Superhero movies have been in decline recently and Tom Hanks has a strong opinion on why the genre is failing. The superhero genre is losing its magic, according to the Forrest Gump actress. During his appearance on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, Hanks recalled how in the ’70s and ’80s people tried to image TV versions of Captain America and Spider-Man and even Batman, But the technology was not fast enough.
“Now it happens. You can do anything,'” he said, adding that Christopher Reeve’s Superman was the first film to come close to using cutting-edge technology. “’Would you believe a man could fly’ and, you know what… that’s what we all did when we saw it. It was quite extraordinary,” he said.
Hanks added, “I think we’re enjoying the luxury of riches now because you can do anything on screen.” When asked why films that once attracted people are no longer working, the actor explained that audiences are now looking for depth in the content they consume.
“We’re being brought back to this concept of, ‘Okay, that’s true, but what’s the story? What is the story and what is it saying about us?’ It’s a good challenge for any filmmaker, it may not be too difficult for the industry.”
Hanks further quipped about how filmmaking has turned out to be an unexpected path. Earlier people used to say, “Okay, it worked and it will work again” but now after 20 to 30 years, when a film or series reaches the audience there are a lot of questions. According to Hanks, today’s topic is more or less “And what is the purpose of this movie?” Has become.
He believes that consumers are very forward and prefer to skip familiar content as there are ample alternatives available. “It’s not just about dazzling the eyes… it’s about what is the story? Tell me about yourself. We’re in new territory,” he said.
When asked if he would like to be a part of a superhero franchise like Marvel or DC, the Oscar winner said he is open to it but he has a lot more in mind that he wants to make in the future. He added, “I guess I’m not against it, but at the same time…I have a lot of things I’m dreaming of and trying to accomplish.”
