Jon Watts, the director behind Tom Holland's Spider-Man trilogy, was initially tapped to helm The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Given his outstanding work with our friendly neighborhood web-slinger, who wouldn't have been excited? Surprisingly, Watts himself decided to step away. For the first time, the filmmaker explained his exit, admitting he was simply too exhausted after guiding Spider-Man through production and post-production during the pandemic.

"Managing the emotional toll of strict COVID protocols while striving to maintain creativity and ensure the safety of the entire cast and crew was immense. A single misstep could have had serious consequences," Watts shared during a storytelling masterclass on June 26 at the Mediterrane Film Festival in Malta. "Coupled with a challenging post-production process, it was a tremendous burden."

He elaborated, "Visual effects work relies on a global network of vendors, and the pandemic severely disrupted that supply chain. Completing effects through conventional methods became incredibly difficult."

Watts, who also produced and has a story credit for the recent hit Final Destination: Bloodlines, had initially signed on for First Steps between filming Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home. However, when it was time to begin pre-production, he realized he had hit a wall.

"Adding the complexities of COVID on top of the already monumental task of making a blockbuster, I knew I lacked the energy required to do the project justice," he continued. "I was completely drained and needed time to recuperate. The team at Marvel was fully understanding; they had witnessed the challenges firsthand and knew how demanding the experience had been. While ultimately rewarding, if you can't deliver the level of excellence a film deserves, it's better to step aside."

Watts added that he is eager to see director Matt Shakman's vision for the film and the work of the cast and crew, though he expects watching it will be a "completely surreal experience."

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