Hollywood veteran Jamie Lee Curtis found herself in hot water after making a lighthearted but pointed remark about the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). During a recent appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, the actress was asked to identify the current phase of the MCU. In a candid moment, Curtis bluntly responded, “Bad,” sparking laughter from her fellow panelists.
While intended as a humorous quip, the comment quickly gained traction online, leading to a backlash against the actress. Recognizing the impact of her words, Curtis took to social media to issue an apology. In her statement, she expressed regret for her comment and revealed she had reached out to Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige to address the situation.
Jamie Lee Curtis Walks Back Marvel Criticism
Jamie Lee Curtis. Image Credit: Fox Broadcasting Co.
Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis has issued a public apology for her recent remarks about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The controversy ignited when the actress, during a Comic-Con interview, bluntly described the current phase of the MCU as “bad” (via EW). This candid assessment quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion and debate among fans and industry insiders alike.
Accepting both right & wrong answers on any Marvel trivia questions @JoshuaHorowitz or I ask 🤭
📍 #SDCC pic.twitter.com/Xb6JCHWloj
— MTV (@MTV) July 30, 2024
In a social media statement, Curtis expressed regret over her remarks, acknowledging their foolishness and pledging improvement. “My comments about Marvel were stupid and I will do better,” Curtis wrote. She mentioned reaching out to Kevin Feige and vowed to refrain from engaging in online competition and superficial promotional tactics designed to generate clicks rather than meaningful content.
My comments about Marvel were stupid and I will do better. I've reached out to Kevin Feige and will no longer play in that mud slinging sandbox of competition we call the internet nor will I engage in the toilet paper promotion or game play that is designed for clicks not content…
— Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) August 1, 2024
On Instagram, Curtis stated the importance of constructive behavior, particularly as a leader. She stated, “If I’m a leader, then a leader shouldn’t talk s— about other collaborative art form creators.“
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Curtis’ apology did not go unnoticed. Ryan Reynolds, currently starring in Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine, appeared to support Curtis by sharing her apology. He humorously questioned whether everyone is expected to apologize for criticizing Marvel after Endgame, highlighting that Deadpool & Wolverine contains several references to the characters joining the MCU during a perceived “low point” in the franchise’s storytelling.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Marvel: A Complex Relationship
Jamie Lee Curtis. Image Credit: Fox Broadcasting Co.
Jamie Lee Curtis has had a public back-and-forth with Marvel Studios in recent years. The actress initiated a playful rivalry in 2022 when she compared the poster of her film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, to Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, suggesting a similarity in concept.
While Curtis clarified in an interview with PEOPLE magazine that she admired Marvel as a studio and had enjoyed many of their films, she emphasized that her independent movie had successfully delivered a multiversal story that resonated with audiences, proving that such narratives didn’t necessarily require the Marvel brand.
“I have nothing against Marvel as an entity. I’ve seen a lot of Marvel movies. What I was talking about is that ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ was a little movie that could … and we were able to tell a multiverse story that really touched people. What I was trying to talk about was it doesn’t have to be a Marvel movie in order to be a spectacle and to really move you.”
Despite her playful critiques, Curtis admitted later in 2022 that she would be open to working with Marvel. She acknowledged the unlikely prospect of being approached by them due to her previous comments but expressed her willingness to collaborate if the role was intriguing and suited her talents.
“Honestly, I can’t imagine that they will ever come calling because I kicked up some dust,” she told PEOPLE in in the same interview. “But I’m a collaborating artist. I work with a lot of people on a lot of different things, and if the role was interesting and if I could bring what I do to it, of course I would [work with Marvel]. What am I going to do, say no?”
While Curtis’ public commentary on Marvel might have been a touch impulsive, her observations about the studio’s recent performance resonate with some industry analysts. Although Marvel’s latest film, Deadpool & Wolverine, is anticipated to be a massive box office success, the studio faced challenges in 2023 with underperforming films like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels, the latter becoming the lowest-grossing Marvel movie to date.
At this point, Curtis is promoting the film Borderlands. She recently completed the most recent Halloween trilogy, playing Laurie Strode again—her first significant role in Hollywood. She will next be seen in an upcoming sequel as Tess Coleman, her Freaky Friday character, which is another fan-favorite role.
