In recent years, the MCU has pulled in a murderer’s row of filmmakers to create their big-budget blockbusters.Taika Waititi,Chloé Zhao,Scott Derrickson, andRyan Cooglerare just a few of the auteurs who have worked with the superhero giant in recent years. EnterNia DaCostawho will see her own MCU projectThe Marvelshit theaters in less than two months. During an interview withVanity Fair, the director explained how she hopes to have her voice heard in the upcoming feature.
The Marvelsis looking to enda lengthy slump for the MCUthat has seen films like Waititi’sThor: Love and Thunderand shows likeSecret Invasionearn far more scrutiny from audiences and critics alike. Part of the struggles comes down to how much control is exerted on the people behind the camera. It wasn’t long ago that Marvel was seen asnot “director friendly"witha clear need to give directors more spaceto make their superhero movies sing. DaCosta, who primarily lived in the indie world before taking on herCandymanlegacy sequel, knew from the get-go that she would likely have to sacrifice a bit of her vision to fitKevin Feige’s plans. “That’s where most of the real pure stress as an artist came from,” she told Vanity Fair.
The last thing she wanted, however, was to give up too much control forThe Marvelsand make something that didn’t reflect the quality of the rest of her work. “People are like, ‘Oh, it’s a Marvel film. Cool, cool, cool,’ but I also have my name on it, so I want to be able to be proud of it too.” Regarding making her voice heard, she turned to Coogler who twice found success inBlack Pantherand its sequelBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever. He told DaCosta to be herself which, initially, didn’t resonate with her. “I said, ‘Ryan, what are you talking about?’” she continued. Over time, however, the director realized the importance of bringing her distinct vision every day, even if not everything made the cut. “You can’t do anything but be yourself, so bring that to the table. They can choose to take some and leave some, but that’s what your job is.”
Nia DaCosta Is Confident ‘The Marvels’ Can Buck the Trend
Now that everything’s said and done, DaCosta has a lot of confidence inThe Marvelsto win over audiences. Her filmembraces the wackiness of its storysurrounding Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), something that she says gives it an edge overall. On top of that, Parris feltDaCosta was given more roomto play around with the expansive world thanCandyman, promising some true creativity from the auteur on this Marvel feature.
The MarvelsseesCarol Danverstrying her best to keep the universe together before a wormhole causes her, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau to start swapping places. Their strange circumstances force them to reluctantly work together to search for a solution and face down a new Kree threat in the revolutionary Dar-Benn whom DaCosta takesa much different approach to than the comics.Samuel L. Jackson,Park Seo-joon, andZawe Ashtonare also set to star.
DaCosta’s entry into the MCU will hit theaters on November 10.
