“The Batman” actor Paul Dano is weighing in on the debate over “superhero fatigue,” the current trend of comic book-themed films like “Madame Web” and “The Marvels” underperforming at the box office.
The 39-year-old says all hope is not lost for future films in this genre. He says the concept just needs some tweaking.
“It’s an interesting moment where everybody has to go like, ‘OK – what now?’ Hopefully from that, somebody either breathes new life into [comic book movies], or something else blossoms which is not superheroes,” Dano told The Independent during an interview published Friday. “I’m sure there will still be some good ones yet to come, but I think it’s kind of a welcome moment.”
“It’s a larger thing, too,” he continued. “As soon as the word ‘content’ came into what we do – meaning making movies or TV – it meant quantity over quality, which I think was a big misstep. And I certainly don’t need that as a viewer or as an artist.”
Dano went on to speculate why “The Batman” succeeded where so many others had failed. “There are enough comic book movies where you just know what you’re gonna get,” the actor said. “Reading the script for ‘The Batman,’ you knew it was a real film. Every sentence… that’s just [writer/director] Matt Reeves.”
A sequel to The Batman is slated to be released on October 3, 2025. Dano is currently promoting his newest film, “Spaceman,” a sci-fi movie starring Adam Sandler about an astronaut sent on a mission to the edge of the solar system while encountering a giant spider-like creature who will help him solve his problems.
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The conversation about superhero films not performing as strongly in Hollywood has been a hot topic lately. In November, the newest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installment, “The Marvels,” had the lowest opening weekend in the franchise’s history with just $47 million.
“Captain America: A Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts,” and “Blade” — all initially slated for 2024 — are being pushed to 2025, at least in part because of strike-related production delays. That means the only Marvel release scheduled for 2024 is “Deadpool 3.”