The celebrated performer known for his work in theater and film, particularly his highly praised performance in HBO’s Succession, participated in a panel at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Saturday. Cox pointed out the recent rise in positive reception for popular TV shows on a global scale when discussing the latest MCU film, Deadpool & Wolverine, as an excellent illustration of an entertaining cinematic experience.
Television is now fulfilling the role that cinema previously occupied, according to Cox during the discussion about television’s creativity. Cox voiced concern about the current state of cinema, stating that it has lost its significance due in part to the overwhelming dominance of Marvel, DC, and similar franchises. Cox expressed the belief that cinema is on the verge of self-destruction, suggesting that it is losing its direction.
Discussing Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman from Deadpool and Wolverine, he mentioned that movies are generating significant revenue which pleases everyone, but he feels that the quality of the work suffers as a result. He expressed that the work becomes less original over time, highlighting that he has been involved in similar projects in the past.
Cox played the role of William Stryker Jr. in X2: X-Men United, portraying a military scientist who convinces Logan to transform into Wolverine. He humorously admitted that he sometimes forgets that he was responsible for creating Wolverine. He joked that when he sees Deadpool interacting with Wolverine, the character he created, he tends to forget. Additionally, he quipped that he always sees a bit of himself as Stryker when the films are on, but he doesn’t receive any compensation for it.
Cox remarked, “Some actors see it as a party time to engage in these activities. Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds could pursue more challenging roles, but they opt for these roles because they result in high box office earnings. It’s undeniable that they make a significant amount of money from it.”
He went on to say that television is making strides, especially with remarkable series like Succession by Jesse Armstrong and Ripley on Netflix, featuring Andrew Scott. “There are so many shows, and you have the privilege of unfolding the story over time,” he added. Reflecting on his childhood movies like On the Waterfront, the actor explained that they inspired him to become the actor he is today, although this aspiration has somewhat diminished.
Cox mentioned his upbringing in Dundee, Scotland, where he experienced the presence of 21 theaters in the city. “I visited every single one from the time I was 6 to 8 years old,” he recalled. He compared the filmmaking techniques of his era to the difficulties faced by contemporary actors during casting processes.
Actors and actresses are now required to create their own self-tapes without meeting anyone, and often they don’t even receive any feedback, despite spending days on the tapes. Previously, there used to be a connection between casting directors and actors, allowing industry newcomers to have a sense of the direction things were going. However, nowadays, young actors are left in a state of uncertainty, which is unacceptable because it limits their potential and identity as actors. This system is terrible and needs to stop. I hope we can return to valuing individual relationships, which is what art is truly about – building meaningful connections.
Rowan Woods, the director of the Edinburgh TV festival, moderated the panel on which Cox was speaking. The panelists included WME’s Alex Walton, producer Afolabi Kuti, director Nina Conti (who used to be a ventriloquist), and Daniel Reisinger, a director who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter on Friday. The discussion revolved around the topic of how individuals from live performance and television can make a smooth transition to filmmaking.
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Read on Lehren - Brian Cox Expresses Concern About the State of Cinema, Pointing to Marvel, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
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