Christopher Nolan thanks God that MCU films exist; understand
Director Christopher Nolan, who is up for several awards at the 2024 Oscars with the film Oppenheimer, made a comment about Marvel films during an interview. However, unlike other renowned filmmakers, he praised the productions — at least from a marketing point of view.
In a conversation with the newspaper The New York TimesNolan recognized the importance of these superhero productions for box office collections around the world. “Leaving the [pandemia da] covid-19, you say ‘thank God for Marvel movies'”comments the director.
He also spoke especially about the casting of Robert Downey Jr. to play the protagonist Tony Stark in Iron Man. This was the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), in 2008.
“I think Jon Favreau casting Robert as Tony Stark It was one of the most significant and consequential casting decisions in Hollywood history. It ended up defining our industry. (…) And it’s one of those cases where, seeing it now, everyone thinks it was obvious. But he took a huge risk,” she comments.
Nolan and Downey Jr.Source: GettyImages
In addition to being immortalized in the role of Stark, Robert Downey Jr. is now competing for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Oppenheimer himself. The star is one of the favorites in the category and can take the stage on March 10th, when the ceremony will take place.
MCU is in decline, but has high numbers
Currently, Marvel is going through a more delicate period. In addition to the mixed to negative reception of new films, the box office also fell compared to previous years. As a consequence, Disney has already confirmed that it will reduce the number of film and series releases to focus on already established franchises or characters.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, 2022.Source: Marvel
Nolan is probably referring to the beginning of the flexibility of activities after the peak of the pandemic, in 2021. In that year of few premieres, four of the five highest-grossing films of the year are about heroes — in this order, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Venom 2 and Black Widow.
The following year, other productions debuted, but the company was present in the top 5 with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever It is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
It is worth remembering that he himself has participated in the universe of superheroes: the filmmaker was responsible for three Batman films for Warner Bros. with Christian Bale in the lead role, including the highly praised Batman: The Dark Knight. Previously, Nolan also declared himself a fan of Fast and Furious.
