Summary
The Marvels director Nia DaCosta reveals that the movie is truly a Kevin Feige production and that she knew she would have to take a back seat.
DaCosta's remarks imply that The Marvels might face the persistent criticism of Marvel films being repetitive and their directors lacking creative autonomy.
Considering the MCU's recent unfavorable trajectory, marked by flawed CGI, inconsistent narratives, and excessive reliance on the Marvel formula, there are doubts concerning The Marvels' capacity to overcome these challenges.
Nia DaCosta, director of The Marvels, discusses Marvel Studios' involvement in the film. DaCosta faces the task of continuing Carol Danvers' story after the success of Brie Larson's Captain Marvel, which earned over $1 billion. In addition, The Marvels introduces two new MCU heroes - Iman Vellani's Ms. Marvel and Teyonah Parris' Monica Rambeau - promising an exciting MCU adventure.
During an interview with Vanity Fair, DaCosta openly acknowledges the influence of the MCU machine on The Marvels' storyline. She highlights that it is a Kevin Feige production and emphasizes, "It’s his movie." While DaCosta is accustomed to having creative freedom in her indie films, she understood that a part of her role in The Marvels would require taking a step back. Here is the full quote:
"It is a Kevin Feige production, it’s his movie. I knew going in that some of myself was going to take a back seat."
The Marvels Could Suffer From A Major MCU Problem
: "This movie is a production by Kevin Feige, giving him ownership over it. Therefore, I acknowledge that I exist within that reality, but I am aware that some of you may have a less prominent role in it."Since the conclusion of the Infinity Saga, the MCU has encountered a challenging period in its history. While certain recent Marvel films and shows have achieved success, several have faced criticism for subpar visual effects, inconsistent narratives, uneven pacing, and an excessive reliance on the well-known Marvel formula — a factor that directly relates to DaCosta's remarks. With the release of The Marvels' trailer, which offered a promising injection of interstellar adventure, there appeared to be a possibility that the movie would break free from this negative trend.
However, DaCosta's lack of confidence in The Marvels suggests that it may not address the ongoing issues within the MCU. Phase 4 of the MCU has been heavily criticized, and this negative trend has carried over into Phase 5 with projects such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Secret Invasion, impacting both movies and series.
DaCosta's revelation that The Marvels is fundamentally a Feige movie and that she took a backseat during the directing process increases the likelihood that the Captain Marvel sequel will face similar criticism for lacking originality. Marvel has often been accused of limiting directorial control, and DaCosta's comments imply that The Marvels may have faced the same issue. If that is the case, then the recent wave of criticism regarding the repetitive Marvel formula is likely to continue with The Marvels.
Source: Vanity Fair