Remember back in 2011 when Patty Jenkins was hired to direct “Thor 2” for Marvel Studios? Probably not because the filmmaker eventually left the project, was subsequently signed on to direct “Wonder Woman,” and is now one of the most successful female filmmakers of all time. But imagine a world where she stuck around and made what would become “Thor: The Dark World.” Would it still be regarded as one of the worst Marvel Studios films?
Well, according to a new interview with Vanity Fair, Patty Jenkins reveals the reason that she left the Marvel Studios project was because of that very fact. She was ultimately concerned that the film was going to be bad, and because of her gender, “Thor 2” could have been a problematic film for the future of her career.
“I did not believe that I could make a good movie out of the script that they were planning on doing,” revealed Jenkins. “I think it would have been a huge deal—it would have looked like it was my fault. It would’ve looked like, ‘Oh my God, this woman directed it and she missed all these things.’ That was the one time in my career where I really felt like, Do this with [another director] and it’s not going to be a big deal. And maybe they’ll understand it and love it more than I do.”
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She added, “You can’t do movies you don’t believe in. The only reason to do it would be to prove to people that I could. But it wouldn’t have proved anything if I didn’t succeed. I don’t think that I would have gotten another chance. And so, I’m super grateful.”
It’s interesting that she was concerned about the ramifications of directing a dud like “Thor: The Dark World.” As we’ve seen in the past, with names like Karyn Kusama, Catherine Hardwicke, and many others, female directors are rarely given second chances after issues with a blockbuster film. Luckily for Jenkins, she passed and went on to helm “Wonder Woman,” which has given her an incredible amount of creative freedom.
And for comparison’s sake, let’s take a look at what happened to Alan Taylor, the filmmaker who did direct ‘The Dark World.’ Did his career end after helming one of the creative low points in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Nope. In fact, not even the bombing of his next film, “Terminator: Genisys” was enough to stop him from becoming the director of the upcoming “Sopranos” film prequel, “Newark.” Not saying that’s proof that male directors are treated differently, but you have to wonder what would have happened to Patty Jenkins if she made ‘Dark World’ and followed it up with a terrible ‘Terminator’ sequel?
“Wonder Woman 1984,” the next film from Patty Jenkins, was recently delayed to August 14.