One of the most anticipated projects on Marvel Studios’ forthcoming slate has lost its director. Following the acquisition of 20th Century Fox, Disney has been planning a revival of the legendary Fantastic Four characters in a new Marvel Studios film, bringing them into the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time. Jon Watts, who helmed all three Tom Holland Spider-Man films, was named as the Fantastic Four director a long ago. He is now completely withdrawing from the initiative.
Watts is leaving Fantastic Four as director, according to Deadline. There’s nothing more to this breakup than Watts’ desire to take a break from the superhero blockbuster industry after completing three Spider-Man films in five years. Watts’ most recent picture, Spider-Man: No Way Home, is the third highest-grossing film of all time in the United States.
“Collaborating with Jon on the Spider-Man films has been a true pleasure,” Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and co-president Louis D’Esposito told Deadline. “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.”
