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.