Jon Watts, acclaimed director of Tom Holland's Spider-Man trilogy, was initially tapped to helm The Fantastic Four: First Steps — a prospect fans eagerly anticipated given his exceptional work with Marvel's iconic web-slinger. Surprisingly, Watts himself opted out. For the first time, the filmmaker revealed he felt creatively depleted after navigating Spider-Man productions during the pandemic, citing physical and emotional exhaustion.
"Managing COVID protocols while maintaining creative integrity and ensuring cast/crew safety created immense pressure — lives were literally at stake," Watts disclosed during his June 26 masterclass at Malta's Mediterrane Film Festival. "Combined with post-production challenges, the entire process became overwhelming."
"Visual effects workflows were particularly strained," he explained. "With international vendors and disrupted supply chains during COVID, completing effects traditionally proved extraordinarily difficult."
The director — who later produced Final Destination: Bloodlines — originally planned to transition from Spider-Man: Far From Home to Fantastic Four before Spider-Man: No Way Home. However, when pre-production commenced, he recognized his creative reserves were depleted.
"Superimposing pandemic constraints on blockbuster filmmaking demanded energy I simply didn't possess," Watts admitted. "Marvel fully understood — having witnessed firsthand how draining the experience was. Sometimes stepping away ensures the quality the project deserves."
While enthusiastic about Matt Shakman's forthcoming interpretation, Watts anticipates a surreal viewing experience: "I'm genuinely curious to see their creative vision realized."
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Ralph Ineson, premieres July 25.
