SDCC Exclusive Interview With THE WOLVERINE Director James Mangold: “Logan is Looking For a Way to Die”

The Wolverine is preparing for its domestic release on July 26 and while at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con, The Daily SuperHero had a chance to exclusively talk with director James Mangold in a “walk-and-talk” interview. Some of the topics covered were the movie's villains, camera work, effects and a little about Mangold's own personal tastes in comic books were discussed.

After meeting Mangold at the Hard Rock Hotel, in the Gaslamp, the goal of the interview was to walk-and-talk over to Petco Park and to hang with him for a moment to get some photos of the director with the giant Silver Samurai display in the parking lot. Many, who have yet to see an early screening of the film have had questions surrounding the fact there are not one but two versions of the samurai villain in the new movie.

“There's one that is more like the organic Samurai in the comics and then there's a version that's really hard to explain until the end of the film,” Mangold said. “Well... you can explain [the other Silver Samurai] by looking at it but you can't explain what it's all about until someone sees the end of the movie. And for those who have an issue with the Silver Samurai's size, it'll be explained at the end of the film [as well].”

Mangold mentioned that the giant Samurai at Petco Park's parking lot was indeed on set of The Wolverine and used in scenes. The use of such a large and immense prop prompted Mangold to talk about the subject of using practical effects instead of an overuse of computer effects and it's all about the use of the camera.

“The way to do CG without it looking like CG isn't about getting really good vendors or good artists to do the work but it's about shooting the plates and the pieces where what the camera is doing is not impossible to believe,” Mangold said, then continued. “Meaning, the camera is never in a place it couldn't be if it were real and it has a really palpable effect instead of putting a camera in a place were it couldn't [really] be. 

“The temptation to put the camera where it can't go then you put it anywhere and it creates a kind of perception in the audience's mind that this is fake. There's no way this [is real].”

The Silver Samurai may be one of the more popular villains Logan has faced off against in the comic universe but he is only one of several in The Wolverine. Mangold shared his thoughts on the villainy in his new film.

“I would say it's less about there being multiple villains and more about people serving cross-purposes and a battle that ensues because of it,” Mangold said. “It'll be easier to absorb the movie than describe it because it is more of a murder mystery/noir. 

“Who's the bad guy? Who's the good guy? I much prefer building the movie on that kind of sentiment [but] it's still more about revelations in a way... [and] the biggest thing Logan is fighting with in the movie is himself.”

Due to his immortality, Logan could be considered to be the real villain of the film and Mangold agreed.

“The film opens and Logan is looking for a way to die. A way out from his own immortality.”

At one point during the interview, there was a quick moment to touch on some of The Wolverine director's favorite heroes. Fans who wonder if a guy like Mangold is really a true comic book fan, you will be happy to hear he definitely is. He made it perfectly clear that he's been reading comics for a very long time.

“I've always been a huge DC and Marvel fan... collecting Howard the Duck, Flash, Superman, World's Finest, X-Men, Wolverine (was later), Spider-Man, Hulk and Tarzan,”Mangold said, while one hero really stood out for him.“But I always had a soft spot for Flash, however strange the outfit, the idea of incredible speed was always really interesting to me and it fed my imagination.”

But wait there's more proof since he spoke about his own personal collection.

“I just got [my collection] shipped from my parents attic and it's in my garage waiting to get cracked open and I was full on with identifying stickers for issues and I even kept a card file for all my issues.”

Mangold is really a true comic book fan who went the extra mile to keep his collection highly organized with a card file way before the days of digital collection software and apps, which are used by today's fans. He is also a great example of someone who was a fan while growing up and as an adult, who now is helming one of Marvel's most popular mutant heroes. 

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(Interview originally posted at CBM.)

Read about the behind the scenes prep work done prior to the Mangold interview: Behind The Scenes: A Comic-Con Interview With THE WOLVERINE Director James Mangold