Leaked Email From Marvel CEO Is A Listicle About Why Women Can't Be Superheroes | ThinkProgress

Just a few weeks ago, Wikileaks published more than 30,000 documents from the Sony hack, the huge release of confidential data by cyber criminals who targeted Sony Pictures late last year. The result: a massive, searchable archive of 30,287 documents and 173,132 messages.

As Women and Hollywood reported on Monday, one of those leaked emails was an exchange between Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter and Sony CEO Michael Lynton. In the email, dated August 7, 2014, with the subject line “Female Movies,” Perlmutter appears to be explaining to Lynton why a female-centric superhero movie is a bad business idea:

Michael,

As we discussed on the phone, below are just a few examples. There are more.

Thanks,
Ike

1. Electra (Marvel) – Very bad idea and the end result was very, very bad. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=elektra.htm

2. Catwoman (WB/DC) – Catwoman was one of the most important female character within the Batmanfranchise. This film
was a disaster. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=catwoman.htm

3. Supergirl – (DC) Supergirl was one of the most important female super hero in Superman franchise. This Movie
came out in 1984 and did $14 million total domestic with opening weekend of $5.5 million. Again, another disaster.

Wow, does it only take three poorly-executed and badly-received examples to prove a person of a certain gender can’t star in a certain kind of movie? Let’s find out!

Here is a list of lousy, unsuccessful superhero movies starring men. In the interest of gender equality, this list will also uses 1984 as its starting line.

1. Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, 1984: Made only $15 million domestically, has a 12 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, gets included on other lists like “the worst films ever.” Then again, as Perlmutter might say, he was one of the most important male super hero in Superman franchise.

More
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