It is no secret that Patty Jenkins split from Marvel Studios after a brief but conflicted period in Thor 2. Jenkins was originally set to direct the Marvel sequel before she stepped away from creative differences (which, consequently, Marvel would win the wrath of star Natalie Portman, before Taika Waititi reconquered it). This left the targeting functions to Alan Taylor, which would become one of the least appreciated films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And Jenkins said, in a recent interview, that he saw the writing on the cards for what would become Thor: The Dark World, which led her to leave the project.
In an interview with Marc Maron on the WTF Podcast (via The Playlist), Jenkins exchanged a few more war stories about his time in Thor 2, and why she ended up moving away from the film. She admitted that she was grateful for the opportunity that Marvel gave her in 2011, but saw that she was being prepared to fail:
“The word spread that I wanted to make a superhero movie and to the credit of Marvel – in a movie that didn’t require any women – they hired me. So I was always very grateful to them, even though it didn’t work out.
They wanted to make a story that I thought wasn’t going to work, and I knew it couldn’t be me [to fail], “she explained.” It couldn’t be me that happened. If they hired any guy to do that, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but I knew in my heart that I couldn’t make a good movie with the story they wanted to do. “
It is true that, as a director, Jenkins had more to lose. The filmmaker was critically acclaimed for her 2003 drama Monster, but a critical success would not be able to balance a blockbuster’s disappointment at that point in his career, and studies have shown that female directors have fewer second chances in Hollywood than male directors.
Jenkins would walk away Thor 2, and Alan Taylor would come in to direct Thor: The Dark World, in which he would have his own bad experiences. But The dark world almost ending the prospects for a Thor franchise, the character would be saved by Taika Waitit’s Thor: Ragnarok, which reinvigorated the Norse god with one of the most critically acclaimed Marvel films and would lead Thor to become one of Marvel’s most popular heroes. Jenkins has no resentment for the franchise and added that he loves the Waititi sequel as much as the rest of the world.
“It was such a good movie,” said Jenkins. “Taika is the best fit for Thor of all time. It’s incredible. Ragnarok is one of the best Marvel films of all time. So good and so executed. “
Meanwhile, Jenkins doesn’t want big, successful projects. She’s ready to run Disney’s Rogue Squad, and has Wonder Woman 3 it is a Cleopatra movie in progress.
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