‘Fantastic Four’ Loses Its Director As ‘Spider-Man’ Filmmaker Jon Watts Exits Project

Is Jon Watts‘ love affair with Marvel Studios over? It might be? After directing three ‘Spider-Man’ movies in a row for Sony Pictures—though all produced by Marvel Studios— including the mega-billion dollar earning “Spider-Man; No Way Home,” Watts is stepping down as the director of Marvel’s “Fantastic Four,” which was set to be his next movie.

The conflict or problem? Deadline says the filmmaker, who spent the better part of the last decade making ‘Spider-Man’ films, needs “a break” and a breather” from superhero movies. The split is said to be amicable and given that both parties are offering the rare laudatory exit statements and not “no comment” evasive sidesteps, it’s likely true.

READ MORE: Brad Pitt & George Clooney To Star In Lone Wolf Fixers Movie Directed By Jon Watts For Apple

 “Collaborating with Jon on the Spider-Man films has been a true pleasure,” said Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, and co-President Louis D’Esposito. “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.

“Making three Spider-Man films was an incredible and life-changing experience for me,” Watts said in a statement. “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 hasn’t officially dropped out of the “Spider-Man” franchise, and Sony and its Spider-Man producers are expecting him to reunite with Tom Holland and Zendaya on the franchise, but depending on the timeline and how soon they expect to make a new film, don’t be surprised if Watts doesn’t direct any of those new films, given what he did was close out a trilogy story that points to something new.

While Marvel probably pays him well, and it sounds like he’ll be back with the studio eventually, Watts’ next movie might be the untitled Apple project starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt playing rival “fixers” who find themselves simultaneously hired for the same job. With Apple having just won a Best Picture Oscar, and said to be still forking out big paydays—just look at the cast—it’s likely that Watts takes this film next and lands a big windfall. Given that could keep him out of making any other film for at least two years, it seems likely that whatever the next ‘Spider-Man’ film is, he likely won’t be directing it. That’s obviously just speculation, but I would not be surprised if it goes down like this.