Simu Liu Slams Quentin Tarantino Over Anti-Marvel Comments

Simu Liu has had writers discussing the merits of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

On the same day that comments from Quentin Tarantino denouncing the “marvelization” of Hollywood went viral, Simu followed Liu on Twitter to hold filmmakers like the “Pulp Fiction” director and Martin Scorsese accountable for the MCU to bring case.

“If Tarantino and Scorsese were the only gatekeepers to movie stardom, I would never have had the opportunity to direct a $400 million+ movie,” wrote Liu, whose 2021 Shang-Chi became the first Marvel film to feature an Asian Lead laid the groundwork and grossed more than $432 million in the pandemic box office. “I’m in awe of their filmmaking genius. They are transcendent authors. But they can’t point their noses at me or anyone.”

Liu responds to Tarantino’s claim that Marvel actors aren’t actual movie stars in a recent episode of the podcast 2 Bears, 1 Cave. Tarantino’s point was that Marvel Studios is more driven by intellectual property than actual star power, and he said, “Part of the Marvelization of Hollywood is … there’s all these actors who have become famous playing these characters. But they are not movie stars. Right? Captain America is the star. Or Thor is the star… It’s those franchise characters that become the stars.”

Liu continued on Twitter, “No film studio is or ever will be perfect. But I’m proud to work with a company that has made a sustained effort to improve diversity on screen by creating heroes who empower and inspire people of all communities, everywhere.”

Finally, the rising “Barbie” star – who was named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people alive this year – said, “I loved the ‘Golden Age’ too… but it was white as hell.” He seems like filmmakers like Tarantino and Unearth Scorsese’s reverence for the Hollywood of yore. (Remember that three years ago Scorsese compared Marvel movies to theme parks and said they weren’t really cinema.)

According to the podcast with Tarantino, the Django Unchained filmmaker sees Marvel actors as intellectual property ambassadors rather than stars in the traditional sense. Tarantino also criticizes that superhero films seem to be all Hollywood is interested in right now.

“My only ax to grind against them is that they’re the only things that seem to be made,” Tarantino said. “And they’re the only things that seem to generate any sort of excitement from a fanbase, or even the studio that’s making them.” They look forward to that. And you know, it’s just the fact that right now they’re the entire representation of that era of film.”

Liu had minor roles on television before “Shang-Chi” made him a world star. This year he appeared in two episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy! and lent his voice to The Simpsons.

If Tarantino and Scorsese were the only gatekeepers to movie stardom, I would never have had the opportunity to direct a $400 million+ film.

I admire her cinematic genius. They are transcendent authors. But they can’t point their noses at me or anyone.

— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) November 22, 2022

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