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After handing the baton to Destin Daniel Cretton for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, director Jon Watts is open to returning to the MCU. He just won't say for which superhero

Having directed the first three MCU Spider-Man movies, we understand how Watts could feel slightly unsettled watching Brand New day as "a fan on the sidelines" - but don't think that means he's out of the MCU for good

News by Grant DeArmitt, Staff Writer

Published on Wed Dec 03 2025

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Not to get weird about it, but we have to imagine that Jon Watts feels a kind of "big brother"-type way toward the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Spider-Man saga. He directed Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far from Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, after all - which literally tell the story of Peter Parker growing into his role as one of Marvel's A-listers. But does his presumed 'baby bird leaving the nest' feeling mean he won't be returning to the MCU eventually?

Don't bet on it.

Speaking to Variety, Watts recently shared his predictions about the first time he'll be seated to watch the fourth Spidey film, which will be directed this time by Shang-Chi's Destin Daniel Cretton.

"We talked a little bit at the very, very beginning," Watts said of his interactions with Cretton, "But I’m very close to that franchise, so I just had to step back and let everyone do their job. It’s going to be genuinely weird for me going to see that movie for the first time. It’s going to be a really interesting feeling. It’s a passing of the torch and I’m curious to see where it goes."

To be fair, though, Jon, you still might have another MCU torch to pass somewhere down the line. Asked if Watts would return for another non-Spider-Man directing role in the MCU, the Clown director gave an emphatic 'yes,' followed by an equally emphatic refusal to confirm which other superhero he'd like to work with.

"I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of getting a bunch of emails as a producer, saying, 'Did you see the thing that Jon Watts said about how he wants to do this?' They’re busy enough as it is."

But before closing the question, Watts did make a comment that has our own personal Cerebros buzzing.

"My friend Jake Schreier is doing X-Men," Watts concluded, "Which is really exciting. I loved the “X-Men” growing up, but it’s fun to just be a fan on the sidelines again."

On the sidelines for how long, Jon? For how long?

Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters July 31, 2026.

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Grant DeArmitt: Grant DeArmitt (he/him) likes horror, comics, and the unholy union of the two. In the past, and despite their better judgment, he has written for Nightmare on Film Street and Newsarama. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Kingsley, and corgi, Legs.