Matt Shakman

Matt Shakman (born August 8, 1975) is an American director and former child actor. He is best known for directing the Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries WandaVision and the film The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). He has also directed episodes of The Great, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Fargo and Game of Thrones. He was the artistic director of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, California from 2017 to 2023.

Early life Shakman was born and raised in Ventura, California. His Jewish father and Catholic mother maintained a "relatively secular household", their interfaith marriage being a source of conflict with Shakman's Jewish paternal grandmother. After acting as a child, starting with commercials and landing a series regular role on Just the Ten of Us, he stepped away to attend The Thacher School in Ojai. It was at Yale where Shakman became interested in theatre, going on to direct a number of stage productions.

After university, Shakman lived in New York City for several years before permanently moving to Los Angeles.

Career As a child actor, Shakman played Graham "J.R." Lubbock, Jr. in the Growing Pains spin-off series Just the Ten of Us (1988–1990). His other television acting credits include The Facts of Life, Highway to Heaven, Diff'rent Strokes, Night Court, Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Webster. He also appeared in the films A Night at the Magic Castle (1988), and Meet the Hollowheads (1989).

Shakman is the founder and Artistic Director of the Black Dahlia Theatre (BDT) in Los Angeles, which was named one of "a dozen young American companies you need to know" by American Theatre Magazine.

Since 2002, Shakman has mostly been directing for television. Among his credits include Succession, Mad Men, Six Feet Under, The Boys, The Great, House M.D., Fargo, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (also executive producer).

Shakman directed the episodes "The Spoils of War" and "Eastwatch" for the seventh season of the HBO series Game of Thrones in 2017. In August of the same year, Shakman was appointed as the new artistic director of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

In 2017, TriStar Pictures announced that Shakman would direct its upcoming "live-action/hybrid" film adaptation of The Phantom Tollbooth. In 2018, Shakman exited the project due to scheduling conflicts.

In 2021, Shakman directed and executive produced the Marvel Studios miniseries WandaVision for Disney+. Later that year, it was revealed that Shakman would direct a film in the Star Trek franchise. In late August 2022, Shakman was in early talks to direct the Marvel Studios film The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), replacing Jon Watts, director of the first three MCU Spider-Man films, who exited the project to take a break from the superhero genre. On August 26, 2022, Shakman exited the Star Trek film, citing "scheduling issues", before being confirmed as the Fantastic Four director just weeks later. When asked why he chose to do Fantastic Four over Star Trek, Shakman said: "ovies have different journeys and momentums and schedules are a little bit mercurial, and so when the Fantastic Four opportunity came up, it was just too hard to pass up, and to go back home to Marvel, a place that I worked on WandaVision at, with those people who are wonderful collaborators."

In May 2026, Shakman was set to direct and produce a new Planet of the Apes film at 20th Century Studios, reuniting with First Steps writer Josh Friedman.

Filmography Film Cut Bank (2014) The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

TV series

Miniseries

Theatre YearTitleVenue 2013 Wait Until DarkGeffen Playhouse 2015 Bad Jews Good People Secrets of the Trade Primary Stages 2002 Den of Thieves 2007 The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Placement (by Blair Singer)

Awards and nominations 2021: Emmy Award (nomination)—Limited Series Direction, WandaVision 2021: Emmy Award (nomination)—Limited Series, WandaVision 2021: Directors Guild of America (nomination)—TV Film/Limited Series, WandaVision 2020: Emmy Award (nomination)—Comedy Series Direction, The Great, "The Great (Pilot)" 2018: Directors Guild of America (nomination)—Dramatic Series, Game of Thrones, "The Spoils of War" 2012: L.A. Drama Critics Circle Milton Katselas Award for Career or Special Achievement in Direction 2012: LA Weekly Award (nomination) – Direction of a Musical 2011: L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award (nomination)-Direction 2009: Garland Award, Direction 2008: Ovation Award, Direction 2008: GLAAD Award, LA Production 2005: L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Direction 2004: Ovation Award (nomination)-Direction 2002: Garland Award for Direction 2002: L.A. Weekly Award (nomination) – Direction 1989: Young Artist Awards – Best Young Actor/Actress Ensemble in a Television Comedy, Drama Series or Special