DC fans were left scratching their heads after Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins made a controversial statement claiming that streaming movies cannot achieve a level of greatness. This assertion comes after the lukewarm reception of the highly anticipated sequel to her smash-hit Wonder Woman movie.
Patty Jenkins may have been trying to defend the cinema experience, but the statement contradicts her recent work as a director. With movies like Wonder Woman 1984 being released on both streaming and in theaters, it begs whether streaming can achieve the same greatness as traditional cinema.
Gal Gadot’s Journey to Hollywood Stardom
Before diving into the controversy, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the journey of Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot. The Israeli actress worked in the industry for years before landing her big break.
After winning the Miss Israel pageant in 2004, Gadot served in the Israeli military and then studied law and international relations at university. However, it was her modeling work that eventually led her to act.
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Gadot’s breakthrough came in 2009 when she appeared in the fourth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise. She continued to work on other projects, but it wasn’t until 2015, when she landed the role of Wonder Woman, that her career truly skyrocketed.
Gadot quickly became a household name with her portrayal of Diana Prince in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and then headlining her film Wonder Woman in 2017. While Gadot is now one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses, it wasn’t always that way. In a 2017 podcast interview, Gadot revealed that she almost quit acting due to constant rejection.
In particular, she recalled auditioning for the role of Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, only to lose out to Charlize Theron. The rejection questioned whether she would ever make it in the industry. Fortunately for Gadot, she persevered and eventually landed the role of a lifetime as Wonder Woman.
Patty Jenkins’ Controversial Statement
Now let’s turn our attention to Patty Jenkins and her recent statement about streaming movies. During an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Jenkins claimed that streaming movies cannot achieve “legendary greatness,” stating, “all of the films that streaming services are putting out…look like fake movies to me.”:
“All of the films that streaming services are putting out, I’m sorry, they look like fake movies to me. I don’t hear about them, I don’t read about them. It’s not working as a model for establishing legendary greatness.”
The statement is somewhat confusing, given that Jenkins has directed movies for streaming services, including the limited series I Am the Night for TNT and the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron for Disney+. However, Jenkins may be trying to defend the traditional cinema experience, which has been threatened in recent years by the rise of streaming services.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to streaming, with many studios opting to simultaneously release their movies on both streaming and in theaters. Wonder Woman 1984 was one such movie that received a mixed reception from critics and audiences. While it had a successful opening weekend in theaters, it was ultimately deemed a disappointment by many fans.
Source: Los Angeles Times
