Veteran actor Ray Winstone recently opened up to Radio Times magazine about his experience filming for Marvel’s ‘Black Widow,’ likening the reshoot process to being ‘kicked in the balls.’
Winstone, who portrayed the villainous Russian general Dreykov in the film, described the reshoots as ‘soul-destroying’:
“It was fine until you had to do the reshoots. Then you find out that a few producers have come down, and your performance is too much; it’s too strong. That’s the way Marvel works. It can be soul-destroying because you feel like you’re doing great work.”
The actor’s dissatisfaction reached a point where he suggested the producers recast his role:
“I actually said, “You ought to recast it because that was it for me.’ And you end up doing it again because you’re contracted to do it. Otherwise, you end up in court. It’s like being kicked in the balls.”
Martin Scorsese Thinks Marvel Movies Are ‘Theme Parks’
Winstone’s criticism is just another addition to the growing chorus of voices from within the industry questioning the creative constraints and commercial pressures seen in blockbuster productions like those of the MCU.
Filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Ken Loach, and Francis Ford Coppola previously shared their skepticism about the artistic value of Marvel movies. Scorsese, for instance, likened them more to theme parks than traditional cinema:
“I don’t see them. I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema. Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well-made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.”
Despite these critiques, the MCU continues to draw large audiences worldwide. As for 2021’s ‘Black Widow,’ it set records with its pandemic-era release. Still, Winstone’s reflections reveal a tumultuous behind-the-scenes process, especially during the film’s reshoots.
In addition to discussing his Marvel experience, Winstone also talked about his upcoming projects on Netflix in the interview. He is set to appear in ‘Damsel,‘ starring alongside Millie Bobby Brown, and in a Guy Ritchie-directed spin-off of ‘The Gentlemen.‘
