Matthew Vaughn, the acclaimed director behind movies like “X-Men: First Class” and “Kick-Ass,” recently expressed his belief that the world might benefit from “a little bit of time off” from superhero movies.
Key Takeaways:
- Matthew Vaughn suggests a hiatus from superhero films.
- He attributes the box office failure of “The Flash” to potential superhero fatigue.
- Vaughn believes that some superhero movies have lost their cinematic essence.
- He criticizes the over-reliance on CGI in many superhero films.
- Vaughn’s upcoming film, “Argylle,” is set to release in February next year.
Superhero Fatigue: A Real Concern?
In a candid interview with Screen Rant, Vaughn shared his concerns about the current state of the superhero genre. He mentioned being “freaked out” by the unexpected box office failure of “The Flash,” starring Ezra Miller. Despite considering it a “really good film,” Vaughn pondered if the movie’s underperformance was a sign of audiences growing tired of superhero narratives.
Quality Over Quantity
Vaughn emphasized that the inundation of subpar superhero movies might be contributing to the genre’s potential decline. He remarked, “I think there’s been so many bad superhero movies as well that it’s like when the Western got, you make so many [that] you get bored of the genre, not because the genre is bad, but because the films are bad.”
The Essence of Cinema
The director also highlighted a crucial distinction: superhero films should be films first. He expressed concern that the cinematic aspect of these movies is often overshadowed by their superhero elements. Vaughn stated, “It’s a film that has superheroes in it. I think what happened was that they became superheroes, and the film part wasn’t that important.”
CGI: A Double-Edged Sword
Vaughn pointed out another potential pitfall for the genre: an over-reliance on computer-generated imagery (CGI). While CGI can enhance a film’s visual appeal, it can also detract from its emotional resonance. Vaughn believes that excessive CGI can make a movie feel more like a video game, distancing audiences from the characters. However, he praised characters like Groot and Rocket from James Gunn’s “Guardians Of The Galaxy” as notable exceptions.
Hope for the Future
Despite his critiques, Vaughn remains hopeful for the future of superhero films. He expressed optimism about the direction of the DC Extended Universe under the guidance of James Gunn and Peter Safran. Vaughn also hopes that Marvel’s Kevin Feige will adopt a “less is more” approach, focusing on producing fewer but higher-quality films.
Upcoming Projects
Fans of Vaughn have something to look forward to. His next directorial venture, “Argylle,” is a spy action comedy featuring a star-studded cast, including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, and Bryan Cranston. The film revolves around Elly Conway, an introverted spy novelist portrayed by Howard, who finds herself entangled in real-world espionage. “Argylle” is slated for a February release.
A History with X-Men
In a related note, Vaughn disclosed that he opted out of directing “X-Men: The Last Stand” after learning that Halle Berry was misled into reprising her role as Storm.
In conclusion, while superhero movies have dominated the box office for the past decade, industry insiders like Matthew Vaughn believe it might be time for a brief respite. Whether this break will rejuvenate the genre or lead to its decline remains to be seen.