James Gunn Has The Perfect Response To Martin Scorsese's Marvel Comments

Back in 2019, Martin Scorsese set the internet ablaze with condescending words about superhero franchise films, claiming that movies such as Marvel's wildly successful MCU entries aren't true cinema. 

Shots fired, right? Scorsese even doubled down in the national newspaper of record: In a subsequent opinion piece for the New York Times, the veteran director wrote, "Many of the elements that define cinema as I know it are there in Marvel pictures. What's not there is revelation, mystery or genuine emotional danger. Nothing is at risk."

Predictably, many Marvel fans pushed back against Scorsese's conception of the genre, which they saw as reductionist and dismissive of the work done by the many talented artists employed by Marvel Studios. Some actors and directors, including notable Marvel nerd Kevin Smith and de facto face of the MCU Robert Downey Jr., didn't care much for Marty's opinion of their artistic output. Now, in advance of his new superhero film, "The Suicide Squad," James Gunn, who has previously worked on both "Guardians of The Galaxy" films and whose pre-Marvel work includes the dark superhero parody film "Super," is letting his true feelings about Scorsese be known.

On a recent episode of the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, James Gunn had some choice words for the "Taxi Driver" director. "I just think it seems awful cynical that he would keep coming out against Marvel and then that is the only thing that would get him press for his movie."

Gunn continued to elaborate, saying, "He just kept coming out against Marvel so that he could get press for his movie. He's creating his movie in the shadow of the Marvel films, and so he uses that to get attention."

Perhaps realizing the force of his words, Gunn clarified that he's a Scorsese fan. "He's one of the greatest filmmakers who's ever existed. I love his movies." Gunn also wanted to clarify that he doesn't think Scorsese is totally off the mark, adding, "He said a lot of things I agree with. There are a lot of things that are true about what he said."

James Gunn's next superhero flick, "The Suicide Squad," opens in theaters and for streaming on HBO Max on August 6.