For many film fans, the idea of being a director that actively turns down Marvel Studios seems a bit nuts. Why would anyone turn down the option of making a film that will earn them a large chunk of change, probably some good reviews, and the ability to write your own ticket moving forward? Well, “Long Shot” director Jonathan Levine is one of those people. Someone who interviewed for Marvel Studios but chose to walk away.
Speaking to IndieWire, the filmmaker says that he was up for the job for “Spider-Man: Homecoming” in 2015. However, before it could come down to Marvel Studios and Sony to make the decision, Levine backed out.
“I think I was breaking up with them before they could break up with me,” he said. “I don’t think I would have gotten it. But that was the one where I was like, ‘Okay, this is a teenager in New York, it’s kind of funny. Okay, I can do that.’ I grew up going to movies like that. It is alluring in that way.”
We’ll never know if the “50/50” director would have ended up with the job, or if Marvel Studios would have still gone with Jon Watts. However, Levine is quick to say that he isn’t necessarily anti-blockbuster or anti-superhero film.
“If there’s an option I guess, but it wouldn’t necessarily be my first choice,” he said. “It wasn’t something I wanted to do right after my first two movies. I think now I’ve made enough movies that I feel like I could probably bounce back and forth a little bit.”
As we’ve seen in the past, with filmmakers like the Russo Brothers, Ryan Coogler, Taika Waititi (rumored, at least), and Watts, Marvel Studios has a way of keeping its hotshot directors around for the long haul. Waititi actually has made a film since his time with “Thor: Ragnarok,” but the latest word has him discussing plans for a new Marvel film. So perhaps, Levine could follow that model.
Ultimately, we won’t know for sure until the director takes the leap. What we do know is that Levine is a fan of the MCU. Or at least, he was interested enough to try to watch “Avengers: Endgame.”
He admitted, “I tried to go see ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ and they were like, ‘The next available showtime is 3:00 AM.’ I was like, ‘Fucking 3:00 AM?!’”
“Long Shot” is in theaters now.
