HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 28 (UPI) — Olivia Wilde says she’s ready to see female superheroes with more than just a pretty face in upcoming films, and she might just be the one to bring it.
The Meadowland actress revealed in a recent interview with Cinema Blend her opinion on Marvel’s treatment of female heroes as well as her reaction to an apparent social media craze pinning her as Captain Marvel.
“I’m a big fan of superhero films, and I have so much respect for the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Wilde, 31, told the outlet. “The thing with female superheroes is that, in order to be powerful, they are flawless. The idea of a kick-ass power lacks a certain nuance, at times. There is something to be said for a female director working to create a female superhero that perhaps [has] a little more complexity.”
Wilde elaborated on what she’d like to see in female heroes beyond what has already been portrayed in Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow character from the Avengers and Captain America films as well as others like the women of Guardians of the Galaxy and Civil War. According to the star, female heroes in cinema would benefit from the injection of more realistic flaws and complexity like that of Iron Man played by Robert Downey, Jr.
“Marvel has been so smart about casting unexpected people for these roles. Look at what Robert Downey brought to Iron Man. A real, dry sense of humor and a complexity to his hero balance,” she explained.
“I think that the way these Marvel heroes are written, the female superheroes included, do have complexity and flaws. But I think when they are translated into film, the women can become these ultimate goddesses of perfection and I would love to create a female Marvel character who is just as unexpected and complex as some of the male characters as Iron Man. I think that would be really cool!”
In a recent interview with BuzzFeed published earlier this year, Wilde touched on the issue of sexism in Hollywood against not only actresses but directors also. “I feel a responsibility toward my own community,” she said. “I want to champion female filmmakers and I want to make sure that they’re feeling the support as much as their male counterparts. I’ve been lucky enough to be in a position that my involvement in something can help get it made, so if I can push the needle, I want to push the needle where it needs to be pushed.”
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