Marvel Characters, Not Actors, Are The Stars, Tarantino Says

While on a press tour for his latest book Cinema Speculation, director Quentin Tarantino said that while he isn't a Marvel hater, he isn't exactly the company's biggest fan. Speaking on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast, Tarantino decried the "Marvel-ization of Hollywood."

"Part of the Marvel-ization of Hollywood is… you have all these actors who have become famous playing these characters," Tarantino said (via Variety), "But they're not movie stars. Right? Captain America is the star. Or Thor is the star. I mean, I'm not the first person to say that. I think that's been said a zillion times…but it's like, you know, it's these franchise characters that become a star."

"I'm not even putting them down, frankly, to tell you the truth," the director said. Tarantino added that he does not "hate" Marvel movies, but instead feels they are dominating Hollywood. "My only axe to grind against them is they're the only things that seem to be made… They're the only things that seem to generate any kind of excitement amongst a fan base or even for the studio making them. That's what they're excited about. And so it's just the fact that they are the entire representation of this era of movies right now. There's not really much room for anything else. That's my problem."

In recent years, influential directors taking swipes at Marvel has become an increasing trend in headlines. Martin Scorsese made waves when he said Marvel movies are "not cinema." Earlier this year, Damon Lindeolf (Watchmen, Lost) said that although he loyally watches every Marvel movie, he does think there are far too many of them.

Earlier this month, unsurprisingly, Tarantino said he won't make a Marvel or DC movie.