YeahSo said
If anything, it shows he’s still on top.
There are very few actors that command so much power that they’re bigger than the director. Notice that Bay left the project, not Will.
Will still has plenty of star power in the third act of his career, slap be damned. That’s just a fact.
Once casting is done, you hardly see an actor walk away from the contract due to legal obligations. Plus, it's probably more so Will's production agreement with Netflix.
Directors leave projects all the time.
Here are 15 times when a director walked away from a blockbuster.
Edgar Wright – Ant-Man (2015) ...
Justin Lin – Fast X (2023) ...
Tim Miller – Deadpool 2 (2018) ...
Danny Boyle – No Time to Die (2021) ...
Cary Fukunaga – IT (2017) ...
Stephen Chow – The Green Hornet (2011) ...
David Fincher – Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Several high-profile directors have left movie projects mid-production due to various reasons, including creative differences, clashes with producers, or personal issues. Some notable examples include: Justin Lin leaving "Fast X", Phil Lord and Christopher Miller exiting the Han Solo film, and Joe Carnahan departing "Mission: Impossible III". Additionally, directors like Patty Jenkins, Brenda Chapman, and Martin Brest have been replaced during filming
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