The Future Of The Film Industry
This aspect of James Gunn’s firing has already been heavily discussed, but it’s worth reiterating that Disney’s dismissal of the director sets a very worrying precedent. It’s somewhat understandable that a family-friendly film company would want to distance themselves from such – erm, interesting – humor. However, there are quite a few hiccups in this plan.
It may be a somewhat different situation, but many have been quick to point out the disparity between Disney’s treatment of James Gunn and that of John Lasseter. Gunn was immediately fired after a series of very dark, provocative tweets from nearly a decade ago came to light. On the other hand, Lasseter – the animation legend – was found to have consistently sexually harassed female employees for years. Instead, of being rapidly dismissed, though, Lasseter remains with the company until his work is completed in 2019.
Depending on your viewpoint, the firing of James Gunn may be seen as a heavy-handed attempt to rectify an unwelcome situation. Yet, in light of Disney’s gradual response to the case of John Lasseter, it seems strange how little time was taken to investigate the context or nuance of Gunn’s situation. The Mouse House was evidently attempting to avoid negative press during the course of its game-changing merger with 20th Century Fox. But rather than subduing these concerns, Disney has reinforced them.
When Fox is finally brought under its wing, Disney will have taken another step towards becoming a moviemaking monopoly. It’s not just a grim prospect for any form of competition, but for many other groups as well. You see, late 2017 saw Disney effectively strong-arm theaters into giving them a greater percentage of profit from Star Wars: The Last Jedi ticket sales, but the company also barred the Los Angeles Times from every one of their releases, after the publication ran an article which criticized Disney’s dealings in Anaheim, California.
Alone, the case of James Gunn might be waved away as overeager PR control. However, this return to old-school blacklisting bodes ill, when we consider Disney’s increasingly dominant, dictatorial control over the film industry. This is not to suggest that wrongdoers within the company should not be punished. Yet, it’s a particularly inconsistent, totalitarian approach for Disney to adopt for anyone that they collaborate with. It allows little in the way of nuance, or for any understanding. Indeed, Alan Horn’s usage of the phrase “inconsistent with our values” – which he used in his statement over Gunn’s firing – sounds a lot more threatening now.
It goes without saying that James Gunn’s controversial tweets are vile and reprehensible, yet the implications of his sacking are undoubtedly wide-ranging. Whilst the public – and Guardians of the Galaxy cast members – show an increasing resistance to James Gunn’s dismissal, it’s remains to be seen just what will occur in light of these events. But what is clear is that this issue’s far from being resolved.