Universal can't catch a break: first, the studio has to spackle over Brad Pitt's last-minute departure from State of Play, and now, weeks before filming was scheduled to begin, director Mark Romanek has left The Wolf Man.

Variety reports that Romanek's departure is being chalked up to the ever-popular "creative differences," and relays that Universal is showing a stiff upper lip, saying "the studio maintains that Romanek left the project in strong shape and that it expects to set another director quickly."

With a February 18 start date looming, it had better be really quickly -- or star Benicio del Toro, who has been attached to the project for what seems like forever, will have more waiting to do.

Source: Variety