WhenBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justicehit theaters in March, it was trounced by the critics, but even the harshest critic may have been kinder thanMel Gibson. The filmmaker brought his latest film,Hacksaw Ridgeto the Venice Film Festival, and during the Q&A session, he had some harsh words for superhero movies in general, while particularly singling out Warner Bros.‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Judging by his comments, we won’t be seeingMel Gibsonin any sort of superhero movie, anytime soon.
Deadlinecaught up withMel Gibsonafter the screening of his film, which received a 10-minute standing ovation. There weren’t too many ovations, standing or otherwise, forBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which kicked off Warner Bros.’ growingDCEUslate. While it brought in $872.6 million at the box office, it received scathing reviews, withMel Gibsonadding more fuel to the critical fire. Here’s what he had to say, when asked about superhero movies in general, before offering his concise opinion onBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
“I look at them and scratch my head. I’m really baffled by it. I think there’s a lot of waste but maybe if I did one of those things with the green screens I’d find out different. I don’t know. Maybe they do cost that much. I don’t know. It seems to me that you could do it for less. If you’re spending outrageous amounts of money, $180 million or more, I don’t know how you make it back after the tax man gets you, and after you give half to the exhibitors. What did they spend onBatman v Supermanthat they’re admitting to? And it’s a piece of shit. I’m not interested in the stuff. Do you know what the difference between real superheroes and comic book superheroes is? Real superheroes didn’t wear spandex. So I don’t know. Spandex must cost a lot.”
As forBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the number Warner Bros.' is “admitting to” is $250 million, although reports surfaced in February that thebudgethad actually ballooned to $400 million. Regardless, the $872.6 million worldwide tally was still seen as a disappointment to the studio, which was hoping for over $1 billion. The studio’s superhero rival, Marvel Studios, cracked $1 billion earlier this year withCaptain America: Civil War, which also reportedly cost $250 million and took in $1.1 billion worldwide.
Mel Gibson’s new movieHacksaw Ridgewill also find itself in direct competition with another superhero movie, going up against Marvel’sDoctor Strangeon November 4.Hacksaw RidgestarsAndrew Garfieldas Desmond Doss, the World War II medic who became the first ever Conscientious Objector to receive the Medal of Honor.Mel Gibsonwill reportedly be directing a sequel toThe Passion of the Christnext which centers on the resurrection of Jesus.
