Secret Invasion star Samuel L. Jackson has responded to criticisms of the superhero genre.
In an interview with Sway's Universe, Jackson discussed Secret Invasion and commented on the industry's push for inclusivity and reaching new audiences. Jackson cited examples such as Marvel Studios' Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, as well as Bad Bunny's starring role in Sony's Spider-Man spinoff, El Muerto. "And as we watch how all these things play out and what the world of superheroes is when people continue to say, 'Well, we hate these superhero movies. I’m sick of this… Make some movies that make sense,'" he said. "Well, some people like superhero movies. A whole bunch of people, you know? I’m one of them. I’m really proud that I’ve been part of it."
Jackson has been a mainstay within the superhero genre since his first appearance as Nick Fury in 2008's Iron Man. He has since gone on to reprise his role in over a dozen Marvel Studios productions before his latest work, Secret Invasion, in which he stars as the main character. Jackson has remained vocal about the criticisms levied at the genre.
Hollywood's Criticism of Superheroes
Jackson's comments come after several criticisms of the superhero genre from acclaimed directors such as Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. Scorsese notoriously compared superhero films to theme parks, saying, "It isn't the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being." Tarantino, on the other hand, said that MCU actors are not "movie stars," prompting a reply from Jackson himself.
"It takes an actor to be those particular characters, and the sign of movie stardom has always been, what, asses in seats? What are we talking about?" Jackson said in November 2022. "That's not a big controversy for me to know that, apparently, these actors are movie stars. Chadwick Boseman is Black Panther. You can't refute that, and he's a movie star." Jackson recently defended his Captain Marvel co-star Brie Larson from the stronger criticisms levied by a portion of Marvel fans, who he labeled as "incel dudes who hate strong women."
Jackson's words come at a time when "superhero fatigue" is being touted as a reason for underperformance at the box office by films such as Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Black Adam and Morbius. Some critics point to the volume of Marvel films released over the last decade as a saturation of the industry, a point of view challenged by Jackson's comments. Other superhero movies, such as the recently released Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are dominating the box office while others, such as DC Studios' The Flash, are falling flat.
New episodes of Secret Invasion air on Disney+ every Wednesday.
Source: Sway's Universe