With Marvel Studios dominating the box office (and now, streaming), we are constantly seeing directors get asked if they’d be willing to dip their toes in the superhero world. Some say yes. Others, such as Martin Scorsese, clearly have no interest. But what about an acclaimed filmmaker such as Jane Campion? Well, let’s just say Marvel shouldn’t waste the phone call.
Speaking to Variety, Jane Campion was asked if she’d be interested in tackling a superhero film. A decade ago, no one would dare ask esteemed filmmakers such as Campion if they’d lower themselves to film a superhero movie. But in a world where Taika Waititi, Christopher Nolan, Ryan Coogler, and most recently, Chloe Zhao have all done major superhero films, it’s not an unreasonable question.
Well, to Jane Campion, it’s pretty damn unreasonable.
“I hate them,” Campion said about the superhero film genre. “I actually hate them.”
She added, “I think it’s safe to say that I will never do that. They’re so noisy and like ridiculous. Sometimes you get a good giggle, but I don’t know what the thing is with the capes, a grown man in tights. I feel like it must come from pantomime.”
Interestingly, Campion’s latest film, which is surely going to spark quite a bit of Oscar discussion, “The Power of the Dog,” stars Benedict Cumberbatch, who is also starring in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” later this year and has a massive superhero career right now as Doctor Strange. But it doesn’t appear that Cumberbatch is rubbing off on Campion at all.
And honestly, while we can’t even fathom what a Jane Campion-helmed superhero film would look like, the way folks reacted to Zhao’s contemplative, emotions-first handling of “Eternals,” perhaps the world isn’t ready for the director of “The Power of the Dog” to tackle a capes and tights film?
Speaking of, “The Power of the Dog” is in select theaters now and will hit Netflix on December 1.