Patty Jenkins is a good superhero filmmaker, as is evident by her 2017 feature, “Wonder Woman.” But that doesn’t mean Jenkins is an avid comic book reader that grew up exposed to all the superheroes and their adventures. In fact, as she revealed to Premiere (via Comicbook.com), Jenkins found her love of superhero storytelling from movies, and it’s for that reason she’s pretty picky about what superheroes she’s willing to work on.
In the interview, Jenkins actually revealed why she’s interested in the ‘Wonder Woman’ franchise at Warner Bros. versus a film that features multiple characters and relies heavily on connected universes. Long story short, don’t expect her to direct a new “Justice League” film.
“I love comics, but I’ve come to superheroes through films,” Jenkins said. “There is in me this desire to emulate compared to the movies I saw as a child. A certain spirit that reigned in those times. Is that relevant when I shoot? I don’t know. The point is, unlike other directors, I don’t really care about shared universes, continuity, and that kind of detail. I’ve been contacted to make a ‘Justice League’ movie in the past, and it doesn’t connect to me. Too many characters.”
The filmmaker also talked more about her reluctance to work with Marvel Studios, even though she previously was attached to helm one of their films, “Thor: The Dark World.” According to Jenkins, though she likes the people at Marvel, she’s not a fan of how they operate creatively, specifically when it comes to the role of directors.
“I really like the people who work [at Marvel Studios], but they want full control over their movies. The director is under control,” she explained. “Yes, it can happen. Furthermore, It shows immediately if a director cannot impose his/her vision. When this is the case, I get the impression that these people are doing a different job than me. But with ‘Wonder Woman 1984,’ I think I did exactly what I wanted. And then, everything a superhero movie needs comes naturally to me: I love shooting great action scenes versus great sets. I really enjoy it.”
The idea that Marvel Studios keeps strict control over the direction of its films is nothing new. We’ve heard reports from filmmakers that have enjoyed their time at Marvel, which is evident by the fact that the studio tends to work with the same directors time after time. But there have also been plenty of disagreements between the studio and its filmmakers, as we’ve seen people like Scott Derrickson and Edgar Wright leave films during development. So, at least we know why we shouldn’t expect Jenkins’ name coming up in any Marvel rumors.
“Wonder Woman 1984” is set to debut (for now) on August 12.