Nia DaCosta Reveals Shocking Truth Behind ‘The Marvels’ Failure and What Went Wrong

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In an open discussion, Nia DaCosta, the director of “The Marvels,” candidly addressed the challenges encountered during collaboration with Marvel Studios. This sneak peek into the production process might dishearten MCU fans. “The Marvels” served as a follow-up to the 2019’s “Captain Marvel,” and continued narratives initiated in the Disney+ series “WandaVision” and “Ms. Marvel.” Unfortunately, “The Marvels” marked the first flop within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, generating only $84 million domestically and $206 million worldwide, despite a reported production budget surpassing $300 million. Critics’ responses were also divided, with many acknowledging that the film appeared to undergo significant edits during post-production, likely to shorten its runtime.

At Dublin’s second yearly screenwriting event, Storyhouse, Nia DaCosta shared insights through Deadline, alongside filmmaker Kate Dohlan. DaCosta expressed that her dream had been to direct a Marvel movie due to her love for comics, but her time on ‘The Marvels’ didn’t meet her expectations as initially thought. She candidly discussed the workings behind the scenes at Marvel Studios and how she endeavored to align with their filmmaking approach, which contrasted significantly from her own. In conclusion, DaCosta mentioned that the final product was not the movie she proposed to Marvel Studios and wasn’t even the film she initially filmed. DaCosta stated:

– At the annual screenwriting festival Storyhouse in Dublin, Nia DaCosta discussed with Kate Dohlan (via Deadline) about her aspirations to direct a Marvel film due to her comic book fandom. However, her experience on ‘The Marvels’ differed from what she had envisioned.
– She openly talked about the inner workings at Marvel Studios and how she strove to adapt their method of filmmaking, which stood in stark contrast to her usual approach.
– In the end, DaCosta noted that the completed movie was not the one she proposed to Marvel Studios and wasn’t even the film she initially shot.

They scheduled a meeting, and they were preparing specific aspects, requiring full commitment. The way they produce movies differs significantly from how I envision making a movie, so complete dedication is necessary, along with a pinch of optimism. This time, the best didn’t materialize, but one must trust in the system. It was intriguing because at one point I found myself thinking, “This isn’t going to be the film I proposed or even the initial version I filmed,” so I understood that this is now an educational journey and a chance to grow as a director, enhancing my skills in navigating through different situations.

Working on a Marvel Studios Project is More Complicated Than Fans Can Imagine

It’s a pity that Nia DaCosta, who has now completed work on “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” had a hard time during her tenure on “The Marvels,” considering her passion for comics. Previously, she shared her idea of an X-Men film featuring Cyclops, Storm, and Galactus with Marvel Studios, which unfortunately didn’t materialize. Despite this setback, her ambition to direct an MCU film was fulfilled. DaCosta’s comments about Captain America being responsible for the Snap and her critique of “Avengers: Endgame”‘s girl-power moment suggested that she might help Marvel Studios transition into a more auteur-driven future with films like “Eternals.” Unfortunately, it seems that Marvel Studios may have doubted these directors’ visions and reverted to old habits.

Filmmakers such as Ryan Coogler, Takia Waititi, and James Gunn successfully brought their ideas to life in their MCU projects, but DaCosta has joined a group of directors who faced challenges within Marvel Studios, like Edgar Wright and Patty Jenkins, who both left the director’s chair for Ant-Man and Thor: The Dark World. DaCosta’s criticism of The Marvels’ production issues might raise concerns about Avengers: Doomsday, which begins filming soon, with less than a year until its release. Recent whispers suggest that even the Russo Brothers, once considered reliable for Avengers: Doomsday, are now under scrutiny from Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige after the negative response to The Electric State.

When The Marvels was released, some fans observed that blame was unfairly directed towards DaCosta when it became known that she was less active during the final edit because she was preparing for her upcoming movie, Hedda. However, DaCosta refuted this perception, explaining that the release of The Marvels had been delayed twice due to prior commitments which required her to begin work on the new film. This revelation adds complexity as Marvel Studios assumed greater creative control over The Marvels, a move which ultimately proved unnecessary. It’s possible that The Marvels might have fared better if the studio had placed more trust in DaCosta as a director.

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2025-04-04 21:03