House of Gucci star Lady Gaga has shared her thoughts on taking on a role in a superhero film. The Academy Award-winning performer appeared in the new Gucci family biopic directed by Ridley Scott, playing Patrizia Reggiani. The film follows the true story of Reggiani’s wrestle with the iconic family after marrying Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), who is one of the heirs to the Gucci fashion legacy.
Most notably known for her Grammy and Oscar-winning music, Gaga made her first debut in a starring role in the 2018 remake of A Star Is Born opposite Bradley Cooper, and won the category for Best Original Song for her acclaimed hit, “Shallow.” In her recent performance as Reggiani in House of Gucci, the Oscar contender shared her mental and physical health struggles due to her method acting approach, as she carried the darkness of her role home with her. Aside from acting, Gaga is renowned for her songwriting and singing abilities, recently working together with Tony Bennett in Gaga's latest collaborative jazz album called “Love For Sale.”
In a recent interview with Variety, Gaga was asked if she would ever consider taking a role in the realm of superhero movies, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the DC Extended Universe. The actress expressed that it would be difficult to refuse anything, but would only consider the role if the script were to be "meaningful," which is what initially prompted her to take on the portrayal of Reggiani, due to her values and regard for women. Read Gaga's full quote below:
"I might, yeah. It's really hard for me to say that I wouldn't do something. I think mostly I'm not interested in doing things that don't ultimately have something meaningful to say. And I did House of Gucci because I thought Patrizia Reggiani as a character had something to say, and there was something in the script that was really valuable for women and I care about women."
Alongside the growing abundance of titular superheroes being adapted into film, more filmmakers have been inclined to criticize the themes of Marvel and DC superhero movies. For instance, Canadian filmmaker James Cameron recently expressed a similar sentiment to Gaga, in which he disclosed that superhero films don’t feel epic to him. Although the genre of superheroes is one of the greatest financial prosperities for Hollywood, some believe that the Academy carries a bias against the blockbuster category. Recently, Marvel boss Kevin Feige shared the same concern, arguing that comic book adaptations continue to go un-recognized, remaining optimistic that Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings could break the current pattern of the genre being ignored.
Despite Gaga being hesitant to commit completely to the idea, the possibility of the actress entering the fictional genre remains as long as the script is right. As the MCU continues to direct itself in a more diverse direction, perhaps Gaga may find solace in future Marvel heroes introduced into the universe that align with her female empowerment-based values. With other musical stars like Harry Styles joining the MCU through Eternals, it has become more normalized for talents outside the film industry to join movie casts. For now, audiences can appreciate Gaga's impressive transformation into Patrizia Reggiani in Scott's House of Gucci.
Source: Variety