By Littlebells
This last week, it was announced that Patty Jenkins (Monster) resigned from directing the much anticipated sequel due to creative differences with Marvel. Kenneth Branagh directed the original and was a box office hit. Marvel seems to know exactly how they want their super heroes to be portrayed and seen on the big screen, so it would be interesting to know what the creative differences were with Ms. Jenkins.
At the moment, Marvel seems to be looking at two other directors to quite possibly direct the Thor 2: Alan Taylor and Daniel Minihan. Taylor has directed episodes of Games of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Nurse Jackie, Mad Men, and The Sopranos. He also has directed films such as Palookaville and Kill the Poor.[1] Minihan also has directed episodes of Games of Thrones, True Blood, The Good wife, Grey’s Anatomy, Deadwood, and Six Feet Under.[2]
Thor 2 will follow Thor on his adventures into the other 9 worlds, as well as focus on his relationship with Jane (Natalie Portman) and Father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins).[3] Which director do you feel is more suited to bring Marvel’s vision back to theaters? Do you think a female director could still be considered?
[3] http://www.reelz.com/movie-news/12563/marvel-looking-at-2-directors-new-screenwriters-for-thor-2/
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comicrelief2
Comic Relief
parisienne
littlebells
Lurker
ozzie20
Open Book
LIH
linkedinhollywood.com 
Great article LB!
I don’t think a female director is the only one who can direct a romance. It’s that type of thinking that pigeon holes people. However, the directors they have on the table sound great. It’s too bad Patty did not work out. Although, I’m wondering if it had something to do with her experience with CGI? I think HW has a low tolerance for allowing women to learn CGI on the job than they do men.
Can’t wait for the discussion.
Thank you, OB, you are too kind. 🙂 This is definitely up CR’s alley more than mine so I really hope he can be here for our discussion. Thanks to CR for helping me with some great websites, btw!!! 🙂
Interesting about the CGI. That’s kinda crummy! If I am correct, I believe Patty would have been the first female director of a superhero film. That would be quite a break through, especially if the film was of any female super heroine. Hmmm…things to consider…
LB,
I’m glad you pursued this topic. Jenkin’s hire was an enormous deal in regard to the comic’s fan world that has a huge female following. Yep, I said it. Comics have a huge female following and if more people went to comic conventions I would not even have to say this.
A woman at the helm meant, women would be verified as fan girls. If successful in theaters, women could begin to make demands of the genre, assert greater influence in comic’s development, and possibly lead the charge for more female characters finding their way to their own films. Over all this is a big bummer, even though she says differently to the Hollywood reporter.
“I have had a great time working at Marvel,” she told THR. “We parted on very good terms, and I look forward to working with them again.”
LB,
Here are some other questions:
• LB do you think these men got on the short list for new Directors to dispel the notion that her removal /release had a gender motivation?
• Given how masculine the character Thor appeared, why do you believe Jenkin’s was interested in this character?
• Given that all of these directors seem to have TV production in common, what do you believe Jenkin’s would have supplied the feature film media that wasn’t available before?
• Why do you believe Game of thorns directors are so important to Marvel?
CR,
* sorry, but please explain to me what you mean by “short list”. I want to make sure I am understanding you correctly.
* good question, I’m going to have to really think about this one!
* Again another good question. All seem to pick heavy hitting shows. Again, let me chew on this a bit. 🙂
* I have not seen GoT, however, I know it is a very fantastical medieval show that has gotten great reviews. I’m assuming with the fantasy, battles, and great physicality of the characters, these directors would be able to make a smooth transition from small screen to big screen. IDK!!! haha!
Oh sorry,
Short list equals two people = Alan Taylor and Daniel Minihan.
Thank you for this comment! I was hoping you would bring it up. I am actually very sad that Patty won’t be directing. It would be nice to see what a woman director could bring to the comic genre. In reading some comments off of different websites, there were quite a few who were sad to see her go.
I know there are also many female super heros and perhaps if a movie could get made with a FD, we could bring these great heroines to the screen. I know some were mentioning Red Sonia and WW. Again, WW just HAS to be made! And you know, I would totally support a female director.
I think Patty handled the press very professionally and perhaps Marvel will consider her in the future.
Patty and Hardwicke both handled the press well. They had no other choice if they care to work in HW again.
Yep! CGI is really a big thing studios want directors to have in their tool kit today. Many old timers like Scorsese and Condon are running out trying to get this experience. Scorsese with Hugo and Condon with Twilight. Anyway, I believe this is why Hardwicke got the boot and now Patty is the second on a film that requires a director to have CGI experience.
Ok, so how do directors get this “training”? I agree Hardwicke’s CGI was pretty bad (running vampires), but I overlooked it. Sort of.
Just like the male directors opportunity, practice and investment in them long term. Many male directors are given boat loads of opportunity to get experience. The reality is perhaps working as a second unit director on a CGI film would be the way to gain experience as well. But why should they have to step down if male directors are given the freedom to learn on the job.
“Many male directors are given boat loads of opportunity to get experience.”
And that right there makes the “Big Boys” look like discriminatory dumb****s. I could be wrong, but that’s what I felt like saying.
Females are still so far behind despite the progress they have made. ARgh, stepping away from the computer for a moment…
Yes! Step away……….Don’t hurt the computer….LOL!!
OB,
From time to time you have been very critical of the super hero film genre, what do you believe Patty brought to feature films that Thor really needed?
Great Q CR-
Let me think and get back to u!
Hi everyone.
Hi Everyone-
Welcome new and returning visitors to our discussion tonight. Please feel free to ask questions or comment.
Hi everyone! Hope you have had a great start to your week. 🙂
Yes! So far so good. LOL!!
CR,
Back to your first question. I don’t know how much of her release from the production was gender related, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Hopefully not. I wonder how soon Marvel knew things weren’t going to work out because they certainly had their list ready for new directors.
As soon as she turned in her concept that had little CGI in it. LOL!!
Oh snap! And yet it’s sad that she doesn’t have the background because that would have been AMAZING to have a female director on board.
“I wonder how soon Marvel knew things weren’t going to work out because they certainly had their list ready for new directors.”
That suggests they were never happy with her.
Actor Mickey Rourke, (who starred as Whiplash in Iron man 2) is the only creative collaborator who has maintained a long standing list of complaints about Marvel. I’m wondering whether we’re hearing the beginning of a trend?
I read about that. Can you share some of the complaints?
this will take me a minute….
Tick! Tock!!! CR……
I promise I’m going to stop posting this much in the comments (starting tomorrow).
The actual pages are listed at the bottom;
1. But this is what he said on one occasion;
Article author: I got the impression that even though you’re technically the “bad guy” in the movie, that he seemed to really sympathize with your character a lot.
Mickey Rourke: Well, I always try to bring that to a character. It’s like when I did Ivan Vanko in Iron Man, I fought… You know, I explained to Justin Theroux, to the writer, and to [Jon] Favreau that I wanted to bring some other layers and colors, not just make this Russian a complete murderous revenging bad guy. And they allowed me to do that. Unfortunately, the [people] at Marvel just wanted a one-dimensional bad guy, so most of the performance ended up the floor.
Well, you know, it is f**king too bad, but it’s their loss. If they want to make mindless comic book movies, then I don’t want to be a part of that. I don’t want to have to care so much and work so hard, and then fight them for intelligent reasoning, and just because they’re calling the shots they… You know, I didn’t work for three months on the accent and all the adjustments and go to Russia just so I could end up on the floor. Because that can make somebody say at the end of the day, oh f**k ‘em, I’m just going to mail it in. But I’m not that kind of guy. I’m never going to mail it in.
Article author: I could tell you didn’t mail it in on ‘Iron Man’…
Mickey Rourke: No, but I’m saying it’s frustrating when that happens, when you care so much and you try so hard. At the end of the day you’ve got some nerd with a pocketful of money calling the shots. You know, Favreau didn’t call the shots. I wish he would have. And Theroux, we worked together to bring layers to that character, so, you know, I fight for that any time I’m playing like a bad guy.
2. Here’s another occasion:
Superhero Hype caught up with Mickey Rourke earlier today, and while discussing his villainous role in Immortals, he had a few things to say about his time working with Jon Favreau and Marvel Studios on Iron Man 2. Now, I definitely remember reports of the actor heading on over to Russian prisons to research the role and there being some talk in the past of not all of his material making the final cut, but it would appear that it was a lot more than we ever realized!
“I try to find the moments where [the villian is] not that cliched, evil bad guy and it’s a big fight. I had it on ‘Iron Man’ and they won. It was going to work for Marvel and them breaking [Jon] Favreau’s balls and wanting just a one-dimensional villain. The performance and all the things that I tried to bring to it end up on the f–ing floor. That can cause you not to care as much. To not to want to put that effort in to try and make it an intelligent bad guy or a bad guy who is justified in what his reasons are.”
This isn’t the first time Marvel Studios have fallen out with an actor in one of their productions. Ed Norton disagreed with the way they handled The Incredible Hulk and his role as Bruce Banner was later given to Mark Ruffalo for 2012’s The Avengers. Terrence Howard was replaced by Don Cheadle because he wanted more money. While we don’t know the full details behind any of these fall outs, I guess we can add Mickey Rourke to the list of actors who won’t be working with the studio again in future! How do you guys feel about his comments? Be sure to share your thoughts in the usual place.
1. Here’s even another occasion:
io9: So a lot of it is finding the right director who you feel comfortable with?
Rourke: I try to find the right director who won’t compromise his or anyone else’s integrity, and yet be political enough to give the studio what they want yet put up a fight to maintain that integrity. So we’re not watching some science fiction [frick]ing wham bam thank you ma’am Marvel piece of crap.
….O.k so he hates Marvel….
References for the quotes
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/joshw24/news/?a=49489
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/joshw24/news/?a=49110
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/rorschachsrants/news/?a=49681
CR, thank you!!! I have actually read some complaints from comic book fans as well.
Why do you think Marvel seems to only concentrate on one dimensional? Do they just want to literally translate from book to screen without any depth of the characters?
oh my gosh. the grammar in that last question is mind blowingly awful. My apologies.
LB,
I think that’s what Rourke thinks.
Also a lot of fans hated Ironman 2.
No worries!! I do it all the time..
CR,
What are your thoughts about Marvel?
LB,
All I can say is they’ve figured out what DC/Warner Bros. hasn’t.
That’s pretty amazing considering Warners support the Dark Knight and Harry Potter.
Hmm!
That’s not a good enough answer CR!!
To compare rich developed characters of Batman Begins, Dark Night and Harry Potter Etc….to Marvel? Hmm! U got to explain why fans are sucking down formulas and conventions over more developed concepts?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
……maybe the explosions……
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Stop it you two! 🙂 We have to keep things kosher around here. hahahaha!!!!
btw, OB, I agree with your assessment. HP and DK are far more engaging, but that’s just me. I like more depth and it honestly makes the superhero that more real and honest. I then get excited about them trying to fight evil when they are these imperfect beings.
CR-Yes!! I guess choosing explosions over content is what too much huffing will do.
LB-I will try and behave now….Sorry!
The man of few words? Not possible….CR don’t worry about posting alot as long as it’s relevant and worth reading.
CR or LB-
Can u name a CGI or 3D film directed by a female?
No. I don’t beleive most women and most minorites direct CGI fllms.
Let’s not even talk about minorities…….That’s a whole other bag of worms I won’t open up in this discussion.
cool.
I have to agree with CR. I can only think of Hardwicke. And why do you think that women and minorities aren’t getting the chance to work with CGI? It seems all very discriminatory to me.
Lb,
I thought Hardwicke was fired prior to learning CGI. Cheesy effects like leaping to the trees in the “spider monkey exchange” or running up the mountain are not CGI.
PS:
OB thinks discussing minorities in this discussion is too much. I agree with her but think your conclusions are valid.
If u can corner the market on CGI which is the evolution of the film industry IMO!! U can guarantee certain groups are unable to compete. Like I said it’s a bag of worms I don’t want to explore tonight. Women is just a few feet down a very deep rabbit hole.
Hi Everyone!
Just popping in to say hi!
Hi Paris!
Nice to see u…….I missed u!
hi open book!
*hugs*
I missed you too!
Paris-I will go easy on u too and allow u to get your bearings.Hmm!
That would be nice in theory but…………I would love to hear what u think of Patty Jenkins getting the boot on Thor 2?
Hi all! I’m here, well my body is, my brain isn’t! I’m very, very tired again, so if I go quiet, I’ve probably fallen asleep, lol! I haven’t seen Thor 1 and out of the tv directors I’ve seen only a few episodes of The Sopranos, True Blood and Grey’s Anatomy so I have no idea if I can add much to the discussion anyway! 🙂
Hi paris! Hi Ozzie!
Hi,
Paris, Ozzie, and OB and LB if i did not say so.
Hi CR!
Hi Ozzie!!
Well I will go easy on u….Well I will try…Hmm! Though, I can’t promise u concretely. LOL!!
As supportive as I am of having a female directing a comic hero, I am interested as to how they selected Jenkins. She’d only done one film and considering how Thor 2 will be huge, I wonder what qualified her to be sought after.
This is really a Q for CR!!!! However, my theory is due to trying to appeal to a female fan base by appearing like they are supporting women given Warner’s bad history so far of not supporting women and their famous quote “leading ladies are box office poison”. None the less………..This sounds like a “rabbit in the hat” trick studios tried with fans of Wonder Women. What do u think CR?
LB!!!!!
That one movie was huge.
…referring to “Monster,” Theron earned an oscar.
Oh I absolutely agree, CR. But considering her film list isn’t very extensive to prove herself, I was just…yeah…nevermind. haha!
I think the bigger question is why women have to go back to TV after winning Oscars?
Or why women get fired after creating pop cultural super extravaganza’s like Twilight.
Standing O!!! I heart u!!! LOL!!
Excellent points CR!! Yes, why do they? Are men INTIMIDATED maybe?
I think you know the answer. 🙂
OB,
I would agree with you.
Since the TV show did not occur this is the biggest success for women in the comic book universe. But success is relative because the film’s director Bruce Timm claimed profits were not high enough to merit a sequel.
There are reasons Wonder Woman is so highly regarded.
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/10-longest-running-solo-female-111201-1.html
LB,
Do you think Marvel would use the Jewel/Jessica Jones TV show to obscure the fact that they fired Patty Jenkins?
http://www.hitfix.com/articles/melissa-rosenberg-says-jessica-jones-series-absolutely-taking-place-in-larger-marvel-universe
Sorry I know even in comic book terms Jewel/ Jessica Jones is an absolutely third rate nobody. No one has heard of her so I’m not surprise no one can respond.
No, no it’s not that, although I don’t know who she is, but it’s the fact that Melissa Rosenberg is writing it. I read that and choked on my dinner. No. No, no, no…just NO. No. Noooooooo. Nononononoooo!
…really, make it stop….
She has made some (to my ear) arrogant statements, but I assume she can always hide behind Meyers and Hardwicke when the Twilight bashing starts.
I guess its good Melissa Rosenberg has moved on to other things after Twilight even if this is unclear with Hardwick after “red riding hood.” Remember that unfortunate mess, if only more men had to deal with these career “hickups.”
Everyone,
I need to go for the evening and will check back tomorrow. CR, if I have forgotten to answer any of your questions, I will get to them tomorrow.
Thank you for all your insight.
Have a wonderful night everyone!
🙂
Goodnight LB!!
Great article…….I’m going to head out as well everyone!
Take Care!
Me too.
Night all.
Guess what, another male “Game of Thornes” contender enters the race.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Game-of-Thrones-director-in-talks-for-Thor-2/tabid/418/articleID/236521/Default.aspx