Secret Invasion Director's Jaw-Dropping Response to Scathing Reviews
Secret Invasion director Ali Selim takes an unexpected approach to address the backlash from the underwhelming finale, leaving audiences surprised and intrigued by his response
Highlights
Secret Invasion, Marvel's latest series, has received mixed reviews with a low rating on Rotten Tomatoes, prompting the director to respond.
Director Ali Selim remains unperturbed by the mixed reviews and recognizes that individuals have varying expectations. Despite the lofty expectations of passionate fans, meeting them is not always a prerequisite for achieving success in a project.
Marvel Studios' Secret Invasion, starring Samuel L. Jackson, garnered mixed reviews despite its intriguing premise. Director Ali Selim responded to the critiques, addressing the feedback.
Adapted from the comic of the same name, Secret Invasion portrays an alien infiltration on Earth by the shape-shifting Skrulls, who take over influential positions globally. With a budget of $212 million, the six-episode series currently holds the lowest rating among MCU shows on Rotten Tomatoes, scoring 56%. None of its episodes received a 60% or higher rating, indicating a lack of positive or "fresh" reviews.
In an interview with Variety, Selim, the director of all six Secret Invasion episodes, offered a unique perspective on the mixed reviews from fans and critics. "Mixed reviews don't bother me," he expressed. "If every review was unanimously positive, every film would make a staggering amount of money, right? [Projects] resonate differently with individuals at various moments for diverse reasons. Marvel boasts an incredibly devoted — even fervent — fan base with high expectations. When those expectations aren't met, they quickly express their disappointment."
The finale of The Secret Invasion faced significant criticism from fans for deviating from its espionage, slow-burn plot and opting for a rushed episode that culminated in a generic fight scene with no stakes. Presently, the episode holds a meager 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Selim, the creator, acknowledged the dilemma of fulfilling fan expectations versus telling the intended story, expressing satisfaction with the response despite not expecting universal adoration.
While his remarks resonate with the dedicated fan base of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, favorable reviews do not guarantee commercial success for every superhero film. Exemplifying this is James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, which, despite receiving rave reviews, fell short at the box office, earning only $168.7 million out of a $185 million budget. Similarly, this year's The Flash, marked by flaws while also reintroducing beloved characters, is now regarded as one of the biggest box office failures in history.
Streaming on Disney Plus, Secret Invasion, along with the highly anticipated second season of Loki and the directorial prowess of Nia DaCosta for The Marvels, holds the promise of revitalizing the MCU and delivering a string of consistently impressive projects.
Sources: Variety
