The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the most lucrative franchise of all time, so wouldn’t anyone be thrilled to be connected with it? The MCU has launched the careers of numerous actors, including Chris Hemsworth, and has also featured iconic actors such as Robert Redford, Anthony Hopkins, and Ben Kingsley.
On occasion, though, things haven't panned out as expected for some who were involved in the shared universe. As you might recall, most of the problems were due to Disney’s creative control over the product. From time to time, people have pointed this out.
David Fincher (Gone Girl) recently cited the issue of creative control as he explained why he – and other directors – hesitate to become involved in the MCU:
Look, there's a very large talent pool of people who…don't feel there's much for them in terms of sustenance working for Marvel. And I think that if we can make a playground for them that is thoughtful, adult, interesting, complex, [with] challenging stories, and figure out ways to pull them into it, there's a chance at something that isn't lassoed and hogtied by three acts. And there's something else that doesn't have to be a 22-minute half-hour or have a cliffhanger. I think it is an exciting time (via CBM).
As another example, Joss Whedon gave the world The Avengers, which blew several records out of the water. However, despite his fan base and his directorial skills, the studio placed too much pressure on him when it came to the sequel. On top of the need to create another record-breaking major hit, Whedon also had to insert as many threads as possible, to be explored in future movies. This took a toll on him, and he wound up at Warner Bros. in the end.
Director Shane Black wanted to have a female antagonist in Iron Man 3. He was forced to change his script because the studio felt that a villainess wouldn't sell enough tickets or merchandise.
Lastly, we have Ant-Man director Edgar Wright. He decided to leave the project before shooting even began, because he objected to filling the movie with references to the larger shared universe.
As David Fincher implied, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is successful, but the pursuit of box office numbers may repel some of the industry’s most creative minds.
What do you think?
