Bob Iger. The CEO of Disney, spoke out about Martin Scorsese’s Marvel criticisms at a recent event (via FastCompany), Iger was asked about the comments made by Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, the latter of which called Marvel films “despicable,” and offered his own views on what is becoming a Marvel pushback by some of cinema’s greatest directors.
“But when Francis uses the words ‘those films are despicable,’ I’d reserve the word ‘despicable’ for someone who had committed mass murder,” Iger said.
He continued by saying that he “doesn’t get what they’re criticizing us for” considering that Disney (and Marvel) are making movies that earn millions of people’s approvals etc.
“I’m puzzled by it,” Iger said. “If they want to bitch about movies it’s certainly their right. It seems so disrespectful to all the people who work on those films who are working just as hard as the people who are working on their films and are putting their creative souls on the line just like they are.”
If what Iger just stated has angered you to no ends then get ready for the cherry on top as the Disney head honcho ended up having the chutzpah in comparing “Black Panther” to anything Scorsese and/or Coppola have directed in their landmark careers.
He said, “Are you telling me that Ryan Coogler making ‘Black Panther’ is doing something that somehow or another is less than anything Marty Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola have ever done on any one of their movies? Come on.”
Gulp.