George Lucas Defends Marvel Movies & Claims Martin Scorsese Has Changed His Mind After 2019 Criticism

Split image of George Lucas and Iron Man MCU armor

5 years after criticizing the MCU and superhero movies, Martin Scorsese has reportedly changed his mind according to George Lucas. It’s no secret that Marvel movies are typically money-spinners, with the brand of entertainment they offer appealing to a huge swathe of fans. With that in mind, Scorsese was famously quoted as saying “I don’t think [Marvel movies are] cinema,” in 2019 – something which George Lucas recently commented on.

Lucas, who created Star Wars, spoke at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (via World of Reel), where he said that Scorsese may have changed his opinion on Marvel movies, stating: “Look. Cinema is the art of a moving image. So if the image moves, then it’s cinema. I think Marty has kind of changed his mind a little bit.”

The comments obviously fall short of a complete turnaround, especially given how hotly debated this topic was after the director’s initial interview. It is interesting that Lucas made this clarification, as the MCU’s sci-fi action movies are pretty similar to Star Wars – particularly the prequel trilogy that Lucas directed. Despite many reading Scorsese’s comments as a general hatred of Marvel and the MCU timeline, Scorsese has clarified that this is not the case.

What Exactly Did Martin Scorsese Say About Marvel Movies & Why It Matters

Guardians of the Galaxy walking to attack the High Evolutionary in Vol. 3

Martin Scorsese is one of the most illustrious filmmakers of all time, which is why his perceived criticisms of Marvel movies were taken so seriously. The comments were made in an October 2019 interview with Empire Magazine, but a month later, the auteur penned an oped in the New York Times clarifying his statements.

In short, Scorsese insisted that the movies were not for him, and flew in the face of cinema as an art form liable to take risks, but he didn’t hate them. Instead, the comment was more aimed towards the idea of Marvel movies being a bankable business more geared towards making a profit than works of art.

Recent results for the franchise suggest Scorsese’s comments may have also been foreshadowing a sense of dissatisfaction in the MCU’s own audience, which could make his words more crucial going forwards. The MCU has been experiencing several stumbling blocks recently that Disney heads have put down to churning out too many releases; a practice spurred by business sense. Yet the minutia of Scorsese’s comments dismissing MCU movies as works of art is still a controversial statement to make for MCU fans and aficionados.

What is also notable is that Scorsese’s comments immediately preceded MCU Phase 4 – which is where Marvel’s downturn is often seen to have began. The correlation is hard to ignore, especially as other auteurs joined with Scorsese in dismissing Marvel movies soon after his comments started making waves.

Now it seems superhero fatigue has begun taking hold of the zeitgeist, the general sense of dissatisfaction with Marvel seems to have increased. Yet while Scorsese’s opinions may have been somewhat damaging, it is also apparent that Marvel has been struggling under the weight of the franchise, which is something that its more reserved plans for the future of the MCU may help to assuage in order to build a brighter future for the series going forward.

Related Posts

One M.u.rder Isn’t Enough… The Hunting Wives Season 2 Returns Sept 15 With Secrets That Will Blow Your Mind 💥🌙

Get ready to dive back into the sultry, scandal-soaked world of The Hunting Wives! 🚨 Season 2 of Netflix’s steamiest thriller hits screens on September 15, 2026,…

The Desert Keeps Its Secrets… Until Now. Dark Winds Season 4 Brings More Murder, More Betrayal, and More Twists Than Ever 🌵⚡

The desert is whispering again, and its secrets are darker than ever. Dark Winds, AMC’s critically acclaimed Navajo crime thriller, returns in 2026 for its fourth season,…

Wealth Can’t Buy Love: Zuckerberg Family’s Heartwarming Baking Bonding Melts Hearts!

In a touching display of family warmth, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, shared a delightful baking session with their three daughters—Maxima, August, and…

Elon Musk’s $1 Trillion Tesla Pay Package Proposal Sparks Outrage and Ambition!

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, is at the center of a firestorm after Tesla’s board proposed a staggering $1 trillion compensation package, announced on September 5,…

He’s a Star of ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’… But Chad Michael Murray’s Most Romantic Role Is at Home — The One Unexpected Thing They Do To Keep The Spark Burning ✨🔥

Chad Michael Murray, the 43-year-old heartthrob known for his iconic roles in One Tree Hill and A Cinderella Story, continues to captivate audiences with his compelling performance…

Elon Musk just built a PRIVATE wine cellar for billionaires—inside the world’s most exclusive playground.

Elon Musk has never been one to think small. From electric cars to space travel to artificial intelligence, the billionaire entrepreneur has made a career of disrupting…