Stan Lee Doc Director Faces Backlash: Where’s the Money Going?

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Previous month, we discussed the upcoming documentary about Stan Lee, focusing on his later life, spearheaded by Jon Bolerjack who was once Lee’s assistant. The purpose of this documentary was to bring light to the alleged mistreatment Stan Lee faced at the hands of his caretakers, financial advisors, and managers. However, the documentary itself has sparked controversy. Bolerjack is facing intense criticism on the internet as even his supporters question his tactics and intentions, as evidenced by comments left on Kickstarter and YouTube. The troubling tale of Lee’s final years continues to unfold.

Excerpts from the upcoming untitled Stan Lee movie trailer are said to contain tributes from renowned comic book creators and insights into the life of the late Spider-Man inventor. The footage, however, has a somber tone that may be hard to watch. In these clips, an agitated Lee is seen being wheeled around conventions well into his 90s, suggesting he felt betrayed by those responsible for his care. These claims were first announced in February as part of a Kickstarter-funded project featuring previously unseen footage from his final days. The documentary has faced controversy and may be in danger if additional funding isn’t secured at the last minute.

How a Stan Lee Documentary Opened Up the Floodgates Against Its Own Director

A brief look at the Kickstarter page for “Stan Lee: The Final Chapter” reveals a multitude of criticisms from potential donors, comic enthusiasts, and Marvel Cinematic Universe viewers. Although online conversations often lean towards negativity, this one seems to have a unique tone. Many people are donating a mere dollar just to post a comment, and their message is usually a warning not to contribute. Scrolling down the comments, you’ll find numerous allegations that he is exploiting the situation, having refused to help Lee while he was alive. This is what the director describes as “heart-breaking lows” in the trailer.

From the very beginning, it was apparent that Bolerjack’s request for financial support seemed self-serving to potential donors. This is ironic given the film’s aim and the disturbing tales of elder abuse allegations and the court battle involving the Lee Family Trust. Some critics noted that Bolerjack had only shown his footage when it suited him.

In response to these criticisms, Bolerjack argued that he had indeed shared his recordings with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office as part of the multiple legal proceedings. However, his explanations failed to quell the backlash, with social media users labeling him a freeloader and a liar, using his situation to amass wealth.

Where Bolerjack Says the Money Is Going

Despite some backers expressing concern over the substantial amount of funds requested for editing a straightforward documentary using existing footage, Bolerjack defended his position by explaining that the editing phase would necessitate extensive work from a skilled team of editors. He rationalized the funding requirements as reasonable production costs in an interview with Comicbook.com.

> A substantial amount of funds is required for a documentary film, even at its most basic level. An editor’s wage is $4,000 per week, while an assistant editor earns $2,000 weekly. This means you’re looking at spending $6,000 each week. Editing a film takes 52 weeks, so the majority of the budget will be allocated for this process.

It seems that the project called Bolerjack is significantly below its targeted $300,000 goal, with approximately $225,000 still needed. In the same interview, he mentioned that he doesn’t expect an additional influx of money with only $300,000 in hand. However, it was also reported that many of the 430 backers are contributing minimal amounts, possibly waiting for more detailed responses to their inquiries before pledging larger sums.

This raises the obvious question we previously asked in our earlier article: how does this late investigative journalism piece aim to “bring justice for Stan” when those allegedly involved have already avoided legal consequences for exploiting Lee years ago? If this documentary manages to meet its funding goal and is released, we will keep you informed.

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2025-04-04 00:32