Jon Watts, the visionary director behind the immensely successful Spider-Man trilogy, stunned Hollywood when he decided to step away from the MCU. His last Marvel movie, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ not only became a cultural phenomenon but also raked in nearly $2 billion at the global box office.
Despite this unparalleled success, Watts chose to walk a different path, leading to ‘Wolfs‘. With Brad Pitt and George Clooney on board, this project was bound to turn heads.
Why Jon Watts Ditched Marvel In The Rearview Mirror
Jon Watts’ decision to step away from the Marvel franchise wasn’t easy, especially after ‘No Way Home‘ became a cultural phenomenon. In December 2021, Jon Watts found himself standing in the back of the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard on the opening night of his last film, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’
Watts recalled that moment vividly, saying, “That was such a specific moment in time, and the reaction to that movie was just so unbelievable. It’s never going to be like this, ever again.”
Related: Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Spider-Man 4’ Will Replace Jon Watts As Director
But let’s be real; leaving behind the Marvel magic and a nearly guaranteed box office hit could have been career threatening. Yet, Watts was undeterred.
He exited ‘Fantastic Four‘ in 2022 and decided to dive headfirst into something new and risky. Inspired by films like ‘Le Samouraï‘ and ‘Midnight Run‘, Watts wrote ‘Wolfs‘. It’s movie about two rival fixers who are forced to work together.
The concept, as Watts described it, is simple enough. “For these two too-cool-for-school guys, what would burst their bubble more than meeting someone that’s basically exactly like them?” he said.
The George Clooney-Brad Pitt Dynamic and A Chilly New York Shoot
Filming ‘Wolfs‘ was a completely different experience for Jon Watts. Shot primarily on location in New York City during the freezing winter months, the movie pushed Watts to take full control of every aspect of the production. Watts insisted on directing every shot himself. “On this one, I was like, ‘I want to shoot every single shot,'” Watts explained.
Producer Dede Gardner, who worked with Pitt on ‘Wolfs‘, admired Watts’ unwavering vision. He stated, “It’s the only time in my life where you hear a logline and then he says what he’s going to write and then he writes it.“
In Case You Missed: “I’ve Got His Back”: George Clooney And Brad Pitt Share The Secret Of Their Lasting Hollywood Bromance
“Then he goes and shoots it, then he goes and cuts it, and then he goes and delivers it. It was just the most straight line,” he added.
For Watts, this movie represents a return to his filmmaking roots, where he has full creative ownership. Unlike Spider-Man, which will always belong to Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, ‘Wolfs‘ is a product of Watts’ voice, vision, and style.
‘Wolfs‘ will be heading to theatres on September 20.
