Matt Smith recently revealed that he improvised a famous line from Batman while filming Morbius, but the line was ultimately cut from the final version of the film. In an interview promoting the third season of House of the Dragon, Smith mentioned slipping in Jack Nicholson’s iconic quote, “Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?” during his scenes as Milo. Despite Smith’s enthusiasm for the reference, it was not included in the theatrical release of Morbius, which premiered on April 1, 2022. The film, directed by Daniel Espinosa and starring Jared Leto alongside Smith, received poor reviews, holding a 15% score on Rotten Tomatoes. While it earned approximately $162.7 million worldwide against a budget of $75 million, it struggled to resonate with both critics and audiences.
Why It Matters
Matt Smith’s anecdote highlights the creative process in filmmaking and the significance of iconic quotes in the comic book genre. Morbius, part of Sony’s Marvel universe, faced substantial criticism upon release, making it one of the lowest-rated Marvel-related films. The film’s financial success, despite negative reception, underscores a broader trend in the superhero genre where box office performance does not always correlate with critical acclaim. This situation illustrates the complexities of audience engagement and the impact of nostalgic references in contemporary cinema.
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