Matt Shakman to Direct New Planet of the Apes Film
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- Matt Shakman will direct a new Planet of the Apes film for 20th Century Studios, moving from Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps to the sci‑fi franchise.
- Josh Friedman will co‑write and produce the film alongside Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, after penning the previous Apes entry “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.”
- The prior Apes film “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” earned nearly $400 million worldwide on a $160 million budget, contributing to a $2 billion global box‑office total for the modern franchise over 15 years.
- Scott Aversano is overseeing the project for the studio, while Shakman’s recent credits include Disney’s Fantastic Four: First Steps and Marvel’s WandaVision.
Why it matters: 20th Century Studios secures a proven franchise with a high‑profile director, boosting its slate’s box‑office potential while giving Shakman and Friedman a marquee sci‑fi project that could drive multi‑billion‑dollar returns for the studio.
