Chloé Zhao, the director of Eternals, recently used a Venice Film Festival masterclass to defend the superhero genre.. She described comic book adaptations as essential tools that allow audiences to process complex emotions and ideas.
The Venice Film Festival Masterclass and the 'Container' Theory
During her appearance at the Venice Film Festival, Chloé Zhao pushed back against the prevailing criticism that superhero cinema lacks depth. According to the report, Zhao belieevs that the primary purpose of storytelling is to create "containers" that enable people to process their internal struggles. She argued that the archetypes found in comic books are similar to those in ancient myths, providing a shared language that resonates across different cultures and backgrounds.
This perspective suggests that the spectacle of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is not the end goal, but rather a vehicle for emotional exploration. By using larger-than-life figures, Zhao contends that filmmakers can address human vulnerabilities in a way that feels accessible to a global audience.
Comparing Western Comic Books to the Appeal of Manga
Chloé Zhao also drew a direct parallel between the Western comic book industry and Japanese manga,describing the experience of working with Marvel as a "girl's dream come true." As the source notes, Zhao views these two mediums as equivalents, both serving as powerful visual storytelling tools that capture the imagination of fans worldwide.
This comparison places the MCU within a broader global trend of transmedia storytelling. By framing comic book films as the Western counterpart to manga, Zhao elevates the genre from mere commercial entertainment to a legitimate artistic tradition. This framing attempts to shield the genre from the "superhero fatigue" that has plagued recent big-budget releases.
The 18-Year Evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
The defense of Eternals comes at a precarious time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The report highlights that the MCU has expanded to 38 films over the course of 18 years, creating an interconnected continuity of unprecedented scale. However, this growth has come with a perceived decline in quality, with only a few titles like Black Panther, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Spider-Man: No Way Home being cited as consistent exceptions to a trend of middling output.
The sheer volume of content produced by Kevin Feige and Marvel executives has led to a polarized audience. While the studio continues to expand its universe, the tension between quantity and quality has left many viewers apprehensive about new entries, making Zhao's defense of the genre's inherent value particularly timely.
Angelina Jolie and the Struggle for Audience Connection in 'Eternals'
Despite the pedigree of its creators and cast, Eternals struggled to find its footing upon its 2021 release. The film featured a high-profile ensemble including Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, and Richard Madden, yet it failed to achieve the same critical or commercial heights as its predecessors. The report attributes this failure to a slow narrative pace and a lack of emotional connection with the audience.
The struggle of Eternals is notable given Chloé Zhao's standing in the industry. Having directed the critically acclaimed Nomadland, Zhao brought a prestige sensibility to the MCU. However, the transition from intimate indie drama to a sprawling superhero epic proved difficult, illustrating the challenge of maintaining a distinct directorial voice within the rigid constraints of the Marvel formula.
The Missing Perspective of Kevin Feige and Marvel Executives
While Chloé Zhao has now revisited her experience, several key questions remain unanswered. The source mentions that Kevin Feige and other Marvel executives have no intention of stopping the MCU's expansion, but it does not provide a direct response from the studio regarding the specific failures of Eternals. It remains unclear whether Marvel views the film's slow pace as a creative misstep or a bold experiment that simply didn't land.
Furthermore, the report focuses exclusively on Zhao's defense and the general critical consensus. There is no input from the other lead actors, such as Gemma Chan or Richard Madden, regarding how they viewed the film's reception or whether they agree with Zhao's "container" theory of storytelling.
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