Jon Watts was already pretty busy with the Spider-Man movies, so it was a surprise when Marvel Studios announced that he would be helming their reboot of Fantastic Four. As it turns out, things won’t be going according to their original plans.
Deadline reports that Watts has now exited the project, and Marvel is once more looking for someone to helm the reboot. The reason for Watts’ departure was said to be him wanting a break from superhero films—to which Marvel obliged.
We don’t know what Watts would have wanted to do with the franchise, but hopefully some of his ideas managed to stick to the direction Marvel wants to go. Watts said about his exit, “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.”
For now, the internet is full of pitches on which director should take over the role. Some think that director Brad Bird could make the film since The Incredibles is pretty much the perfect Fantastic Four movie, action, themes, and all; some think that Ant-Man director Peyton Reed might want a go at Fantastic Four since he had plans back in the early 2000s. Branching from that Ant-Man train of thought, some thought the movie would be a great chance for Edgar Wright to mend fences with Marvel by taking on Fantastic Four.
With DC coming up with films like Joker and The Batman, I would love for some newer films to get out of the ‘Marvel formula.’ With so many films down the line, I think the MCU needs to try something big and new—and no, Thor: Ragnarok doesn’t count.
No release date has been announced for Fantastic Four, but fans are hoping for some kind of hint in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which hits theaters on May 6.
