Logan Director James Mangold: Multi-Movie Universes are the ‘Death of Storytelling’

Director James Mangold has directed movies that were part of franchises before. He directed Logan and The Wolverine as part of the X-Men franchise as well as the final Indiana Jones movie. With his new film A Complete Unknown being a stand-alone film, Mangold gives his honest opinion of multi-movie universes being the “death of storytelling.”

Even if the movie Logan was the continuation of a popular X-Men character, James Mangold’s movie doesn’t heavily rely on cameos or references from other 20th Century Fox X-Men movies. It was instead meant to serve as the superhero character’s conclusion. However, the newly released Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Deadpool & Wolverine brings back the character.

In the film, Timothée Chalamet is seen holding a letter from Johnny Cash. This led to speculation that Mangold, who directed Walk the Line, would bring Joaquin Phoenix back for a multi-movie universe return. The American director quickly dispelled those rumors.

“I don’t do multiverses. But beyond that, Johnny Cash was, like, 30. 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,” said Mangold to Rolling Stone. “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.”

James Mangold continued to say that when making his movies, he thinks only of the movie he’s currently making. Other movies or Easter eggs would ruin the “emotional level” he wants to achieve.

What can we expect from A Complete Unknown?

Based on A Complete Unknown’s teaser trailer, Timothée Chalamet sings his heart out as Bob Dylan. We also see Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, and Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo. Joaquin Phoenix may not be returning for his Golden Globe-winning role, but Narcos’ Boyd Holbrook will be taking on the role of Johnny Cash.

The plot will follow the controversy surrounding Bob Dylan’s transition from acoustic folk music to electric rock music. The upcoming biographical drama is expected to be released in theaters in December.