Jon Watts, the director behind Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy, was once set to helm The Fantastic Four: First Steps after his success with Spidey, but in a recent interview, he shared why he ultimately stepped away from the project. In a candid conversation at the Mediterrane Film Festival in Malta on June 26, Watts revealed the immense challenges he faced while working on Spider-Man during the pandemic.
“The emotional strain of having to go through all of those COVID protocols while also trying to create something meaningful while keeping everyone safe – literally, people could’ve died if we messed up – was intense,” Watts admitted. 
He elaborated on the post-production difficulties, explaining that the global nature of the visual effects work was disrupted by the pandemic’s impact on supply chains. “It was tough to get the effects done the usual way,” he said.
Watts had initially agreed to take on The Fantastic Four: First Steps between the production of Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home. But as pre-production for the Fantastic Four movie approached, Watts realized he had exhausted himself. “The COVID layer on top of making a massive movie, I knew I didn’t have what it would’ve taken to make that movie great,” he confessed.
Despite stepping away from the project, Watts expressed excitement for what director Matt Shakman and the new cast and crew would bring to the film, though he admits it will be a surreal experience for him to watch the movie. The Fantastic Four: First Steps, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, and Joseph Quinn, will hit theaters on July 25.