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7 New Images from THE DARK KNIGHT RISESNatalie Portman Reportedly Upset Over Marvel Firing Director Patty Jenkins from THOR 2
by Brendan Bettinger Posted:December 14th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
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Earlier in the month, we reported on director Patty Jenkins leaving Thor 2, and moved on by the time Alan Taylor and Daniel Minahan surfaced as the top replacement candidates. After all, the departure was attributed to the classic “creative differences,” and it was implied that Marvel would still like to go into business with Jenkins, just not on Thor 2. However, a new report suggests the split wasn’t quite so amicable, and Thor 2 star Natalie Portman is “deeply upset” over the firing. Details after the jump.
Portman gave birth to a baby boy in June. After a busy 2010/2011, Portman has taken a noticeable step back. THR says the actress was considering a hiatus, but re-engaged at the idea of Jenkins directing Thor 2. Because it is a cool idea. No woman has directed a major superhero film outside of Lexi Alexander‘s smaller-scale Punisher: War Zone. Portman pushed for Marvel to sign Jenkins, and was disappointed when she left the project. The details surrounding Jenkins’ departure are murky, but various sources gave THR every side of the story:
- Marvel fired Jenkins because they were concerned she was not moving swiftly enough toward the November 2013 release.
- The company felt Jenkins showed “a lack of overall clarity in her choices.”
- Marvel were initially convinced by Portman’s enthusiasm, but second guessed their choice when they started talking to writers.
- “Marvel had certain things they needed to achieve. There were constraints on what [Jenkins] could do creatively.”
I don’t know exactly what to believe here, so I’ll let you sort through the rumors. The fact that Jenkins reportedly would like to work on another project with Marvel is a good sign that the split wasn’t too ugly. And Jenkins was very rosy in a previous interview with THR:
“I have had a great time working at Marvel. We parted on very good terms, and I look forward to working with them again.”
I really am encouraged that Marvel may assign Jenkins to another of their superhero properties. But I, like Ms. Portman, am disappointed Thor 2 cannot be that property. I believe it is important that filmmakers come from all walks of life, each contributing a unique voice to cinema. Currently, the path to directing—especially big-budget filmmaking—is populated by white men. Jenkins was qualified for the job, and it’s not really fair for me to turn her into a feminist symbol. But if she could direct this movie that will make, minimally, $300-$400 million worldwide, it would be that much easier for say, Wonder Woman, to be entrusted to the female eye.
We may know more when Marvel officially hires a director. THR says Marvel is involving Portman in the process of selecting a new director to make up for the offense. The company seems to like the idea of someone in the TV world. Someone give them Michelle MacLaren‘s number.
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Bummer, really liked the choice of Jenkins as director. My suggestion on how to move forward is for somebody at Marvel to lock Branagh in a room until he agrees to driect the sequel.
I would’ve liked to see Thor 2 directed by Jenkins. I think a female director could’ve brought something really interesting and different to such an iconically masculine character.
I’m with Natalie. Sounds like she was the right director for the job, but was pushed out due to the studio’s fear. The Super hero films that fail are the ones being produced by corporations and committees. These properties aren’t being allowed to breathe. Let someone passionate about the character and genre do it, and let them play. Be brave, take risks. I’d rather see a cinematic and creative failure, than another boring re-packaging.
It could have been a simple matter that Marvel had a strict deadline for Thor 2, and Jenkins might just not have been accustomed to working at such a pace, especially for a sequel that comes with high expectations from both the viewers and Marvel. But I could see her taking another Marvel property to a movie that doesn’t come with it so much pressure (for example, Cloak & Dagger).
I should also add in her defense: Maybe she and Marvel came to realize she just wasn’t that passionate about Thor, and couldn’t muster up at least a professional approach toward directing it. Sometimes, things in such a high-pressure creative field such as move making doesn’t pan out.
Sounds to me like Kevin Feige stuck his nose back in again and caused yet another round of “creative differences” with someone more talented than him.
I like Portman. I really do. But I certainly don’t think she is necessary for the sequel. I know a lot of people disliked the tacked on love story from the first film. Natalie has no leverage in this.
“Currently, the path to directing—especially big-budget filmmaking—is populated by white men. Jenkins was qualified for the job, and it’s not really fair for me to turn her into a feminist symbol. ”
They shouldn’t have kept her on just because she’s a woman. Directors are fired all the time and she should be no exception. When you start trying to include people just because of their “perceived” lack of popularity, quality declines, because you’re no longer interested in the best person for the job, you’re interested in being PC about hiring people.
I would love Mike Newell to direct Thor 2 (Which I hope it isn’t called). I wonder if he’s available?
How do you know Jenkins was qualified for the job? Two of the quotes from your sources strongly hint that wasn’t the case. Quite possibly she got fired because the wasn’t the best _person_ for the job. The investors for the film will start pulling funding otherwise. Who cares if a woman got fired, or some other non “white male” gets fired, or if a “white male” gets fired; if they aren’t qualified to do the job then they shouldn’t GET THE JOB. If I were investing millions of dollars in a film, I’d want the best _person_ for the job, no matter what sex or race they are. Seriously. Even insinuating that Hollywood needs to start meeting diversity ratios is ignorant and myopic.