Key Takeaways:
– Daniel Espinosa, the director of Morbius, voiced his dissatisfaction with the film’s production process.
– Espinosa believes his film suffered due to Hollywood bureaucracy and the pandemic.
– He admitted that a different director may have been more suited to fulfill the vision of the movie.
– Dakota Johnson shared similar sentiments about making movies ‘through committee’ after the Sony movie Madame Web failed.
– Espinosa suggests that the upcoming Sony movie Kraven the Hunter is also facing challenges.
Few things can match the excitement of a Marvel film hitting the screens, but that excitement quickly turns into disappointment when the film doesn’t live up to fan’s expectations. Morbius, directed by Daniel Espinosa and starring Jared Leto, seems to be caught in the eye of exactly this storm. Espinosa recently opened up about the difficulties he faced while making the film, hinting at Hollywood bureaucracy, COVID-19, and conflicting opinions as the main culprits.
Morbius ‘Made Through Committee’
Espinosa revealed in an interview with Deadline that he felt a different director might have been better suited for the job. His vision for Morbius, featuring Jared Leto as the Living Vampire, seemingly differed from what moviegoers experienced on the big screen.
The veteran director lamented, “I’m known amongst the studios to be a person with a lot of opinions, and maybe they were not looking for that kind of director.” This pointed to the oft-discussed issue of films being made ‘through committee,’ a process in which too many conflicting opinions might dilute the final product.
Similarities to Madame Web Debacle
Somewhat similar to Morbius’s situation, the Sony movie Madame Web faced substantial backlash when it released. Actress Dakota Johnson commented on the failure of the movie reflecting the same ‘committee’ issue saying, “Films are made by a filmmaker and a team of artists around them… decisions are being made by committees, and art does not do well when it’s made by committee.”
Johnson added, “But it was definitely an experience for me to make that movie. I had never done anything like it before. I probably will never do anything like it again because I don’t make sense in that world. And I know that now.”
Uncertain Future for Kraven the Hunter
While that was about past movies, concerns are already rising for the upcoming Sony movie- Kraven the Hunter. This film, starring Aaron Taylor Johnson as Sergei Kravinoff, released a red-band, hyper-violent trailer in June 2023 but hasn’t made any noise since.
The movie is slated to hit theaters on December 12, but there seems to be minimal conversation around it, almost as if fans have forgotten it exists. Here’s hoping that Marvel ramps up promotions for Kraven, sparking newfound interest among fans.
Sony’s Spider-Universe Teeming with Potential
Despite the hiccups with Morbius and Madame Web, Sony’s extended Spider-Verse is brimming with potential. There’s Spider-Noir, which is slowly garnering attention with its star-studded lineup, looking promising.
However, what Sony needs now is to figure out what works and seize the momentum to make the most out of these opportunities. The mixed reception to Morbius and Madame Web highlight the struggle of balancing a strong creative vision with the demands and pressures of major studio moviemaking.
So what’s your take on this? Do you think movies like Morbius and Madame Web had too many cooks spoiling the broth? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
