There’s a common thought amongst superhero movie fans that says Marvel Studios isn’t as friendly to directors’ visions as Warner Bros./DC. This idea has stemmed from the reports that Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios likes to shape films and follow a storytelling pattern, with directors having to fall into line or step aside. And over at WB, if you want to make an R-rated “Joker” or a dark, gritty “Batman,” you can do so. Well, according to Joe Russo, one half of the Russo Brothers directing team and former Marvel Studios filmmaker, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
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Speaking to Comicbook.com, Russo was asked about his thoughts regarding the news that Zack Snyder is getting the opportunity to release the Snyder Cut of “Justice League” on HBO Max in 2021. Russo liked the idea of Snyder’s vision finally getting realized and said Marvel Studios never put him in a position like that previously.
“I think it’s always great when a director’s original vision can find its way to the screen,” Joe Russo said. “We have been very, very fortunate in our careers that everything we did for Marvel, we would call our director’s cuts.”
He continued, “They were very gracious and deferential, and very supportive of our vision for those movies, and there’s nothing sitting on the editing room floor that we suddenly want back into those films. We worked very hard at what the current cut of those movies are, so we’re very fortunate to have released our director’s cut on all four of those films.”
This idea that the Russo Brothers’ Marvel Studios films (which includes Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame”) are all “director’s cuts” is something that might surprise many fans. Especially if those fans are part of the group that believes Marvel Studios only hires directors who don’t have their own visions. Also, when you look at the news about Snyder’s issues with “Justice League,” David Ayer’s problems with the theatrical cut of “Suicide Squad,” and Cathy Yan’s reported issues with “Birds of Prey,” it’s clear that maybe WB isn’t the director’s heaven that has been speculated.
Or better yet, perhaps there’s no competition between Marvel and DC and both are just studios trying to make the best films possible? Maybe Marvel Studios just explicitly says what is expected early on and doesn’t second guess directors when the first cut arrives? Basically, the only people that know the truth are those that have worked with each studio. But at least when it comes to the Russo Brothers, fans shouldn’t expect a new cut of “Avengers: Endgame” anytime soon.