Spider-Man Director Exited Fantastic Four Over Covid Concerns

Jon Watts, the director behind Tom Holland's Spider-Man trilogy, was originally slated to helm The Fantastic Four: First Steps as well – and given his stellar work with our favorite web-slinger, who wouldn’t want that? As it turns out, Watts himself felt otherwise. For the first time, the filmmaker shared the reason he stepped away from the project, explaining he was simply too "out of gas" after completing his Spidey films, both on set and in post-production, during the pandemic.

“Having to juggle all the COVID safety measures while striving to stay creative, and ensuring the entire cast and crew stayed safe—it was overwhelming. A single misstep could have had serious consequences,” Watts explained during a storytelling masterclass at the Mediterrane Film Festival in Malta on June 26. “That, combined with the post-production challenges, made it incredibly tough.”

He went on, “When it comes to visual effects, you’re dealing with an international network of vendors. But the pandemic disrupted global supply chains, making it extremely difficult to complete effects work through traditional channels.”

Watts, who served as a producer and earned a story credit for the recent blockbuster Final Destination: Bloodlines, had initially signed on for The Fantastic Four: First Steps between shooting Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home. But as pre-production began, he realized he was emotionally and creatively drained.

“Adding the pandemic on top of an already massive film production—I knew I couldn’t deliver what the movie deserved,” he continued. “I needed time to recharge. Everyone at Marvel was completely understanding. They had been with me through the Spider-Man journey, so they knew how exhausting—yet ultimately rewarding—the experience had been. Sometimes, if you can’t give a project the energy it demands, stepping aside is the right decision.”

Watts did express enthusiasm about seeing director Matt Shakman’s vision come to life, along with the work of the cast and crew. Still, he admitted, “It’s going to be a completely surreal experience for me to sit in a theater and watch that film.”

The Fantastic Four: First Steps, starring Pedro Pascal, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ralph Ineson, is scheduled to hit theaters on July 25.