One of the most talked about movies of the year is Parasite. The South Korean thriller by Bong Joon Ho is getting rave reviews, but beyond that, the film is also having a somewhat surprisingly successful run at the box office. Making a lot more people in the United States aware of Bong Joon Ho than had been previously.
When a director hits it big like this, it quite often means that the producers of blockbuster film franchises take notice as well, so it wouldn't be all that shocking to see Bong Joon Ho being courted to take on an entry in a massive franchise like Star Wars or whatever DC's followup to Joker might be.
However, it seems that, while Bong Joon Ho could direct any number of projects in the future, we shouldn't expect him to helm a comic book movie any time soon. When asked by Variety if he would ever helm a Marvel movie, the director said no. His reasoning had nothing to do with wanting to only direct smaller movies, or not feeling like superhero movies count as cinema, he very deftly praises Martin Scorsese while making it clear he doesn't agree with the director's recent comments. Instead, for him, the problem is all about the outfits. According to Bong Joon Ho...
I have a personal problem. I respect the creativity that goes into superhero films, but in real life and in movies, I can’t stand people wearing tight-fitting clothes. I’ll never wear something like that, and just seeing someone in tight clothes is mentally difficult. I don’t know where to look, and I feel suffocated. Most superheroes wear tight suits, so I can never direct one. I don’t think anyone will offer the project to me either. If there is a superhero who has a very boxy costume, maybe I can try.
I have to say, this is the most unique take on the superhero genre I have seen, but that certainly makes it interesting. Bong Joon Ho can't deal with superhero movies because everybody wears oddly tight clothing and he finds it too distracting. I guess we can put Power Girl at the top of the list of movies he won't be directing.
We all have our quirks and apparently tight clothes are the Achilles heel for Bong Joon Ho. He says he could handle a superhero movie for somebody in a boxy costume. Maybe he could take on an Incredible Hulk movie. He wears pretty normal clothes most of the time and even when he's in full superhero mode, he's not in spandex.
Bong Joon Ho also says that he doesn't think anyone would offer him a project like a superhero movie, and I'm far from sure he's correct in that regard. Even knowing his feelings toward superhero costumes, I'd say there a decent chance he'll be offered projects like that before too long. While Parasite may not have much in common with your average franchise blockbuster, Bong Joon Ho also directed Chris Evans in Snowpiercer, which was an equally well regarded film, though not as successful at the box office. That movie has a lot more action, and shows what the director could be capable of with a much bigger movie.
Still, maybe something like Star Wars is the better fit for the director. Lots of loose fitting robes in that one.
