It’s been months since Martin Scorsese made a comment about how he feels Marvel films (and superhero films, in general) are just glorified theme park rides and don’t qualify as real cinema. Since then, the debate has raged on amongst film fans, some hating the legendary filmmaker for his comments and giving him the “Ok Boomer” treatment and others applauding Scorsese for speaking the truth. Well, it appears that we may be coming to an end with this discussion, as Disney CEO Bob Iger is ready to put this to bed.
Speaking to Time, Iger was asked about the Scorsese comments and he gave his typical answer. However, it was also revealed that the Disney CEO is working on arranging a meeting with Scorsese.
“If Marty Scorsese wants to be in the business of taking artistic risk, all power to him,” Iger said. “It doesn’t mean that what we’re doing isn’t art.”
The report also says that Iger’s people and Scorsese’s people are trying to work out a time when the two men can meet, presumably to bury the hatchet and end this debate. But those thinking this meeting might lead to some sort of Scorsese/MCU collaboration are probably a bit too hopeful. Judging by the numerous comments the filmmaker has made about his dislike of superhero films, it would stand to reason that he’s not interested in making “Thor 5” or “Captain America 4.”
If nothing else, let’s just hope that this meeting if/when it takes place, will be the final word on what has turned into a discourse about whether or not Marvel films are “cinema” that has gone on now for months. Obviously, this sort of massive pop-culture debate wasn’t intended when Scorsese made his off-handed comments, but with social media being what it is, everything is scrutinized and analyzed.
Who knows? Maybe we’ll get a photo where Scorsese and Iger are hanging out and the filmmaker is holding Thor’s hammer and smiling? That would almost make this whole thing worth it.