Jared Leto is preparing to make his big screen superhero debut as the title character in Morbius. And while playing a human-turned-vampire may seem like a stretch for the Oscar winner—whose previous comic book movie effort was as the Joke in Suicide Squad—Leto believes that without these types of movies, theaters would be a thing of the past.
“If it wasn’t for Marvel films, I don’t even know if theaters would exist,” Leto told Variety in its latest cover story. “It doesn’t seem like there’s room for everyone, and that starts to become a little heartbreaking.”
Leto took it a step further by asserting that he believes comic book adaptations are “keeping cinema alive” because they force people out of their homes and into theaters.
“I also have gratitude for these movies because they’re keeping cinema alive,” he added.
The Morbius actor also said that going to the cinema as a kid was a pivotal part of him falling in love with film.
“I know how important that was for me as a kid… escaping to the movies,” he explained. “That cultural experience was quite informative and impactful. I saw movies in theaters that changed my life.”
Leto isn’t the only one who thinks Marvel movies deserve more credit, much to the dismay of Martin Scorsese. MCU mainstay and acting legend Samuel L. Jackson also thinks superhero films deserve more props, and said in an interview with the Times that he thinks the Oscars should create a “most popular movie” category and award it to Spider-Man: No Way Home because of it’s ridiculous box office success.
“They should! It did what movies did forever — it got people to a big dark room,” he said. “All movies are valid. Some go to the cinema to be moved dearly. Some like superheroes. If somebody has more butts on seats it just means your audience is not as broad. There are people who have had successful careers but nobody can recite one line of their parts. I’m the guy who says shit that’s on a T-shirt.”
Leto will make his superhero debut when Morbius on April 1. Watch the latest featurette for the film below.
