If you don’t like Marvel movies, you’re not alone: Steve Jobs didn’t like them either. In fact, they seemed infamous to him, and he couldn’t even spend time looking at the original comics they reproduced. We ignore this aversion but we are clear that within the Marvel dynasty there are not only great comics, but also excellent films. For example, the first “Iron Man” or “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3”.
Coincidentally, the film that was the particular victim of his trial is one of the first in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, very popular with some fans due to a certain post-credits scene, which largely opened up a way of working that still continues today. Let’s see where this confrontation comes from, the result of total trust, since the CEO of Disney and Jobs became close friends.
A box office success, a critical failure
“Iron Man 2” was successfully released in theaters and has grossed $624 million today. However, the reviews were cruel and fierce, calling it uneven and bumpy.
“The boring stumbles of a Marvel still searching for its own voice, aware of the successes of the first “Iron Man”, but not going much further than personalityless cloning when it comes to repeating them. C is undoubtedly a film that also has a lot on its mind […]. Too much ambition for a film with so little chicha.
But in hindsight, some of the risks taken and its infallible soundtrack are applauded. With a script by Justin Theroux and creative control by Jon Favreau, the people involved would end up being very proud of the project. It is not in vain that we talk about the first film under the total control of the Walt Disney Co. after this overwhelming purchase of 4,000 million dollars.
The friendship between Bob Iger and Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs, however, played a decisive role in finalizing Disney’s takeover of Marvel.. A purchase that saved the company from its possible disappearance. Steve Jobs and Bob Iger were good friends. A lot, in fact. They could say anything to each other, according to Iger. It is not in vain that when Disney bought Marvel, Steve Jobs w as a member of the Disney board of directors and the largest shareholder of the company, so every important decision was consulted with him. After acquiring Pixar in 2009, Iger showed Jobs his next step: taking over Marvel.
When the time came, Iger showed him some Marvel comics and The answer was the same: “I hate them more than video games.”. Apparently he had never read a comic book in his life, so Iger shrugged and started explaining how this whole fictional universe worked.
Jobs responded without much effort and replied: “Is this important to you?” And so many things: today, Marvel is more valuable than ever and its franchises are recognized by an unthinkable public for the same company which, in the 90s, suffered from a real identity crisis – and above all financial.
As recalled in the book “The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company,” here is an important anecdote that illustrates this friendship above almost any “offense”: Jobs went to the movies with his son to see “Iron Man 2.” As soon as he left, he called Iger and delivered a very firm verdict: “it sucks.”.
As Iger himself acknowledges, yes, Iron Man 2 didn’t aspire to win an Oscar or make history, but it was good entertainment – it was nominated for the award. Oscar for “Best Visual Effects”, Besides-. “I couldn’t leave him feeling like he was right all the time,” he says in his memoir, so he defends himself by reminding him that he is experiencing real financial success.
Regardless, Jobs remained present at the shareholders’ meeting and, although “when he criticized, he was often quite harsh,” he provided “the kind of objective criticism that one would expect from n ‘any member of the board of directors’. We don’t know what you would have thought of the excellent “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy.but we want to believe that he would have softened his position regarding the Marvel universe.
An older version of this article was originally published on 05/09/2023.
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