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James Gunn expects Hollywood to learn the wrong lessons from Deadpool

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ArtHands

ArtHands

Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
https://www.facebook.com/jgunn/?fref=nf



"The film has a self-deprecating tone that’s riotous. It’s never been done before. It’s poking fun at Marvel. That label takes itself so seriously, can you imagine them making fun of themselves in a movie? They’d rather stab themselves."
That's a quote from Deadline Hollywood, attributing it to a Hollywood "suit." I love Deadline and get a lot of my film business news from them. And I love Deadpool even more - the film is hilariously funny, has lots of heart, and is exactly what we need right now, taking true risks in spectacle film - but COME THE FUCK ON. That's no reason to rewrite history. This quote has to have been said by the dumbest fucking Hollywood exec in the history of dumb fucking Hollywood execs.
Let's ignore Guardians for a moment, a movie that survives from moment to moment building itself up and cutting itself down - God knows I'm biased about that one. But what do you think Favreau and Downey did in Iron Man? What the fuck was Ant-Man??!
Come on, Deadline.
After every movie smashes records people here in Hollywood love to throw out the definitive reasons why the movie was a hit. I saw it happen with Guardians. It "wasn't afraid to be fun" or it "was colorful and funny" etc etc etc. And next thing I know I hear of a hundred film projects being set up "like Guardians," and I start seeing dozens of trailers exactly like the Guardians trailer with a big pop song and a bunch of quips. Ugh.
Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
Deadpool wasn't that. Deadpool was its own thing. THAT'S what people are reacting to. It's original, it's damn good, it was made with love by the filmmakers, and it wasn't afraid to take risks.
For the theatrical experience to survive, spectacle films need to expand their definition of what they can be. They need to be unique and true voices of the filmmakers behind them. They can't just be copying what came before them.
So, over the next few months, if you pay attention to the trades, you'll see Hollywood misunderstanding the lesson they should be learning with Deadpool. They'll be green lighting films "like Deadpool" - but, by that, they won't mean "good and original" but "a raunchy superhero film" or "it breaks the fourth wall." They'll treat you like you're stupid, which is the one thing Deadpool didn't do.
But hopefully in the midst of all this there will be a studio or two that will take the right lesson from this - like Fox did with Guardians by green-lighting Deadpool - and say - "Boy, maybe we can give them something they don't already have."
And that's who is going to succeed.
Have a great day.
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The sad part is that Gunn isn't exactly wrong (about the Hollywood part). I just hope that the rest of Hollywood listens to this & not just copycat Deadpool.
 
Hollywood suits don't care about making good movie, they only care about making money even if that means copying what is popular despite not understanding how it works.

For example; the hot shit of a mess that was the Amazing Spider-Man universe that was meant to copy Marvel formula in building up and establishing a movie universe leading up to a crossover movie.
 
Haloid1177 said:
Lol Guardians resulting in Deadpool getting made yeah okay Gunn.
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Im willing to bet that while it wasnt the whole cause of it (a lot has to do with the test footage and the die hard fans) im sure Guardians doing well was a big help.

It was clear once it released that Guardians was different and going to be very successful so im sure it helped Fox decide that "If a film about a bunch of misfits who nobody knows can do well, maybe Deadpool can too considering it actually has a fan base"

As i said, i doubt it was the sole reason but i bet it helped.
 
Guardians->Deadpool is a bit of a leap but surely someone at fox saw a movie about a gun toting anthropomorphic raccoon and a treeman that has literally 2 lines become the biggest ticket of the year and thought that Deadpool didn't sound quite as outlandish anymore

it couldn't have hurt deadpool's chances
 
Neoxon said:
The sad part is that Gunn isn't exactly wrong (about the Hollywood part). I just hope that the rest of Hollywood listens to this & not just copycat Deadpool.
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Isn't EXACTLY wrong? He could not possibly be more correct. You'll be able to instantly recognize upcoming films that only exist because of DeadPool/
 
He's totally right. Hollywood has never understood what makes these things work. If they did, they would have bottled it a long time ago. There's so much money involved, that they try and shape and control the process, concoct formulas based on surface aspects of popular films, and minimize any potential risk. Which often results in bland, boring, derivative garbage.

It should be all about letting creative individuals shine and letting projects be their own thing. If they learn anything from Guardians (haven't seen Deadpool) it should be that.
 
But hopefully in the midst of all this there will be a studio or two that will take the right lesson from this - like Fox did with Guardians by green-lighting Deadpool -
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Jesus Christ Gunn. You made Guardians, a c tier superhero movie. Not the freaking Godfather, Get over yourself. Got deadpool lit lol.

Agree with everything else he said.
 
I think Guardians was a probably something for people to point to when pitching a movie and say it doesn't matter if nobody knows who the characters are.

I'm not really sure what Deadpool tapped into but it sure was fun to watch.
 
He said that like that hasn't been Hollywood's MO for years. The MCU is the most recent thing that Hollywood has began to ape. We're getting a Transformers CU and almost got a Spiderman CU.
 
Hollywood ALWAYS take the wrong lesson from movies. It is the only reason we keep hearing that movies with minorities in the lead don't make money in a world with hunger games and fast and furious
 
Sounds about right. Something most people also aren't thinking about is how Fox is now more likely to push Deadpool as the face of their X-Men universe considering Jackman has one more Wolverine film, and J-Law and Fassbender might be done after Apocalypse. McAvoy isn't exactly a sell either.
 
Mr-Joker said:
Hollywood suits don't care about making good movie, they only care about making money even if that means copying what is popular despite not understanding how it works.

For example; the hot shit of a mess that was the Amazing Spider-Man universe that was meant to copy Marvel formula in building up and establishing a movie universe leading up to a crossover movie.
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The upcoming Batman v Superman is another good example of that, to be honest. At least with Marvel, they slowly built and established their universe and characters before doing a big grand crossover, whereas BvS is basically throwing everything (Batman, Lex Luthor, Wonder Woman, Doomsday) into one film right after the DC Extended Universe began with Man of Steel.
 
PeskyToaster said:
I think Guardians was a probably something for people to point to when pitching a movie and say it doesn't matter if nobody knows who the characters are.

I'm not really sure what Deadpool tapped into but it sure was fun to watch.
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Yeah, I've never heard of Guardians before GAF started talking about the movie, and Even I knew about Deadpool before.
 
captainnapalm said:
He's totally right. Hollywood has never understood what makes these things work. If they did, they would have bottled it a long time ago. There's so much money involved, that they try and shape and control the process, concoct formulas based on surface aspects of popular films, and minimize any potential risk. Which often results in bland, boring, derivative garbage.

It should be all about letting creative individuals shine and letting projects be their own thing. If they learn anything from Guardians (haven't seen Deadpool) it should be that.
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I mean does anyone understand what makes a movie work? It's a crap shoot and you never know what the audience will react to. Hollywood gets a lot of shit but they release a ton of good to great movies yearly.
 
TheDinoman said:
The upcoming Batman v Superman is another good example of that, to be honest. At least with Marvel, they slowly built and established their universe and characters before doing a big grand crossover, whereas BvS is basically throwing everything (Batman, Lex Luthor, Wonder Woman, Doomsday) into one film right after the DC Extended Universe began with Man of Steel.
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I don't think there's only one way these things can work though. Like, there have been some great X-Men films, and they've worked without solo films for each team member. There's nothing to say that introducing all of your characters at once, and then branching out from there to give each of them depth can't also work.
 
Llyranor said:
Yeah, I've never heard of Guardians before GAF started talking about the movie, and Even I knew about Deadpool before.
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I literally never heard of the Guardians of the Galaxy until the big leak for Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 happened.

2361359-__rocket_raccoon_380x600.png


Little did I know that this "random WTF character" would go on to later star in a major motion picture (and a damn good one at that).
 
This is why J-Law somehow became a main character in the X-men movies. Some suit said 'hey people like her' and now she's front and center without worrying if she's a good Mystique. (she's not).
 
He's probably a little right on Guardians to Deadpool connection. After Guardian's success studios were scrambling to find a superhero-comedy and took another look at their IP. A month after Guardian's makes millions the test footage leaks online. It was perfect timing, both worked together (unknowingly, that test footage was probably around for a while before it got online but nobody was biting) and we get Deadpool.

He's 100% right on studios will take it the wrong way. They'll look at what properties they own or could buy, get a bunch of pitches from a bunch of writers that can give them their 'Deadpool-like, self-aware action comedy" with a take on those IP and put it all on a fasttrack for a 2017/2018 release. Like clockwork.
 
He just described every artistic medium ever. This is the history of TV and the record industry as well, and it's why most pop culture is awful and derivative.
 
gamz said:
I mean does anyone understand what makes a movie work? It's a crap shoot and you never know what the audience will react to. Hollywood gets a lot of shit but they release a ton of good to great movies yearly.
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I wouldn't say a ton. They get it right from time to time in spite of themselves.

It can be a crap shoot, but we'd see more fun, interesting films if the suits respected the creative process more and backed talented people to do their own thing.

You can also understand why they resist that, though, because it is an inherently risky proposition. Creative people are also going to get it wrong from time to time and cost them millions of dollars. So they'd rather create something safe and micro-manage and focus test everything. Bland is better than potentially disastrous.
 
I mean, he's not wrong in that Hollywood will take the wrong lesson, but that's not exactly a startling revelation. But damn, dude's feeling himself a little too much here.
 
ItIsOkBro said:
This is why J-Law somehow became a main character in the X-men movies. Some suit said 'hey people like her' and now she's front and center without worrying if she's a good Mystique. (she's not).
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I mean movie mystique has always been hot in a blue bodysuit and she fulfills that role and more so she's already better than the previous iteration.
 
No shit. That's a given. That's why it's so miraculous that Deadpool was what it was at all. It took dedication and people who not only respected/loved the character but most importantly, its audience. That's not happening the majority of the time.
 
George Oscar Bluth II said:
Did he just... kinda take credit for Deadpool being greenlit?
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I don't think it has anything to do with "I MADE THIS, AND THEY COPIED ME! THANKS TO ME DEADPOOL IS ALIVE!" It is simply "I helped expand this cinematic universe with some fresh characters, humor and heart and Fox took a similar risk"

The thing you need to realize is Marvel/Disney took a risk with Guardians. If the movie bombs, they have to rethink the entire cinematic universe moving forward, especially considering the Cosmic side of the story is such a major part. Ultimately, what Guardians did for the MCU, Fox is banking on Deadpool doing the same for X-Men.

It's a gamble that worked with Guardians, and we are currently seeing it pay off with Deadpool.
 
You guys are missing the point because of Gunn being Gunn.

He's saying Hollywood is going to look at Deadpool and start pumping out self deprecating action movies with fourth wal breaking and zero heart as a result.
 
Neoxon said:
The sad part is that Gunn isn't exactly wrong (about the Hollywood part). I just hope that the rest of Hollywood listens to this & not just copycat Deadpool.
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Get ready for a bunch of C-List superhero properties to be dug up to stitch together an R-rated action-comedy.
 
James Gunn expects Hollywood to learn the wrong lessons from Deadpool
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So just like every big movie ever. Sounds about right.

This isn't exactly rocket science. Anytime something hits big, there are tons of imitations around the corner. It happens in video games, in books, in music, in movies, in mobile apps, in websites, in fast food, and on and on.
 
You loved Wade Wilson in Deadpool!

This summer see the original wise cracking merc!

DC comics presents: Slade Wilson as DeathStroke! In theaters August 2017.
 
Seems like this thread is concentrating on the wrong part of Gunn's message. Do we have Fox executives posting?
 
animlboogy said:
It'll be exactly the sort of thing that Deadpool was conceived to make fun of in the first place. A bunch of shitty knockoffs nobody cares about.
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No, in the first place he was a very serious character.

In second or third place yeah, he turned into a parody of that
 
Neoxon said:
The sad part is that Gunn isn't exactly wrong (about the Hollywood part). I just hope that the rest of Hollywood listens to this & not just copycat Deadpool.
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THIS is the problem I have with trends, in general. Trends start with good intentions, a sense of "wow" at something that has never been done, or something entirely fresh from the norm and that gets people excited. It interests people that there does NOT have to be monotony, but there CAN be NEW things, new ideas, new sounds and sights to behold. But, then you get the suits storming in and saying, "Hmmm, this seems to resonate with people... lets too MORE of JUST THIS!". They fail to see that sometimes people want things to take chances and do their own thing, rather than stay safe and prolong a particularly "type" of concept into a trend. I fuckin' HATE trends, and yes, Hollywood WILL see the latter as being the way to go. Whenever there is a chance between picking the general REASON why a movie is good and the particularly formula of a good movie, they ALWAYS pick the formula. It's easier to replicate in a "paint-by-numbers" way. Fuck anybody who thinks that sort of shit is a good thing, and fuck anybody that are so numb-minded to contribute to that sort of thing being a success. Meh.
 
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