Marvel Studios will need to find a new director for their Fantastic Four reinvention, as director Jon Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home) has exited the project, Deadline has learned.
Kevin Feige, president, Marvel Studios and Louis D’Esposito, co-president, released a statement regarding Watts’ exit Friday saying, “Collaborating with Jon on the Spider-Man films has been a true pleasure. 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.”
Jon Watts also added his own statement, “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.”
Sony and Marvel producers have made it clear they expect to reunite Watts with Holland ad Zendaya to continue the Spider-Man film series. A fourth film is already in active development and Watts has not officially left that project, but if things were to change, that wouldn’t be for quite some time. Watts is rumored for a mysterious Star Wars project, set to begin filming in June. It is unknown if that is still the case.
As of now, there are no details on when Marvel Studios plans to gear up production on Fantastic Four or even a release date, yes, this also includes casting. Feige did reveal at CinemaCon this week that he and the studio are currently mapping out the next 10 years of projects for the MCU and this could very well be a part of that. A director search is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
