Just like Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott isn’t shy about declaring his disdain for the superhero genre.
Great minds think alike, right? Scott says there is a simple problem with the entire genre that could easily be fixed if filmmakers just opted out of traditional storytelling.
In a recent interview with Deadline that has since drawn the ire of MCU fans and comic book movie lovers on social media, Scott said, “The best films are driven by the characters, and we’ll come to superheroes after this if you want because I’ll crush it. I’ll fucking crush it. They’re fucking boring as shit. [Superhero movie] scripts are not any fucking good.”
Scott believes that he stands above the rest with his own three great scripted superhero movies.
After watching MCU’s Eternals, I think I would have to agree with Scott. The characters felt half-baked, leaving more wondering questions about who they are rather than focusing on what they are doing. The crowded cast didn’t help the fact that these superheroes were lacking character development, but this notion of stories not being led by characters but by events has been a problem in the superhero genre since the 1984 Supergirl.
After a short apology, Scott added, “[Superhero movies] are mostly saved by special effects, and that’s becoming boring for everyone who works with special effects if you’ve got the money.”
“Wherever [the series goes], whatever they do, it’ll never be as good as the first one,” Scott said to The Independentwith a grin. “That’s what I’ll say.”
While Scott has directed two films this year, The Last Dueland the upcoming House of Gucci, the director is set to film Kitbag, a Napoleon epic starring Joaquin Phoenix and Jodie Comer, and a sequel to Gladiator. There is a possibility Scott will declare Kitbag and his sequel to Gladiator as two more epic superhero films that aren’t plagued by a shitty script.
Don’t expect any traditional superhero movies out of the filmmaking legend. Instead, try being like him, and focus on building scripts around characters and their relationships with one another. Don’t let the world dictate who your hero is and how they have to react in the story.
Do you agree with Scott's criticism of the superhero genre? Let us know in the comments what you think!
Source: IndieWire
