Mark & Jay Duplass explain why they passed on directing a superhero movie

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Some filmmakers jump at the chance to helm a big-budgeted superhero flick, but not Mark and Jay Duplass. During a talk last week at a Writers Guild Foundation event, the JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME and CYRUS directors were asked if they've been approached by Marvel or DC about making a comic book movie, and although the duo didn't reveal which company contacted them, Mark said they turned the project down.

We said no. The thing that happens when you sign on to a $180 million movie is that the movie is not a movie. It's a commodity. We're not in that business.

Jay also added that "It's very easy to blow people's minds in Hollywood. Just say no. Now, if it were Batman and Robin as a 98 percent relationship drama in the Bat Cave…I would bet that's 12,000 people's favorite movie."

Major tentpole movies just aren't a good fit for some directors, and although I'm very curious as to which superhero pic the Duplass brothers passed on (maybe THOR: RAGNAROK?), I think it was the right move. I'm sure they didn't want to deal with studio notes about how they can make the film "better," and they've been doing just fine with their big and small screen projects.

The second season of the Duplass brothers' HBO series Togetherness will premiere on February 21, 2016.