Martin Scorsese is not letting up on his war on comic books.
The legendary filmmaker said he thought about directing the controversial hit flick “Joker,” but decided he didn’t want to — because the protagonist turns “into a comic-book character.”
“I decided that I didn’t have the time for it,” Scorsese said in a BBC interview promoting his new film “The Irishman.”
The director recently dismissed Marvel films, telling Empire magazine, “I don’t see them. I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema.” While he’s not the only filmmaker to hate on the blockbuster franchises, fans were outraged over his comments.
During the interview, Scorsese acknowledged his divisive opinion and doubled down on his claims that superhero films are more like “theme parks.”
“They’re not easy to make,” Scorsese said. “There are a lot of very talented people doing good work, and a lot of young people really, really enjoy them. But I do think it’s more of . . . an extension of the amusement park.”
As for “Joker,” Scorsese says he didn’t want to get involved “for personal reasons,” but he doesn’t consider it a superhero film.
“It’s different from the superhero films,” he said in the interview, adding that Joaquin Phoenix’s stellar acting turns it into a “remarkable work,” unique from most superhero flicks, which generally belong to “another art form.”
Although Scorsese wasn’t involved with the Todd Phillips-directed movie, he still contends he made his mark on it.
“The ‘Joker’ was inspired by your cinema,” the BBC interviewer said.
“I know,” Scorsese quickly responded.