Marvel Star Sebastian Stan Fires Back at Zack Snyder Over ‘Flavor of the Week’ Superheroes Diss
“They’re not trying to mimic a better Christopher Nolan movie or something like that,” the actor who plays the Winter Soldier says of “Civil War” filmmakers the Russo brothers
Greg Gilman | September 23, 2015 @ 8:33 AM
Last Updated: September 23, 2015 @ 8:50 AM
“I would say we’re still making something very original in our own way,” Stan told Collider in a recent interview. “I mean, [directors Joe and Anthony Russo] are coming in and taking something people are used to and they’re shaping it up and changing it in a very different way.”
“They’re not trying to mimic a better Christopher Nolan movie or something like that,” he added in what appears to be a clear jab at Snyder’s take on the DC universe.
Stan, who plays Bucky Barnes — a.k.a. The Winter Soldier — in the third “Captain America” movie hitting theaters on May 6, initially tried to resist retaliating during the interview, but clearly couldn’t resist.
“I’m sitting here and I’m listening to you and I’m thinking, ‘Do I want to fire some shots at DC right now, at Zack Snyder?'” Stan said. “I read some of those comments where he said something about Batman and Superman … something about, ‘It’s not going to be your flavor-of-the-week Ant-Man.’ And I was like, ‘Oh thanks, Zack. That’s great. Way to do something original.'”
Snyder’s comments came after Steven Spielberg was quoted predicting that “there will be a time when the superhero movie goes the way of the Western.”
“It goes to the mythological nature of the movies that we’re making. I feel like he’s right,” Snyder said in response. “But I feel like Batman and Superman are transcendent of superhero movies in a way, because they’re Batman and Superman. They’re not just, like, the flavor of the week Ant-Man — not to be mean, but whatever it is. What is the next Blank-Man?”
10 Horrible Marvel Movies - Before It Took Over the World (Photos)
The Punisher (1989) - Marvel has had three cracks at getting a “Punisher” franchise going, and none really took off. Ivan Drago himself, Dolph Lundgren, was the first to don the skull t-shirt in 1989. The other two to play the violently vengeance-bent vigilante were Thomas Jane (2004) and Ray Stevenson (2008).
Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998) - David Hasselhoff donned Nick Fury’s eye-patch long before Sam Jackson, but the Hoff couldn’t muster the same swagger in this made-for-TV-movie that premiered on Fox. Maybe if it were surrounded by girls in red swimsuits things would have worked out better.
Man-Thing (2005) - Marvel actually tried its hand at horror with the “Man-Thing,” loosely based on Stan Lee's swamp monster comic from '71. Produced by Lionsgate, it premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel after theatrical release plans were scrapped. It features a swamp-monster whose touch burns people who feel fear -- and suddenly men in tights and Nordic gods don’t seem so ridiculous.
Howard the Duck (1986) - There was nothing super about George Lucas’ “Howard the Duck” (who was introduced as a secondary character to "Man-Thing," see previous slide). This Marvel character's film treatment by George Lucas was a bomb for the ages -- and even makes his “Star Wars” prequels look good. OK, maybe not.
Generation X (1996) - Hoping to capitalize on the popular “X-Men” animated series of the '90s, “Generation X” was a TV movie that aired on Fox about a school for the gifted run by Emma Frost and Banshee. It featured other popular X-Men like Jubilee, Mondo, and ... Skin?
Fantastic Four (1994) - Legend has it that Roger Corman was commissioned to make a low-budget version of “The Fantastic Four” solely so that producer Bernd Eichinger could retain rights -- which they denied. Marvel Studios founder Avi Arad later said he bought it for a couple million and ordered all copies destroyed, worrying it would cheapen the IP.
Daredevil (2003) - A big reason for the hate Ben Affleck weathered after being cast as Batman had to do with his first superhero turn, as the blind crime-fighter Daredevil. Though it opened to a then-whopping $45 million, the consensus labels it one of the worst Marvel movies ever made.
Elektra (2005) - Somehow less popular than "Daredevil" is its spin-off, "Elektra." Jennifer Garner reprised her role, and that's about the only thing note-worthy about it.
Captain America (1990) - When “Captain America: The First Avenger” was waiting to be released, the internet uncovered the shield-wielding super soldier's first cinematic experience. It’s pretty clear why Marvel tried to keep this botched attempt under wraps for all these years.
Ghost Rider (2007) - The night before the dawn for Marvel came in the form of the Nic Cage’s “Ghost Rider.” Critically smashed and barely in the black at the box-office, things looked bleak for superheroes not named Batman or Spiderman. Thankfully for Marvel, “Iron Man” changed everything the following year.
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Marvel movies weren’t always the box-office heroes they are today
The Punisher (1989) - Marvel has had three cracks at getting a “Punisher” franchise going, and none really took off. Ivan Drago himself, Dolph Lundgren, was the first to don the skull t-shirt in 1989. The other two to play the violently vengeance-bent vigilante were Thomas Jane (2004) and Ray Stevenson (2008).
