Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn didn't hold back in a new Facebook post about out-of-touch studio executives.
In a post on his Facebook page, Gunn took issue with a story that appeared on Deadline this morning about Deadpool. In the article discussing the R-rated comic book film's success, an unnamed studio executive said that part of the reason the movie did well was because it had a self-deprecating tone never seen in a Marvel movie before. The studio takes itself so seriously, the source said, and they would rather stab themselves than mock their own brand.
Gunn, whose film Guardians of the Galaxy is one of many Marvel movies with a comedic tone, called this source "the dumbest f***ing Hollywood exec in the history of dumb f***ing Hollywood execs" and pointed out that Iron Man and Ant-Man both make fun of Marvel. Besides, he said, this is not at all why Deadpool is doing well.
"Deadpool was its own thing," Gunn wrote. "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."
Gunn went on to say that Hollywood studios will likely begin greenlighting Deadpool ripoffs now, except they'll be ripping off the wrong thing, assuming the film is popular because it's raunchy or because it breaks the fourth wall. Instead, Gunn says the movie is popular because it's good and original, and spectacle films need to continue to have unique voices rather than just copying the one that came before them.
Deadpool was released in theaters this past weekend and grossed a record-breaking $260 million, meaning it's 20th Century Fox's best opening ever, as we previously reported.