Alejandro González Iñárritu: The Revenant director urges filmmakers to 'quit comfort zone'

'There have to be more films about human experience, not relying on superheroes and franchises'

Leonardo DiCaprio filming The Revenant with Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (20th Century Fox)

The award-winning director of this year’s Oscar front-runner The Revenant has hit out at Hollywood’s production line of franchise and superhero movies and called for more “human stories” on the big screen.

Alejandro González Iñárritu, who could follow up on the success of last year’s Birdman with another Oscar for best director after he was nominated this week, said The Revenant proved audiences and critics embrace risk-taking movies; he urged film-makers to “get out of their comfort zone”.

The Mexican director told The Independent: “There have to be more films about human experience, not relying on superheroes and franchises.

“I have met so many filmmakers who are frustrated about relying on the comfort zone [of] the past 20 years.”

Last year’s releases included huge-budget blockbusters in the Avengers, Terminator, James Bond and Fast and the Furious franchises, as well as the film adaptation of the bestselling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey.

“They produce a comfortable environment without risking anything,” Iñárritu said.