DC and, specifically, comic-book tentpoles get a bad rap nowadays for being overly simplistic. The criticisms often stem from how they're heavily geared towards youth, which reinforces the misconception that they fail to make any sort of impact on the industry. To make matters worse, the actors who contribute and participate in Marvel/DC projects wind up badmouthing them after the fact. Rachel Brosnahan isn't having any of it, though.
During a talk with Amanda Seyfried for Interview Magazine, discussing her upcoming role in SUPERMAN (2025), the Lois Lane actress gave a strongly worded opinion on the matter. She dove in to why actors/actresses are downplaying the benefits of having a Marvel/DC movie on their film portfolio, particularly because some of them feel like they're a detriment to their careers. Brosnahan went on to call out her colleagues for making those films and then "complaining about [them]."
For context, actors have come out with harsh statements about their own movies when they didn't perform as well as expected. Rather than taking responsibility and acknowledging shortcomings in the plot—certain actors use scapegoats to avoid taking responsibility. Ironically, no one is asking them to accept the blame for poorly made films, actors simply want each other to respect the craft. That's what the conversation boils down to.
Actors feel glamorous and famous while starring in comic book-related projects, but the moment they hear reviews might be negative, it's like they didn't want to participate in the project in the first place. The entire narrative changes, and then fans are shocked that someone so integral to a favorite movie badmouths it on their own time.
Let's look at Terrence Howard, for a moment. He's made it avidly clear that he'll never return for another Marvel movie. At one point Howard even directed expletives to Marvel. However, considering how many times he's mentioned the measly pay offered to him to play Rhodey in Iron Man 2, it sounds like he wanted to go back—only when there was more money on the table. Marvel doesn't sound all that bad when the pay is good, but when they're penny-pinching, it's easy to find flaws in everything the multimedia conglomerate does. No one is saying Howard isn't justified because he did deserve an adequate offer. His response, simply, could've used some shaping.
Brosnahan standing up at this juncture means significantly more for another reason—she hasn't tasted superhero success yet. Who knows if SUPERMAN (2025) will win fans over, but even without knowing, Brosnahan is standing by her work. That's what every actor should strive for, before and after their flicks debut in theaters.
SUPERMAN (2025) opens in theaters on July 8, 2025