Director Matt Shakman has shared insights into how he approached the challenge of bringing Reed Richards’ iconic stretching ability to life in the upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Drawing inspiration from both Marvel and DC artist Alex Ross and the beloved character Spider-Man, Shakman aims to create a more dynamic representation of the character on screen.
Shakman explained that translating the unique ability of stretching into live-action is particularly complex. “Stretching is challenging. People understand invisibility, they can understand being on fire. You can even understand a big rock guy, but stretching is tough because there’s nothing in our world that does that,” he stated. His previous work includes notable series such as Game of Thrones, The Boys, and WandaVision.
The film, which features Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, and Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, will see Marvel’s First Family confront the formidable Silver Surfer and Galactus. The stakes are exceptionally high, as the quartet is determined to protect Earth while also ensuring the safety of Sue and Reed’s newborn child, Franklin.
Shakman emphasized the importance of respecting the laws of physics when depicting the stretching ability. “If he’s going to stretch his arm, he’s going to need to counterbalance,” he noted. “He can’t just invent mass. So if his arm is getting longer, his hips and waist are getting smaller, his legs are getting thinner.” This meticulous attention to detail aims to preserve the anatomical integrity of the character, ensuring he does not appear as a mere tube but retains recognizable human features like elbows and wrists.
The director also praised the artistic contributions of Alex Ross, whose illustrations have significantly influenced his vision for Reed Richards. “He manages to keep an athleticism to it and a kind of heroic proportion while also maintaining the stretchiness, which is a key part of who he is,” Shakman remarked. By making Reed’s movement quick and dynamic, the film hopes to evoke a sense of agility reminiscent of Spider-Man.
Although there has been no official confirmation regarding a crossover with Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker in the anticipated team-up movie Avengers: Doomsday, the possibility exists that Pascal’s Reed could encounter the webslinger in the future.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to premiere in UK cinemas on July 24, 2024, followed by a release in U.S. theaters the next day. As anticipation builds, fans can look forward to this fresh take on Marvel’s First Family, along with upcoming movies and shows in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
