Spider-Man veteran confirms he won't return for fourth MCU movie

Marvel Studios staged one heck of a comeback earlier this year with Deadpool and Wolverine's summer release. The film has already broken box office records in a sensational performance that has seen it gross $1.2. billion and counting. It's a first for R-rated movies, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe's highest-grossing movie since 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, which ended up making $1.9 billion.

With that in mind, it's easy to see why expectations are so high for that movie's sequel, too. Given that No Way Home was the second-consecutive Spider-Man to surpass $1 billion and ultimately became the 6th highest-grossing movie of all time (at the time of its release), you can imagine that both studios, Sony and Marvel, are eager to get to work on Spider-Man 4.

The movie has been at the center of a number of rumors in recent months, both in relation to its plot and its director. And now, it turns out that one of the longest-lasting rumors about the movie - and, more specifically, its director - is actually true.

Jon Watts confirms he won't return for Spider-Man 4 (and why)

Jon Watts has officially confirmed that he won't return for the fourth installment in Marvel Studios and Sony's Spider-Man movie series. The director, who had been rumored to have departed the franchise, recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his new movie Wolfs and revealed why he chose not to return for Spider-Man 4.

He recalled the audiences' response to Spider-Man: No Way Home and how they essentially lost their minds with excitement at all of the incredible moments. It was in that moment that he realized it would be impossible to recreate that feeling, or even come close to recapturing it:

"That was such a specific moment in time, and the reaction to that movie was just so unbelievable. It’s never going to be like this, ever again.”"

It's hard to argue with Watts on that front. Spider-Man: No Way Home has changed the game when it comes to cameos and returns, as the film was fuelling so much speculation in the months and weeks leading up to its eventual release. Remarkably, even with those unbelievably high expectations, it exceeded them, receiving acclaim from fans and critics and resulting in viral audience reactions to some of its biggest moments.

It was undoubtedly the most important movie in Marvel's Multiverse Saga, with the returns of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Men showing audiences just how limitless the possibilities in the MCU's multiverse are. Seeing them interact with Tom Holland's Spidey - and the three Peter Parker actors together - was a once in a lifetime moment. Although, in an ironic twist, it might actually be recreated sooner rather than later, as there have been recent reports that Spider-Man 4 will also be a multiversal movie - reports that have drawn a mixed response from fans.

Even so, we now know that Jon Watts won't be returning to direct that one. He has officially bowed out from the franchise, confirming months of rumors that Spider-Man 4 would have a new director (or maybe even directors). It's safe to say that Watts' time as the MCU's Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man director was a success, as all three of his movies - Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home - are among the franchise's most beloved movies.

There was once a time when Watts was expected to direct the fourth installment in the Spidey franchise as well as Marvel's Fantastic Four reboot. However, he departed the latter and eventually rumors began to swirl about his involvement in the former franchise too. He loosely alluded to the possibility of not returning to the MCU film series in a recent interview with Collider when he gave advice to the "next" Spidey director, but as he simply could have been speaking in general, fans weren't sure if that was a confirmation or not. Now, it's official.