Jon Watts has officially left as the director of the upcoming Marvel Studios and Disney movie Fantastic Four.

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He had expected to make Fantastic Four his next film, the third feature iteration of that franchise and first since Disney acquired Fox, which controlled the franchise.

Watts has spent the better part of the last decade directing and promoting the Spider-Man films, after being hired off Cop Car, a small budget indie thriller that premiered at 2015 Sundance. He needs a breather and wants to focus on different avenues.

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Both Watts and Marvel confirmed his exit, and said that it is amicable.

Kevin Feige, president, Marvel Studios and Louis D’Esposito, co-president, Marvel Studios said:

“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.”

Watts said

“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 its Spider-Man producers have made it clear they expect to reunite Watts with Tom Holland and Zendaya to continue the series.

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