Matt Shakman Set to Direct New Planet of the Apes Film After Fantastic Four

In a significant move for the science fiction genre, 20th Century Studios has officially recruited director Matt Shakman to helm an ambitious new Planet of the Apes movie that promises to take the legendary franchise in a startlingly fresh direction. Following his acclaimed work on Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Shakman is reuniting with talented screenwriter Josh Friedman to craft a narrative that departs from the established timeline seen in recent cinematic entries. 

While many industry insiders previously anticipated a direct follow-up to the successful Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, this newly announced project will instead function as a standalone venture that explores unexplored corners of the evolving simian world.

Josh Friedman brings a wealth of blockbuster experience to the writing desk because he has previously contributed to massive hits like Avatar: The Way of Water and the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash. 

His deep familiarity with the studio’s creative vision makes him the perfect candidate to pen this script, especially since he already understands the complex themes of power and survival that define this intellectual property. The production will benefit from the return of veteran producers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who have been instrumental in guiding the series since it was successfully rebooted back in 2011.

Matt Shakman has quickly become one of the most sought-after filmmakers in Hollywood after demonstrating his unique visual flair on the Emmy-winning series WandaVision and the high-budget Apple TV+ spectacle Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Because he possesses a knack for balancing intimate character growth with grand-scale action, his involvement suggests that the new film will maintain the high emotional stakes fans have come to expect. 

Although Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes earned nearly $400 million at the global box office and proved the brand’s enduring popularity, the studio is choosing to innovate rather than simply repeating the same story beats.

As development begins, executive vice president of production Scott Aversano is set to oversee the project to ensure it aligns with the studio’s long-term goals for the franchise. This announcement has already generated significant buzz throughout the industry because it highlights a bold strategy of creative experimentation within a traditional blockbuster framework.