Martin Scorsese’s comments about Marvel films have rubbed Samuel L. Jackson the wrong way.
Jackson—who portrays Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—told Variety, “I mean that’s like saying Bugs Bunny ain’t funny. Films are films. Everybody doesn’t like his stuff either. Everybody’s got an opinion, so I mean it’s okay. Ain’t going to stop nobody from making movies.”
Jackson wasn’t the only MCU power player to share his feelings on Scorsese’s comments. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn also took issue with Scorsese, tweeting on Friday, “Martin Scorsese is one of my 5 favorite living filmmakers. I was outraged when people picketed The Last Temptation of Christ without having seen the film. I’m saddened that he’s now judging my films in the same way.”
Gunn then clarified his comments in another tweet: “And I’m not saying religious zealotry is the same as not liking my movies, or in the same category. What I’m saying is I’m not fond of people judging things without actually seeing them, whether it’s a movie about Jesus or a genre.”
During a recent interview with Empire, Scorsese was specifically asked about Marvel, to which he argued that MCU entries should be considered something other than cinema.
“I don’t see them,” he said. “I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema. Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.”
