As a long-time gamer and film enthusiast, I have seen the movie industry evolve over the years, and I must admit that I share James Mangold‘s concerns about the current trend of extensive universe building. Having grown up on classic films with singular stories that captivated me emotionally, I find myself increasingly disappointed by the intellectual gymnastics required to keep up with interconnected movie universes.
James Mangold will soon be at the helm of two major franchises: a new “Star Wars” film and the reboot of DCU’s “Swamp Thing.” Despite this exciting news, the director of “Logan” and “Indiana Jones” has expressed criticisms against the current trend of expanding universes, believing it may be detrimental to storytelling.
Mangold has played a significant role in bringing several blockbuster films from well-known franchises to life. He directed the latest two Wolverine movies for Marvel, including “Logan” released in 2017, and took over from Steven Spielberg to helm the last Indiana Jones adventure. Upcoming projects include “Dawn of the Jedi Star Wars,” a new Star Wars film, and “Swamp Thing” as part of James Gunn’s DCU. However, Mangold is not a proponent of intricate storylines that span multiple movies or universes.
In an interview with Rolling Stone regarding his newest project, the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” Mangold expressed his honest views on the film industry’s fixation with creating expansive universes and interconnected stories across various media. He referred to these trends as a major hindrance to quality cinematic content. When asked about the possibility of Joaquin Phoenix portraying Johnny Cash in the film, a role he previously played in “Walk the Line,” Mangold shared:
I’ve spent my career in the dynamic world of intellectual property entertainment, yet I’ve always steered clear of multiverse stories. To me, it feels strange, even though I’ve worked in this industry. Building intricate multi-movie universes isn’t my cup of tea; it’s a storytelling foe that I’ve come to despise. It distracts us from the heart and soul of a single story, replacing emotional engagement with an intellectual puzzle.
It’s the enemy of storytelling. The death of storytelling.
James Mangold Has Clear, Singular Storytelling Vision
Mangold has found himself working on the projects of major IPs for quite some time now, which is an intriguing turn of events. Despite receiving widespread recognition for films like “Walk the Line,” “Girl, Interrupted,” “3:10 to Yuma,” and “Identity,” his work on Marvel and Indiana Jones productions has led him towards other upcoming movies that demand careful world-building to satisfy their intended audiences.
Although films such as “The Wolverine” and “Logan,” which star Hugh Jackman as the iconic character from X-Men series, offer unique and distinct narratives. Previous X-Men installments introduced different elements, yet these two productions present significantly separate storylines. For instance, “The Wolverine” presented an alternate origin story in contrast to “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” while “Logan” offered a gritty and violent tale that deviated dramatically from the bright and special effects-laden X-Men movies of the past.
Mangold faced a significant challenge in both the DCU and Star Wars universes now. The Swamp Thing project appeared to be a self-contained story similar to Logan. On the other hand, his Star Wars movie was slated to initiate a new phase for the space saga. Given this, his film was planned to take place thousands of years before the present Star Wars timeline, providing him with ample freedom in terms of characters and narrative. The verdict on whether audiences will embrace a stand-alone Star Wars story remains to be seen.
In December, Timothee Chalamet portrays the role of Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s upcoming film, titled “A Complete Unknown.”
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-07-25 17:02