Iron Man director Jon Favreau isn’t offended by Martin Scorcese and Francis Ford Coppola’s scathing stance on Marvel films, insisting the directors have “earned the right to express their opinions”.
Scorsese’s comment that superhero blockbusters are “not cinema” sparked a fierce debate in filmmaking circles over their merits, with a host of Marvel alumni defending the movies, and Coppola calling them “despicable”.
Now Favreau, who directed Iron Man and Iron Man 2 and starred as Happy Hogan in six different Marvel films, has weighed in, telling CNBC: “These two guys are my heroes, and they have earned the right to express their opinions. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if they didn’t carve the way. They served as a source of inspiration, you can go all the way back to Swingers… They can express whatever opinion they like.”
Ken Loach also joined those slamming the films, calling them “boring” and “nothing to do with the art of cinema”, while Robert Downey, Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Natalie Portman and Sebastian Stan are among those who have defended Marvel offerings.
