Logan Director Thinks Cinematic Universes Are the “Death of Storytelling”

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As a devoted cinephile and longtime observer of Hollywood trends, I can wholeheartedly agree with James Mangold’s perspective on cinematic universes. Having seen the industry evolve over the years, I’ve noticed the shift towards interconnected storylines and shared universes becoming increasingly dominant – to the point where it feels like each new film is merely a piece of a much larger puzzle.

According to Director James Mangold (Logan, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), the cinematic universe trend in Hollywood hasn’t been beneficial for the film industry. He even goes as far as arguing that this era of creating intricately connected franchise universes might be the end of storytelling as we’ve known it.

In his latest conversation with Rolling Stone, filmmaker Mangold, known for helming two Wolverine films within the X-Men franchise and an Indiana Jones movie, expressed his firm stance against working on multiverse projects.

Mangold shared an unexpected aspect of his career: he’s not a fan of intricately woven IP universes. In his perspective, such elaborate world-building can hinder storytelling and even kill it. Instead, people seem more captivated by how different stories connect than the actual narrative unfolding in front of them.

Mangold acknowledges that his views aren’t novel: before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took off, many in Hollywood warned that expanding universe sagas could compromise complete stories for individual projects. With the addition of streaming and TV content over the past five years, this concern has intensified, with fans expressing dissatisfaction. Consistency has also been a challenge, as the pieces increasingly fail to fit together seamlessly.

Mangold acknowledges feelings of frustration may arise, but assures viewers that his movie tells a self-contained tale capable of moving an audience.

In my perspective, I constantly ask myself, “What sets this film apart and makes its characters distinctive?” Instead of comparing it to other movies or searching for hidden meanings, I prefer focusing on the film’s ability to evoke emotions.

James Mangold not only declares his involvement, but he is now set to helm some fresh cinematic projects in renowned universes. Mangold’s upcoming tasks include directing a Star Wars film that explores the genesis of the Jedi Order and a Swamp Thing movie within DC Universe’s new franchise, led by James Gunn. These ventures offer Mangold an ample degree of creative control while immersing him in established franchise realms, much like his critically-acclaimed film “Logan.” The latter production, featuring Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, has garnered recognition for its deeply moving and powerful narrative – a standard that the new Deadpool & Wolverine film from Marvel Studios acknowledges and aspires to emulate.

[Note: Mangold discussed the possibility of a cameo appearance for his Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line” in his upcoming Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” which is set to be released later this year.]

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2024-07-25 19:40