Matt Shakman has been quick to pump the breaks on the hype train. The director clarified his comments in a chat with Screen Rant, remarking that he was only talking about Reed Richards’ evolution in the comics, not specifically his role in Avengers: Doomsday.
“So I actually didn’t say that… The internet ran with it. So the question asked me about casting Pedro and about, and I was talking about Reed Richards in the comic books and how Reed Richards is sometimes the cerebral scientist. Sometimes he’s off leading the Avengers, sometimes he’s a father, a husband, whatever.”
“So I was talking about him in the comic books and about how there are so many different aspects to that character. Somebody who is believably the smartest man in the universe, somebody who will jump into the action and be believable as a leader.”
“And also somebody who has that emotional connection to their family. And that’s why I was drawn to Pedro, such an incredible actor. So what he does in Avengers Doomsday is not for me to talk about, talk to Joe or Anthony. I was just talking about reading the comic books and how I was figuring out who could play him the best.”