Disney CEO Bob Iger thinks he knows why director Martin Scorsese is so critical of Marvel Cinematic Universe films: He hasn’t seen one. The popular MCU ended its Infinity Saga with Avengers: Endgame earlier this year. The movie broke many box office records and even bested Titanic at the global box office. The MCU also added Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home to its roster this year, culminating in a massively successful year for Marvel. However, that success led several directors, including Scorsese, to question the cinematic merit of the MCU.

Last month, while promoting his upcoming film The Irishman, Scorsese made headlines with his claim that Marvel films are “not cinema.” He later clarified that the films are “a different experience,” saying, “it’s not cinema, it’s something else.” Other directors agreed with Scorsese’s criticisms, including Francis Ford Coppola and Ken Loach. In fact, Coppola went even further than Scorsese, calling the MCU films “despicable.” However, he later explained that poor translation played a role in the way his comments were received, as he was speaking generally about films that only exist to “make people rich.”

Per Variety, Iger discussed Scorsese’s comments during a radio interview with the BBC. Iger first stated, “I don’t think he’s ever seen a Marvel film.” He added, “Anyone who has seen a Marvel movie could not in all truth make that statement.” Iger also pointed out the similarities between what Marvel and Scorsese do, saying, “Marvel is making movies – that’s what Martin Scorsese makes.” He concluded by defending Marvel and those involved both in front of and behind the camera, continuing, “They are good movies, good directors and good writers and good actors, good cinematographers, and good costume designers, and good sound engineers, and good editors.”

Prior to Iger’s comments, several notable directors and actors from the MCU came to its defense including Natalie Portman, Joss Whedon, Taika Waititi, and James Gunn. Portman, who announced her return to the MCU over the summer, recently said, “there’s room for all types of cinema,” suggesting that one isn’t inherently better than the other. Guardians of the Galaxy director Gunn took to Instagram for his rebuttal, allowing that “some superhero films are awful, some are beautiful.” He also compared the Marvel movies to gangster and western films, saying, “not everyone will be able to appreciate them, even some geniuses.”

Iger’s comments shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering what others involved in the MCU have said publicly. It makes sense that he would want to defend a company Disney oversees and the work they create. Iger’s defense also lines up with Portman’s, as both noted that movies are movies regardless of their content. So far, more people have sided with Marvel than Scorsese in the debate. This makes sense considering the sheer number of actors and directors in Hollywood who have worked in the MCU. However, with Scorsese’s esteemed reputation, it wouldn’t be surprising if other creatives come to his defense against MCU films in the future.

More: What Martin Scorsese Gets Right (& Wrong) About Marvel Movies

Source: Variety

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