Logan director doesn’t like multiverses: It’s enemy of storytelling

Looks like a lot of people have beef with cinematic multiverses – a trend that picked up after Marvel created a multiverse in which they released several superhero films, intertwining storylines and giving references or shoutouts to earlier films in the series. Soon, other production houses started following suit and now there are horror multiverses, action multiverses, etc. 

Joining a long list of actors and directors who have expressed their displeasure at this, Logan filmmaker James Mangold recently admitted that he is not a fan of cinematic multiverses. This is when he has helmed several sequels, including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), Logan (2017) and The Wolverine (2013). 

James said that he is no longer interested in directing an installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is known for its “multi-movie universe-building.” He told Rolling Stones, “I don’t do multiverses,” when asked if audiences could expect to see Joaquin Phoenix’s Johnny Cash return in the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet. 

Mangold had previously directed Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar film, Walk the Line. It was released in 2005. 

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Disapproving of any crossovers between these films, James Mangold said, “I love Joaquin, but he’s not 30, or whatever Johnny was at this moment. They’re both young people in that moment in life. It’s weird that I’ve even worked in the world of IP entertainment because I don’t like multi-movie universe-building.”

He added, “I think it’s the enemy of storytelling. The death of storytelling. It’s more interesting to people the way the Legos connect than the way the story works in front of us.”

The director continued, “For me, the goal becomes, always, ‘What is unique about this film, and these characters?’ Not making you think about some other movie or some Easter egg or something else, which is all an intellectual act, not an emotional act. You want the movie to work on an emotional level.”

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