Jon Favreau Speaks On Leaving Marvel And 'Iron Man 3'

Earlier, we reported that Jon Favreau would not be directing "Iron Man 3" and Favreau confirmed this news via Twitter: "It’s true, I’m directing Magic Kingdom, not Iron Man 3. I’ve had a great run with Marvel and wish them the best."

In an interview with Los Angeles Times, Favreau spoke out just why he is not going to be directing the third movie of a franchise that has already made over $1.2 billion in worldwide grosses. Favreau wants it to be perfectly clear that his departure from Marvel is no snap decision or the result of fractured relations. The main impulse was to “find something that lights a fire” inside of him as a filmmaker and gives him a chance to “blow people away, which is easier to do with a project that isn’t loaded with built-in expectations.”

The rumor of Favreau’s departure has been framed as a money issue or a conflict regarding Marvel’s aspiration to have all its superhero films crossover into one another. Favreau confirms this is not true and that he remains close to Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and that he will stay on as a producer on ”The Avengers,” Marvel’s 2012 superhero team-up film.

“Marvel and I both came of age together,” Favreau said. “The years that we shared were a pivotal experience. Kevin has a firm grasp on the many franchises and how they all interweave and I am happy that I had the opportunity to establish the world that these characters can now play in…. ‘Iron Man’ has given me tremendous opportunities and Kevin and I are enjoying a lot of momentum in our careers thanks to the ‘Iron Man’ films. I look forward to seeing what others can do playing in the same world.”