British director Matthew Vaughn has quit X-Men 3 to spend more time with his family, the studio has confirmed.
Claudia Schiffer and Matthew Vaughn were married in 2002
The Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels producer was due to begin shooting the comic-book blockbuster in Canada and America next month.
"As the shooting evolved, he realised he would have to move to Los Angeles and Vancouver for at least a year," said a 20th Century Fox spokesman.
"Not wishing to uproot his family, Vaughn opted to depart the production."
The 34-year-old director has two children - Casper, two, and six-month-old Clementine - with his supermodel wife, Claudia Schiffer.
"We understand Matthew's reasons for leaving, as nothing is more important than family," continued the studio representative.
The third film in the X-Men franchise would have seen Vaughn reunite with his Lock, Stock co-star Vinnie Jones, who has been cast as "900-pound battering ram" Juggernaut.
Frasier star Kelsey Grammer will also appear as a furry blue mutant named Beast.
Vaughn originally stepped in when Bryan Singer, director of the first two X-Men films, opted to direct the new Superman movie instead.
The British producer made his directorial debut last year with the crime thriller Layer Cake.