of us are coming out this month," Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman told Reuters at the film's London premiere. "I think we share a lot of similar optimism in our tone and our feeling in the worlds that we're building. And there's room for Superman; there's room for Fantastic Four. "I'm thrilled. Go see both," he said.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Superhero films ignite Marvel, DC comic fans' rivalry
Comic fans are embracing the latest showdown between Marvel and DC as their superhero films Fantastic Four and Superman compete for box-office dominance, reigniting a rivalry spanning eight decades. Whether it's the thrill of seeing the comic book superhero The Thing shout "It's clobbering time!" before throwing a punch or watching Superman and his faithful pup Krypto save the day, fans are heading to cinemas to support their favourite films. "Well, clearly I'm a Marvel fan," said Danielle Stroski, who was dressed as the shapeshifter character named Mystique from Marvel's X-Men comics, at the San Diego Comic-Con. "But I have a little white dog at home, so I love me some Superman as well. "And I know the little white dog is stealing the show for Superman, so it's going to be close, but I've got to go Marvel." The 42-year-old from California predicted Fantastic Four would outperform Superman at the box office. DC fan Lito Loza, dressed as Superboy, voiced his support for Superman. "I've already seen Superman three times, and I'm very, very happy with what James Gunn did with it," he said, referring to the director. "It makes me feel hopeful." The filmmakers, meanwhile, encourage fans to support both movies. "I'm a huge Superman fan. I'm a huge James Gunn fan. I'm thrilled that both of us are coming out this month," Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman told Reuters at the film's London premiere. "I think we share a lot of similar optimism in our tone and our feeling in the worlds that we're building. And there's room for Superman; there's room for Fantastic Four. "I'm thrilled. Go see both," he said.
