Rachel Brosnahan says actors should stop trashing their own superhero movies and take responsibility for what they sign up to make.
Superman star Rachel Brosnahan is speaking up—and she’s not pulling punches when it comes to actors distancing themselves from their failed superhero roles.
In a recent interview with Amanda Seyfried for Interview Magazine, Rachel Brosnahan addressed the growing trend of actors shading their past comic book films. With her own highly anticipated turn as Lois Lane in James Gunn’s Superman set to hit theaters July 11, Rachel Brosnahan made it clear that she believes actors should own their choices, whether the project succeeds or flops.
“I don’t know why people say yes [to a project] only to then turn around and complain about it,” Rachel Brosnahan said. “Look, I don’t want to shit on other actors, but there was a minute where it was cool to not like superhero movies and to look back on projects like this and pooh-pooh them. Do it or don’t do it, and then stand by it.”
Her blunt statement arrives at a time when several high-profile stars have spoken critically about their superhero misfires. Dakota Johnson, who starred in 2024’s Madame Web, told Bustle that the film became something entirely different from what she signed on for, adding, “I probably will never do anything like it again because I don’t make sense in that world.”
Sydney Sweeney, Dakota Johnson’s Madame Web co-star, even joked on Saturday Night Live, “You definitely did not see me in Madame Web.”
Even Christian Bale, who played Gorr the God Butcher in Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder, reflected on his experience with weariness, calling the process “monotony” and criticizing the repetitive nature of working with green screens.
And then there’s Ryan Reynolds, who has turned mocking his 2011 Green Lantern disaster into a recurring gag—often with great comedic effect.
While Rachel Brosnahan’s view might resonate with filmmakers like James Gunn, who’s producing her Superman debut, it also raises questions about artistic evolution and transparency. Some actors argue that what’s pitched isn’t always what ends up on screen, and being honest about those shifts doesn’t always mean they’re shirking responsibility.
Still, Rachel Brosnahan’s take is refreshingly bold. She’s clearly standing by her upcoming Superman role—and urging others to do the same, no matter the outcome.
