CinemaDirector James Mangold’s strong criticism of cinematic universesAlthough he is not a fan of the concept, the filmmaker has already been involved with some cinema franchisestoday at 08:00

The concept of a cinematic universe is not new, but it has become popular with many people in recent years due to the films of Marvel Studios. Since then, the idea has been replicated by other film studios. Hollywood.

However, the concept is not unanimous in the cinema segment. One of the detractors is James Mangolddirector of Wolverine: Immortal (2013), Logan (2017) and Indiana Jones and the Call of Destiny (2023).

In conversation with the Rolling Stone USAwhile promoting the biopic of Bob Dylanthe filmmaker criticized cinematographic universes. For him, this idea is, in his words, “the death of storytelling”.

The director stated:

It’s weird that I even worked in the world of intellectual properties because I don’t like movie universe building. It is the enemy of storytelling. The death of storytelling. It’s more interesting to people the way that Legos connect rather than the way these stories connect.”

Afterwards, the filmmaker justified his disdain with the concept. For him, it is important that a feature film becomes unique to the public.

For me, the goal has always been, ‘What’s unique about this film and its characters?’. Don’t make you have to remember another movie, some Easter egg or anything else, which are intellectual arts, not emotional arts. You want a film to work on an emotional level.”

James Mangold and cinematic universes

In fact, it is curious that James Mangold has worked with films belonging to a cinematographic universe. However, even when releasing a title from a very famous franchise, he did not fail to criticize the idea.

In conversation with the Varietywhile promoting Indiana Jones and the Call of Destinythe director declared that he had no interest in leaving loose ends for the development of possible sequels or spin-offs to the franchise. Mangold he said:

I refuse. I just can’t do it. The amount of stories, Easter eggs and fan services starts to become antithetical to any of these things at a certain point. It’s no longer about telling stories. It’s just advertising on a large scale.”

It is worth highlighting that James Mangold is involved with another major film franchise: Star Wars. Still, the filmmaker must develop a film with very few connections to the others, as it will take place millennia before the main story to explain the origins of the Force.

Collaborated: Augusto Ikeda.