Trevor Cawood has left Weinstein Co.'s APOLLO 18, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The vfx artist would have made his directing debut on the found footage sci-fi story. Producer Timur Bekmambetov wants to start right away and have the film in theaters in March, which was too tight for Cawood. Bekmambetov and the Weinsteins want to beat Oren Peli's AREA 51 to the theaters.

Now Spanish director Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego has taken the challenge.

APOLLO 18 follows the record of a secret mission to the moon that uncovers alien life. Brian Miller penned the screenplay, which won a script contest founded by Bekmambetov.