There's been speculation for a while now that Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four movie could be a period piece. Various rumours and leaks point to the story taking place in the 1960s, meaning the MCU debut of Marvel's First Family can play out during the same period as their earliest comic book adventures.
Whether they hail from a different reality or Earth-616's past remains to be seen, though it's an intriguing approach to the material which has both upsides and downsides (how much of a genius can Reed Richards be in the present day if he was first an inventor more than 60 years ago?).
Leaker @Cryptic4Qual recently took to X to share a rumour Fantastic Four will "be shot in 18fps and interpolated to 24fps." Remember, Super 8 film was created in 1965, suggesting the plan is to imitate the format so the reboot boasts a unique look with scenes appearing as if they were shot during the 1960s.
There's a risk that will wear thin across the course of a 2+ hour movie, so perhaps the team simply ends up stranded in the '60s for a brief spell?
It's feasible, for example, that when Reed, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm were inadvertently sent back in time after being bombarded with cosmic rays, leaving them temporarily trapped in the past until they're able to return home. We'll have to wait and see.
Either way, it seems Marvel Studios and filmmaker Matt Shakman have unique plans for Fantastic Four and, with any luck, an official casting announcement is going to be made any day now.
The Fantastic Four, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, debuted in 1961. The team is comprised of Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Susan Storm (Invisible Woman), Johnny Storm (Human Torch), and Ben Grimm (The Thing). They gained superpowers during a space mission, becoming Marvel's first family of superheroes.
Reed is the brilliant stretchy strategist, Sue has invisibility and force field powers, Johnny controls fire, and while Ben possesses super strength, he's also covered by rock. The team confronts cosmic threats, explores alternate dimensions, and battles iconic foes like Doctor Doom. Their groundbreaking stories revolutionized superhero comics, emphasizing family dynamics and sci-fi adventures.
Director Matt Shakman has worked with both Avatar: The Way of Water co-writer Josh Friedman and WandaVision's Cam Squires on the latest draft of Fantastic Four's screenplay. The movie is currently scheduled to be released in theaters on May 2, 2025.