The overwhelming popularity of comic book movies over the past decade has inspired many respected actors to take on blockbuster roles they never considered before. Paul Dano is a case in point, briefly trading in his status as an art world darling for international superstar status when he played the Riddler in Matt Reeves’ The Batman.
In a new interview with The Independent, Dano opened up about his first foray into the world of blockbuster comics. The actor was not particularly interested in the genre, as many of the films were too predictable, but he explained that he was persuaded to join “The Batman” based on the strength of Reeves’ script.
“There are a lot of comic book movies where you just know what’s going to happen,” Dano said. “When I read the script for ‘The Batman,’ I knew this was a real movie. Every sentence… was very Matt Reeves.”
Many recent Marvel and DC movies have seen lower box office returns than their predecessors, leading some in the industry to say the genre’s grip on pop culture is finally starting to loosen. Asked about superhero fatigue in Hollywood, Dano expressed optimism about the phenomenon and explained why he believes it will help correct creative stagnation.
“It’s an interesting moment where everyone has to go, ‘Okay, what do we do now?'” Dano said of the failure of recent superhero movies. “Hopefully someone will breathe new life into it or [comic book movies], or something non-superhero blooms. I’m sure there are some good things to come, but I think it’s a welcome moment in a way. ”
Dano went on to add that frustration with the creative side of the industry goes beyond comic books.
“It’s also about something bigger,” he said. “The moment the word ‘content’ entered what we do, meaning film and television production, it meant quantity over quality, and I think that was a huge mistake. And as a viewer, And as an artist, you certainly don’t need that.”
