Fantastic 4 Movie Loses Spider-Man Director Jon Watts

After directing the new Spider-Man films with Tom Holland that collectively grossed about $4 billion at the global box office, director Jon Watts is leaving his next Marvel movie project. Watts was lined up to direct the new Fantastic Four movie, but he has now dropped out.

The split between Watts and Marvel was described by Deadline as amicable. Marvel Studios bosses Kevin Feige and Louis D'Esposito said in a statement: "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."

The pair said they are hopeful to work with Watts again "at some point down the road."

As for Watts, he said in his own statement, "Making three Spider-Man films was an incredible and life-changing experience for me." He added: "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."

There is no word yet on who will replace Watts as the director of the new Fantastic Four movie. There have been three installments so far, including Fantastic Four (2005), Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), and the reboot Fantastic Four in 2015. It is still early days for the new Fantastic Four movie from Marvel, as it doesn't have a release date, cast, or any other details yet.

A new trilogy of Spider-Man movies with Holland are said to be in the works, but whether or not Watts would return for those remains to be seen.

As for what Watts is making next, he recently sold a movie to Apple Studios featuring George Clooney and Brad Pitt playing "fixers" who are simultaneously hired for the same job. Watts will write and direct.