The renowned director, who has masterfully steered the likes of 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' and 'The Wolverine,' underscores the importance of emotional depth in filmmaking. James Mangold, renowned for his disdain of cinematic multiverses, despite helming numerous sequels, revealed his stance in a recent interview with Rolling Stone.
When asked about the possibility of Joaquin Phoenix reprising his Johnny Cash role in the upcoming Timothée Chalamet-starrer Bob Dylan biopic, Mangold declared, "I don't dabble in multiverses." His previous collaboration with Phoenix, the Oscar-nominated 'Walk the Line,' showcased Phoenix's brilliance. However, Mangold clarified that fans won't witness any crossovers in 'A Complete Unknown,' as Boyd Holbrook takes on the mantle of Johnny Cash.
"I cherish Joaquin, but he's not 30, nor was Johnny at that point in his life," Mangold explained. "It's odd that I've ventured into the realm of IP entertainment, as I'm not a fan of multi-movie universe-building. I believe it's the antithesis of storytelling, its demise. People are more fascinated by how the Legos connect rather than the narrative unfolding before them."
He further emphasized, "For me, the quest is always to discover what's distinctive about this film and these characters. Not to distract with references to other films, Easter eggs, or intellectual gimmicks. The essence lies in evoking an emotional response from the audience."
Franchises often employ Easter eggs and crossovers to capture attention, akin to the thrilling spectacle of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' in 2021, which united all three iterations of the superhero. However, Mangold's aversion to the multiverse doesn't hinder his involvement in franchise sequels. He's already gearing up to direct 'Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi' for Lucasfilm, signaling that while he may shun the multiverse, he's still a force to be reckoned with in the world of blockbuster filmmaking.
