Jon Watts Explains His Departure from the MCU by Raving About His New Film: “Wolfs is mine, and that’s a really good feeling”

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As a gamer who grew up watching the evolution of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Jon Watts‘ departure from the Spider-Man franchise was indeed a shock. However, as someone who appreciates creative freedom and originality, I can wholeheartedly admire his decision to focus on projects that truly resonate with his vision.

Due to his contributions to the Spider-Man ‘Home’ trilogy, Jon Watts emerged as a pivotal figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), earning recognition for some of the franchise’s highest-grossing and most successful movies. Watts imbued the Spider-Man series with a fresh, high school-oriented mood, distinguishing them from other superhero films.

1) This method struck a chord with both critics and viewers alike. In the movie “No Way Home,” he skillfully managed to incorporate Spider-Man within the Multiverse, resulting in a fantastic film that was highly appreciated by all.

Initially offered the chance to direct ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’, Watts eventually decided to decline not only that project but also any future involvement with the Spider-Man franchise. With Spider-Man 4 currently seeking a new director, Watts is now concentrating on his forthcoming movie, ‘Wolfs’, where Brad Pitt and George Clooney portray adversarial “fixers”.

In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Watts explained why he departed from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and how the movie “Wolfs” fits better with his artistic aspirations. Following the box office triumph of “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, Watts felt a strong compulsion to delve into more individually driven and innovative ventures. The superhero genre, particularly in the MCU, frequently necessitates maneuvering through an intricate, interwoven narrative structure with numerous creative limitations. Eager to experiment with fresh concepts and showcase his unique style, Watts embarked on creating “Wolfs”, an original action-comedy film.

Often times, in some films, especially action-packed ones, the exciting sequences are delegated to a second-unit director. In Marvel productions, the workload is so immense that it’s divided among several directors. Occasionally, a chance like Christopher Nolan’s, where you handle everything, comes along. For this particular project, I felt, ‘I want to capture every single frame.’

Producer Dede Gardner explains that Watts wanted to be hands-on with every aspect of the film.

In one unique instance during my lifetime, I’ve observed a scenario where the logline is shared, followed by an explanation of what will be written, then the actual writing, shooting, editing, and final delivery. The entire process unfolded in a straightforward manner, making it a remarkably linear journey.

Watts himself acknowledged that, while he holds a strong attachment towards the ‘Home’ trilogy of Spider-Man, it will always remain someone else’s creation. However, the opportunity presented by ‘Wolfs’ allows him to craft something uniquely his own.

Initially, I was gearing up to continue my work, and then Marvel entered the picture – a venture where I held complete creative control over those movies. However, it’s important to remember that Spider-Man will forever be the brainchild of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. This opportunity allowed me to return to my unique approach, my ideas, and my artistic style. The project “Wolfs” is truly mine, and that sense of ownership feels wonderful.

Watts feels that the success of No Way Home is massive and likely unmatched, suggesting that such an achievement may never be replicated.

That instance in time was incredibly unique, and the response to that film was simply astonishing – something we’ll likely never witness repeating itself.

The film titled “Wolfs” is set to debut outside of competition at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2024. In the United States, it will receive a limited theater release on September 20, followed by its streaming availability on Apple TV+ from September 27.

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2024-09-01 14:44