*“The Marvels” director Nia DaCosta reacted to criticism over her film that centers on diverse female superheroes.
DaCosta told the audience at the Urbanworld Film Festival she initially considered passing on the flick, which opened this weekend with the lowest box office ever for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“The Marvels was something I had to think about,” DaCosta said before noting that she doesn’t take the criticism personally, SandraRose.com reports.
“I was a fan of many fandoms when I was young like Marvel, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Sailor Moon. So, I’m very use to that energy. About fandom, as a fan, people want what they want. But that doesn’t have much to do with me. I just have to finish the movie. I have another film that I am making literally as soon as the strike is over. I try to focus on the work and not the response. It’s immensely healthier that way.”
DaCosta added, “But obviously this is a medium in which audience matters. It’s very important that they have fun. That’s why it was very important to me that this was fun, entertaining and also heartfelt. That’s what we aim for. And then the reaction and all that stuff, I try to keep myself separate from, because once you finished the film you kind of give it to the world and they what they make of it.”
DaCosta is the first Black woman to helm a project for the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the upcoming “The Marvels,” starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, and Samuel L. Jackson.
The hotly anticipated title is loosely a sequel to 2019’s “Captain Marvel,” which surpassed $1.1 billion worldwide. DaCosta, 33, is also making history as the youngest filmmaker to helm an MCU release. Looper reports that she recently addressed criticism for leaving “The Marvels” in post-production before the project officially wrapped.
DaCosta said her early departure was because the film’s release date kept getting pushed back, causing scheduling conflicts with other commitments.
“[Marvel] knew the entire time that I had an obligation — a green-lit movie with people who were waiting for me,” she explained, per Looper. “I pushed that and then I pushed it again and then I pushed it again. Eventually, we all knew that if [‘The Marvels’] pushes again, I’m not going to be in LA to do the rest of this in person.”
Producer Mary Livano told Screen Rant that DaCosta “always had the intention and the vision to portray the three of our Marvels sort of like sisters; Carol being the oldest, Kamala being the enthusiastic youngest child, and Monica being the sort of mediating middle child. And that’s really a really lovely dynamic that makes its way onto screen.”
EUR’s Ny MaGee spoke exclusively with DaCosta about what she’s most excited about long-time MCU fans and new viewers experiencing when “The Marvels” drops. She also discussed some of the movie’s groundbreaking and unique visual effects. Watch our conversation via the clip below.
“The Marvels” opened in theaters nationwide on November 10.
READ MORE: Director Nia DaCosta Talks Unique Visual Effects in ‘The Marvels’ | EUR Video Exclusive
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
