Despite being a Marvel legend known for creating two of the most iconic superhero films, Sam Raimi cannot be relied upon to direct Secret Wars.
It is widely accepted that Sam Raimi is one of the most gifted filmmakers of his time. In his youth, he challenged conventional norms with his gory and impressive Evil Dead movies (regarded as some of the greatest horror films ever made). Later on, at the peak of his career, he delivered the highly acclaimed Spider-Man 1 and 2.
Despite not being the first superhero films of the new Millennium, the first two Spider-Man movies played a crucial role in solidifying the credibility of this emerging genre. They can even be seen as paving the way for future successes such as Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The granddaddy of superhero movies
Without a doubt, Raimi’s Spider-Man films have had a significant impact on Hollywood and the superhero genre. His contributions have played a crucial role in sustaining the popularity of spandex-clad characters. However, the recent news of Raimi’s potential involvement in directing Avengers Secret Wars – the epic finale of Marvel’s Multiverse Saga – may cause concern for those invested in the ongoing storyline of the MCU.
However, there are a few concerns with Raimi directing what is supposed to be the ultimate superhero movie. The first and most apparent issue is his previous superhero film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which was decent at best and at worst, a monotonous barrage of Easter eggs and nods.
Although there were glimpses of his signature magic, such as the Deadite-inspired ghouls summoned by Strange during the climax and his manipulation of his own decaying body, the overall film felt like a collaborative effort rather than a cohesive vision from one filmmaker. It’s not quite a camel, but more like a superhero movie with a slight hump. This raises the question of why an auteur like Raimi was hired if his creative control was limited and he was expected to conform to a predetermined style.
Missing Magic
But to be honest, that’s not really the main issue. Despite my disappointment that Raimi wasn’t given more creative freedom with the second film of the Bleecker Street magician, it still managed to satisfy the expectations of Marvel Studios and was well-received by many. However, this may not be the case if he were to direct an Avengers film. You see, Raimi is a huge fan of comics. He has a deep admiration for the work of Steve Ditko and Stan Lee on The Amazing Spider-Man, and has expressed his love for Ditko’s Doctor Strange illustrations countless times.
It was his genuine enjoyment of the source material that drove him to work on these films. However, his lack of interest in certain elements was evident. This can be seen in Spider-Man 3, where Raimi openly admitted to not caring for the character of Venom. After all, he wasn’t reading comics when the character was introduced and did not have any personal attachment to Spidey’s slimiest adversary.
One of the main reasons why Spider-Man 3 is considered a disappointment (apologies to Gen-Z readers, a movie’s ‘memeability’ does not determine its quality) is because director Sam Raimi was pressured to include a certain character for commercial purposes. However, this character did not align with Raimi’s original vision of Spider-Man, which was heavily influenced by the early stories of Steve Ditko and Stan Lee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne7y9_AbBsY
Despite Raimi’s clear love for the Ditko-inspired weird visuals in Multiverse of Madness, it is evident that he is less invested in the multiverse aspect. This becomes apparent while watching the film, as it seems to come to a halt halfway through in order to showcase a comic con autograph alley. While it may be enjoyable to see John Krasinski donning some Fantastic Four pajamas, it ultimately feels like a calculated move to appease MCU fans and the perpetually online, who will undoubtedly pat themselves on the back for their fan-casting predictions.
Despite Multiverse of Madness being the next chapter in Wanda’s story, Raimi did not bother to watch WandaVision beforehand. This could be attributed to his trust in his team to guide him in the right direction. However, it also highlights Raimi’s tendency to not engage with something if he is not personally interested in it.
A better class of hero…
This is not the expectation one has for someone concluding a saga. I highly doubt Raimi would approach it in the same manner, as I cannot imagine him dedicating time to fully watch Phases 4 and 5 and truly connect with the content.
Despite his sincere intentions to make an Avengers movie, I doubt that he intends to create the movie that fans are clamoring for.
Perhaps, instead of sticking to their usual approach, Marvel should consider taking a risk on Raimi for their upcoming films. Considering the lukewarm response to Phase 4 and Phase 5, it may not be wise for Marvel to gamble on Raimi. Personally, I selfishly hope that Raimi does not join the Avengers team because I would love to see him direct more horror films and a potential Spider-Man 4 with Tobey Maguire.
Are you a fan of all things Marvel? We’ve got you covered with in-depth articles that delve into the details of the Deadpool 3 release date and the Thunderbolts release date. And if that’s not sufficient, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the top new movies available for streaming this month.
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