Joss Whedon Is Now Blacklisted, Will Never Direct Again?
Joss Whedon looks to be finished in Hollywood.
This article is more than 2 years old
Joss Whedon is beloved amongst superhero fans for directing the critically acclaimed The Avengers, and not as much for helming its sequel, subtitled Age of Ultron, and the ill-fated theatrical cut of Justice League. He has also written comics, with a popular run on Astonishing X-Men serving as perhaps his best contribution to the medium. But now, his days as one of Hollywood’s go-to directors may be over, and if the allegations leveled against him are true, then good riddance.
Gossip writer Daniel Richtman has come forth with the rumor that popular writer-director Joss Whedon is officially blacklisted from Hollywood. Not only that, but word has it Whedon won’t direct again, either. Keep in mind that this is merely a rumor at this point and should be taken as such. Still, given how many people have actually come forward to discuss Whedon’s behavior, this is not out of the realm of possibility. It will be interesting to see how all of this shakes out.
The rumor comes a month or so after several of Joss Whedon’s associates revealed the scope of the director’s unprofessional behavior. Most recently, Buffy the Vampire Slayer stars Charisma Carpenter, Michelle Trachtenberg and Eliza Dushku gave us a clearer picture of just how bad things were with Whedon.
It also comes amidst Cyborg actor Ray Fisher’s Justice League allegations, which he maintains are true and has encouraged multiple investigations into his claims. Fisher called Joss Whedon’s behavior on the set of Justice League “unprofessional” and “abusive,” kickstarting a months-long feud between the actor and Warner Bros.
In May 2017, Justice League director Zack Snyder handed the reins to Joss Whedon, who ended up helming the version of the film we saw in theaters later that year. The film was critically reviled and abhorred by the legions of fans expecting better. Now, with Zack Snyder’s Justice League winning over fans and a great many critics, it seems like people are finally equipped to replace Whedon’s disastrous take on these characters with something that actually resembles a movie.
In addition to his work within the superhero genre, Joss Whedon is well-known for creating the short-lived but universally loved sci-fi western show Firefly, as well as the shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, and Angel. Through his contributions to geek culture, Whedon has become something of an icon. The Avengers stands as one of the best superhero films of all time, and Firefly is incredible and holds up to this day. But the allegations and accusations against him are damning, and definitely help make the rumor that he is being blacklisted far more credible than it was previously.
If Joss Whedon is indeed guilty of these things, then he needs to be out of Hollywood. There are plenty of other people who can make quality movies and not act like monsters while making a movie people are supposed to enjoy. Multiple actors and actresses have come forward saying that he does not act kindly or professionally on a movie set, and we need to listen to those people.
Hopefully, this is resolved in a way that brings peace and closure to those he affected.
