With The Fantastic Four: First Steps approaching its summer release, the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie’s original director discusses why he departed the project. After his journey with WandaVision, Matt Shakman is rebooting Marvel’s First Family for the MCU timeline, since he helmed The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which kicks off Phase 6 this summer.
However, the plan was originally to have Jon Watts direct Marvel Studios’ long-awaited Fantastic Four reboot for the MCU. But Watts, who had directed Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy, ended up exiting the film in April 2022, with Shakman then landing the gig in September that same year.
During a recent panel (via THR) at the Mediterrane Film Festival, with Collider’s Steven Weintraub as the moderator, Watts got candid about stepping down from The Fantastic Four: First Steps. After having worked on Spider-Man: No Way Home in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Watts admitted that he didn’t feel he was the filmmaker to bring the Fantastic Four back to the big screen, sharing the following:
The emotional strain of having to go through all of those COVID protocols while also trying to make something creative while also trying to make sure that your cast and crew were all safe — literally people could’ve died if you did things wrong — that, and the post-production process was very difficult. When you’re doing [visual effects work], there’s a whole international component to it where you’re using vendors from all over the world, and the supply chain had been interrupted because of COVID. It was really hard to get effects done in a traditional way.
By the time No Way Home was done and out, I went in to get back into the story for Fantastic Four. I was like, ‘I am out of gas.’ The COVID layer on top of making a giant movie layer, I knew I didn’t have what it would’ve taken to make that movie great. I was just out of steam, so I just needed to take some time to recover. Everyone at Marvel totally understood. They had been through it with me as well, so they knew how hard and draining that experience has been; in the end, very satisfying, but at some point, if you can’t do it at the level that you feel like you need to for it to be great, then it’s better to not do it.
Watts went on to add, “I can’t wait to see it, though, I’m very excited to see it.” Then, when he was asked about whether any of his original ideas made it into The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Watts elaborated:
I don’t know exactly what happens in it. But I’ve seen the trailers, I’ve heard a couple of things. I think it’s pretty close to what we had initially come up with in our story. Obviously, it evolves and adapts over time, but the main villain, the basic threat, the broad strokes… retrofuturism version of Fantastic Four… It’s going to be a totally surreal experience for me to go and watch that movie.
What Jon Watts’ Fantastic Four Exit Story Means For The MCU
Given the major effects COVID-19 had in 2020 and beyond, many can likely understand where Watts is coming from when he speaks about how exhausted he was after making Spider-Man: No Way Home. To then take on Marvel’s First Family and reinvent the characters, including casting the MCU’s Fantastic Four, is easier said than done.
From Watts’ explanation, it’s clear that he knew how important The Fantastic Four: First Steps would be for the MCU, and therefore realized that handling the film while he was in the state he was would have hurt Marvel Studios. Because of Watts’ self-realization, it paved the way for Shakman to take a crack at these beloved characters for the MCU.
The upside to Watts also stepping down from The Fantastic Four: First Steps is that it leaves the door open for him to tackle a different Marvel property, if he and Marvel Studios ever explore the option of working together again. This time, having Watts creatively refreshed will benefit the MCU more than it would have if he had stayed on for the Fantastic Four reboot.
Our Take On Jon Watts’ Fantastic Four Exit Story
Hearing Watts be upfront about why he left The Fantastic Four: First Steps is incredibly appreciated, as it’s human to admit when something isn’t working out and needs adjustment. Seeing Watts also be excited for what Shakman has done with the film, especially after The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailers, goes to show that his successor has left an impression on the original director.
It will definitely be fascinating to see what elements of the reboot were specifically from Watts and which were from Shakman. With only a month left to go before The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in theaters, audiences will soon finally get to meet the MCU’s version of Marvel’s First Family.
Source: THR
