I am doing backflips over Jeff Nichols quitting “A Quiet Plave: Part III.” Deadline had reported a few months back that Paramount hired Nichols to write and direct the third film in the “A Quiet Place” franchise. Actor-filmmaker John Krasinski helmed the first two.

My understanding then was that Nichols coming into this franchise basically meant that opportunities to make personal arthouse films were scarce. The director of “Midnight Special,” “Take Shelter,” “Mud,” and “Loving,” surely deserved better than this.

Finally, Nichols has left the franchise amicably, parting with the project in favor of working on another untitled science-fiction project from Paramount. Great news.