Maybe it’s because Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets was bigger bomb than anything North Korea has, but director Luc Besson really, really hates movies that aren’t. Specifically, superhero movies. More specifically, Captain America. In an interview with Brazil’s Cinepop, Besson had this to say (thanks to Cinemablend for the translation):
“What bothers me most is it’s always here to show the supremacy of America and how they are great,” he said. “I mean, which country in the world would have the guts to call a film ‘Captain Brazil’ or ‘Captain France’? I mean, no one! We would be like so ashamed and say, ‘No, no, come on, we can’t do that.’ They can. They can call it ‘Captain America’ and everybody think it’s normal. I’m not here for propaganda, I’m here to tell a story.”
Besson is French, right? This sounds very French. But to answer his question, “Captain Brazil” and “Captain France” probably wouldn’t scare a lot of Nazis. They sound like they’d be super into soccer.
Luc Besson Captain America
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Luc Besson Captain America #1
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - AUGUST 02: (L-R) Actress Cara Delevingne, film director Luc Besson and actor Dane DeHaan attend the "Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets" Mexico City premiere at Parque Toreo on August 2, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Victor Chavez/Getty Images)
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Luc Besson Captain America #2
SAINT-DENIS, FRANCE - JULY 25: Luc Besson attends "Valerian et la Cite desMille Planetes" Paris Premiere at La Cite Du Cinema on July 25, 2017 in Saint-Denis, France. (Photo by Laurent Viteur/WireImage)
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Luc Besson Captain America #3
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JULY 17: Luc Besson and Cara Delevingne attend the premiere of EuropaCorp And STX Entertainment's "Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets" at TCL Chinese Theatre on July 17, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images)
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Luc Besson Captain America #4
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JULY 17: Luc Besson and Rihanna attend the premiere of EuropaCorp And STX Entertainment's "Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets" at TCL Chinese Theatre on July 17, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images)
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Luc Besson Captain America #5
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JULY 17: Director Luc Besson, actress Cara Delevingne and actor Dane DeHaan arrive for the Premiere Of EuropaCorp And STX Entertainment's "Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets" held at TCL Chinese Theatre on July 17, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
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Luc Besson Captain America #6
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JULY 17: Director/screenwriter Luc Besson (L) and singer/actress Rihanna arrive at the Premiere Of EuropaCorp And STX Entertainment's 'Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets' at TCL Chinese Theatre on July 17, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
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Luc Besson Captain America #7
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JULY 17: Director Luc Besson, actress/model Cara Delevingne and actor Dane DeHaan arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' at TCL Chinese Theatre on July 17, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
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Luc Besson Captain America #8
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 24: Director Luc Besson attends a photocall for "Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets" at The Langham Hotel on July 24, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
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Luc Besson Captain America #9
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 24: (L to R) Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne and director Luc Besson attend a photocall for "Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets" at The Langham Hotel on July 24, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
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Luc Besson Captain America #10
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 24: (L-R) Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne and director Luc Besson attend the photocall of "Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets" at The Langham Hotel on July 24, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
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Luc Besson Captain America #11
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 24: (L) Cara Delevingne and director Luc Besson attend the European premiere of "Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets" at Cineworld London on July 24, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
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Luc Besson Captain America #12
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - AUGUST 02: (L-R) Actress Cara Delevingne, film director Luc Besson and actor Dane DeHaan attend the "Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets" Mexico City premiere at Parque Toreo on August 2, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Victor Chavez/Getty Images)
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Luc Besson Captain America #13
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - AUG 3: Director Luc Besson attends the 'Valerian' Sao Paulo Premiere at Cinepolis JK on August 3, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mauricio Santana/Getty Images)
