Disney boss defends Marvel films after ‘disrespectful’ attacks from Scorsese and Coppola

Bob Iger said if the directors ‘want to bitch about movies, that’s certainly their right’ but they clearly ‘don’t see how the audience is reacting to them’

Disney CEO Bob Iger has spoken out in defence of Marvel films, following attacks on the movies from renowned directors Martin Scorsese, Ken Loach and Francis Ford Coppola.

Scorsese made headlines earlier this month for denouncing the Marvel effect for turning cinemas into “theme parks” while Coppola described the franchise as “despicable”.

Iger has now hit back at the acclaimed filmmakers, calling them “disrespectful” and saying if they "want to bitch about movies, that's certainly their right” but they clearly "don't see how the audience is reacting to them."

Speaking on Tuesday at WSJ Tech Live in California, Iger said: "Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese are two people I hold in the highest regard, but when Francis uses the words, 'Those films are despicable,’ I reserve the word 'despicable' to someone who committed mass murder. These are movies."

Iger also pointed out that people are watching Marvel's films "by the millions” and added: "It seems so disrespectful to all the people that work on those films… are you telling me Ryan Coogler, making Black Panther is doing something that is somehow or another 'less than' what Marty Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola have ever done on any one of their movies? Like, come on. There. I said it."

Director Ken Loach was the latest industry figure to weigh in on the Marvel debate on Monday when he said the films have “nothing to do with the art of cinema”.

Alongside Iger, Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi and Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr are among those to take issue with Scorsese's Marvel comments.