The dark world to avoid directors’ prison

In 2011, it became known that Marvel had hired its first female director to Thor: The Dark World, and it was Patty jenkins. Star Natalie Portman was thrilled, and it was seen as a step in the right direction for Marvel. They hadn’t yet had a solo female heroine on the big screen, and there was very little diversity when it came to who was behind the camera. However, Jenkins ultimately decided to quit the project, and Alan taylor was brought in instead; It was rumored to cause a rift between Marvel and Portman and was cited as a reason she chose not to return to the third film. Jenkins continued to lead Wonder woman for competing studio Warner Bros., and DC and people wondered what Marvel had missed. There is no bad blood between Jenkins and, as she explained to Marc Maron on the WTF podcast (via The Playlist), she was still very grateful to Marvel for the opportunity.

“Rumor has it that I wanted to do a superhero movie and to Marvel’s credit – on a movie that didn’t require a woman at all – they hired me,” Jenkins explained. “So, I’ve always been very grateful to them even if it didn’t work out.”

Jenkins explained that the script that Marvel wanted to do Thor: The Dark World was not a movie that she could make a good movie of. She knew that if the film was a critical or commercial failure, it could put her in jail and possibly derail her entire career.

“They wanted to make a story that I thought wasn’t going to succeed, and I knew it couldn’t be me. [to fail]”She explained.” It couldn’t have been me who had done this. If they hired a guy to do it it wouldn’t be a big deal, but I knew deep down that I couldn’t make a good movie with the story they wanted to make. “

Turns out Jenkins was right about the money. Thor: The Dark World did pretty well at the box office and was strangely one of the most important films as far as Avengers: Endgame, but it’s often cited as one of Marvel’s weaker films. Taylor would even go on to say that it was a miserable experience for him. The stumbling of Thor: The Dark World is probably the reason why Marvel decided to give Taika Waititi Thor: Ragnarok and let him go crazy with the franchise. This was exactly what the Thor movies needed, and Jenkins totally agrees.

“It was such a good movie,” she admitted. “Taika is the best Thor genius ever. It’s amazing. ‘Ragnarok’ is one of the best Marvel movies of all time. So good and so executed.”

Marvel might be kicking herself for losing the chance to work with Jenkins, but Disney as a whole has brought her back. During Disney Investor Day, Kathleen kennedy would lead a Thieves squadron film for Lucasfilm. Marvel has managed to make do with Portman, and she’s coming back for the Thor: love and thunder. So during Thor: The Dark World Part of why Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is such a mixed bag, it’s good that Jenkins can pick up on a project that hasn’t gone so positively.

Plot: Fast forward to the 1980s as Wonder Woman’s next big-screen adventure finds her facing two all-new enemies: Max Lord and The Cheetah.

Wonder Woman 1984, directed by Patty jenkins, stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, and Gabriella Wilde. It was released December 25 in theaters and on HBO Max.