American director and producer Jon Watts directed the Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home films for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
He was also set to helm the forthcoming Marvel Studios film Fantastic Four. However, he pulled out of the production in April 2022. Recently he has stepped down as director of Fantastic Four, Marvel Studios. Disney’s reimagining of the iconic Marvel Comics franchise.
Jon Watts Stepped Down As Director Of Fantastic Four: Know Why?
Watts recently helmed Spider-Man: No Way Home, a Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios film that earned $1.89 billion worldwide, making it the sixth highest-grossing film of all time.
Watts simply needs a vacation from the superhero world after finishing the Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland and Zendaya. He had planned to create Fantastic Four as his next project, the series’s third feature picture and the first after Disney purchased Fox, which owned the brand.
After being recruited off Cop Car, a low-budget independent thriller that opened at 2015 Sundance.
Watts has spent the larger part of the last decade directing and marketing the Spider-Man flicks. He’s in desperate need of a break. Watts and Marvel both acknowledged Watts’ departure and stated that it was amicable.
“Collaborating with Jon on the Spider-Man films has been a true pleasure,” Stated Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios.
He further added, “We were looking forward to continuing our work with him to bring the Fantastic Four into the MCU but understand and are supportive of his reasons for stepping away. We are optimistic that we will have the opportunity to work together again at some point down the road.”
Watts stated, “Making three Spider-Man films was an incredible and life-changing experience for me. I’m eternally grateful to have been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for seven years. I’m hopeful we’ll work together again and I can’t wait to see the amazing vision for Fantastic Four brought to life.”
Watts, Holland, and Zendaya are expected to reconvene with Sony and the Spider-Man producers to continue the series. Watts hasn’t confirmed that he’s leaving the series. But if he does, it seems like it’ll be in the near future.
Watts On Working On A Great Project That Might Be His Next Directing Gig
Watts has another promising idea in the works, which may be his next directing job. Apple Studios won a quick auction in September for an untitled film Watts would write and direct. Starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt as rival “fixers” engaged for the same assignment at the same time.
According to the terms of the arrangement, Apple will give the picture a wide theatrical premiere before releasing it on Apple TV+.
Watts is collaborating with Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures and Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment to produce the project.
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