Zachary Levi has asked fans to stop pitting Shazam! and Captain Marvel against each other. The fan divide between Marvel and DC is a familiar one, but recently it seems to have hit a fever pitch with these two upcoming releases.
After eleven years and twenty movies, the MCU will have its first female-led film in Captain Marvel. While most fans have been excited for what will basically be a prequel to the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is a small, but vocal minority who seem intent on seeing the movie fail. Brie Larson has been attacked for everything, from complaints that she’s not smiling enough in the trailers to the fact that she, like Carol Danvers, is an unapologetic feminist. The actress was recently forced to clarify her comments about desiring for more inclusive press days, but the assaults haven’t stopped at twisting Larson’s words or endlessly dissecting her appearance. Some have also chosen to review bomb Captain Marvel on Rotten Tomatoes, filling the site with hateful words about both the film and Larson herself.
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Now, Zachary Levi has taken to social media to condemn the “inflammatory, defamatory and completely fictitious” posts and reviews about Captain Marvel. Levi made it abundantly clear that “this is not helping anyone or anything” and that “there is no competition” between Shazam! and Captain Marvel. He also stated, “anyone out there who’s holding onto some bone like they need to pick a side and pick a fight is sorely mistaken” and called out the behavior as “the bottom of the barrel.”
Captain Marvel becoming so divisive before its release is ridiculous, but also not entirely unexpected. Star Wars: The Last Jedi stars, Daisy Ridley and Kelly Marie Tran, were both victims of abhorrent online harassment and Facebook managed to shut down a group whose soul purpose was to sabotage Black Panther’s Rotten Tomatoes score.
It’s heartbreaking that this small group of fans is so intent on ruining these movies for everyone else; that the idea of change is so threatening that they’d rather just see the films fail. White male superheroes aren’t going anywhere and the idea that diversity and inclusivity will somehow remove them from the spotlight is not only nonsensical, but also categorically untrue. Comics have long been a place where misfits can take refuge from the world they feel doesn’t understand them, not to mention a healthy form of escape. Those who have truly found solace in those stories wouldn’t want to deny that to anyone else. It’s a shame that a culture that has always strived to be open to everyone is suddenly finding itself under fire from people who are acting like real supervillains.
Much like Levi said, the fact that both Captain Marvels are hitting theaters within a month of each other is certainly interesting, but no reason to assume that one can’t enjoy both of them. The truth is, while it’s upsetting for all the fans who just love these characters and look forward to seeing them brought to life, these trolls are unlikely to affect any real change at all. Captain Marvel is already looking to have a strong opening at the box office, regardless of attempts to prove otherwise. This is not a time for Marvel and DC fans fight over which is better, but rather to band together against those who would try to damage both.
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Source: Zachary Levi