Christopher Nolan is defending the role of franchises in Hollywood, saying they are a crucial part of the film industry ecosystem.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, the “Oppenheimer” and “Dark Night” director weighed in on the debate over how superhero franchises are affecting Hollywood. While Nolan stressed the importance of originality in filmmaking, he also believes there is a need for these blockbusters based on pre-existing IP.
“There’s always a balance in Hollywood between established titles that can assure a return in audience and give people more of what they want,” Nolan said. “That’s always been a big part of the economics of Hollywood, and it pays for a lot of other types of films to be made and distributed.”
“But there also always has to be respect for the audience’s desire for something new. That’s one of the big thrills of going to the movies is, frankly, seeing a trailer for a movie you’ve never heard of or type of movie you haven’t seen,” he continued. “A healthy ecosystem in Hollywood is about a balance between the two things and always has been.”
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Back in September, Martin Scorsese told GQ that there is a “danger” to what these blockbusters are “doing to our culture.”
“Because there are going to be generations now that think movies are only those — that’s what movies are,” he explained, later asserting that “they already think that.”
Scorsese said he and fellow filmmakers like Nolan need to “fight back stronger” against comic book and franchise culture in order to “save cinema” for future generations.
“It’s got to come from the grassroots level. It’s gotta come from the filmmakers themselves,” Scorsese said. “And you’ll have, you know, the Safdie brothers, and you’ll have Chris Nolan, you know what I mean? And hit ’em from all sides. Hit ’em from all sides, and don’t give up. Let’s see what you got. Go out there and do it. Go reinvent.”
