‘Logan’ Director James Mangold Shares Strong Opinions on “Multiverse” Films: “It’s the death of storytelling”

We’re currently in the midst of the Multiverse Saga in the MCU, and many fans are already weary of it. To a large portion of the audience, the Multiverse concept equates to bland storytelling, as it removes all stakes and risks. Complex character development can be easily dismissed as “a variant.”

Any character’s death can be undone, and every plot hole can be explained away as “a different timeline.”

‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ features a scene that pokes fun at the Multiverse concept, even though the film itself attempts to capitalize on it. I’ll avoid spoilers, so I won’t go into details.

Before the release of ‘Deadpool and Wolverine,’ it was known that Feige was firmly against Jackman returning as Wolverine, given the way his character’s arc concluded in ‘Logan.’ However, the Multiverse concept conveniently allowed for his return—as a variant.

To add to this, Feige has recently confirmed that Iron Man and Captain America could also return to the MCU “if great care is taken” with their characters. This suggests that much of the emotional weight from ‘Endgame’ and ‘Infinity War’ might be undermined by variants.

Following the release of ‘Deadpool and Wolverine,’ James Mangold, the director of ‘Logan,’ which is often regarded as one of the greatest superhero films ever made, shared his thoughts on the Multiverse concept. He was speaking with Rolling Stone while promoting his upcoming film, ‘A Complete Unknown,’ which focuses on Bob Dylan.

Mangold expressed his dislike for multiverse movies, though he clarified that his comments were not directed at ‘Logan’ or ‘Deadpool and Wolverine.’ Instead, he was responding to a question about whether Johnny Cash might appear in his new film, given his previous work on ‘Walk the Line’ (2005), which starred Joaquin Phoenix as the legendary performer.

Mangold stated that he really doesn’t engage with the multiverse concept and doesn’t foresee that changing in the future.

Someone spotted Timothée holding a letter from Johnny Cash on set, and it sparked a lot of speculation. Just to be clear, is there a Johnny Cash character in this movie?
Oh yes, there is.

Who plays him?
Boyd Holbrook.

I think people were somehow hoping this would become a cinematic-universe, multiverse return–of-Joaquin Phoenix situation.
I don’t do multiverses. But beyond that Johnny Cash was like, 30.

Exactly.
I love Joaquin, but he’s not 30, or whatever Johnny was at this moment. They’re both young people in that moment in life. It’s weird that I’ve even worked in the world of IP entertainment because I don’t like multi-movie universe-building. I think it’s the enemy of storytelling. The death of storytelling. It’s more interesting to people the way the Legos connect than the way the story works in front of us.

For me, the goal becomes, always, “What is unique about this film, and these characters?” Not making you think about some other movie or some Easter egg or something else, which is all an intellectual act, not an emotional act. You want the movie to work on an emotional level.

Mangold isn’t specifically addressing the MCU, but his critique highlights a common issue many fans have with the Multiverse concept. The complexity and numerous plot holes can make it seem more like a parody than a genuine effort at meaningful storytelling.

Do you agree with Mangold’s perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!