By Numerous people have weighed in on the ‘superhero fatigue’ debate when it comes to cinema. Some have no love for the genre, some are ardent defenders, and some have been in the middle ground and tried to explain it relatively rationally.
As part of a new interview with Happy Sad Confused to promote the new Robert Zemeckis film “Here,” Hanks touched upon the topic and fits in that middle ground category.
However, he offered a long and well thought out response, saying a lot of the issue with modern superhero films of the past few years has revolved around a basic question – why was this particular film made?
Here’s his comments in full:
“I think we are now enjoying the luxury of riches because you can make anything happen on screen. We are being brought back to the concept, ‘Okay, that’s true, but what is the story.’
Without a doubt now, I’ve used this analogy before so I apologise, you can drain Lake Michigan and fill it with cuckoo clocks and form a three-headed dragon that breathes fire and destroys the city of Chicago. You can do that but to what purpose is the end of the day? What’s the story and what’s it going to be saying about us?
I think there was a period of time, and I felt that way too, where we would see these fantastic movies either DC or MCU in order to see these better versions of ourselves. ‘God, I feel like an X-Man sometimes. I’m as confused as Spider-Man. I’m as angry as Batman is and I love my country as much as Captain America. I would like to emulate all those guys.’
I think we’ve been down that road and had probably 20 years, 15 years, to explore that kind of thing and now I think we’re in an evolutionary place of, ‘And the story is what? And the theme is what? And the point of this movie is what?’
That’s a good challenge for any filmmaker, it might just not land in the roundhouse for the industry. The industry often says, ‘Well, this works and it will work again.’ The audience is far ahead of it. They see the familiar and say, ‘I’ve seen that already. What’s next?’ It’s not just eye-popping stuff, it’s what’s the story? Tell me about myself. We’re in new territory.”
Hanks was asked if he’s met with Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige or DC Studios chief James Gunn to which he said no, and says: “I’m not in their wheelhouse. I’m not against it, I guess”.
He adds that his “plate is quite full. I’ve got a lot of stuff that I’m dreaming of and trying to make happen” so even if offered, he has other projects to keep him busy.
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