Topline:
With the outsized success of "Deadpool & Wolverine," the film’s director Shawn Levy has ascended to the heights of Hollywood via a surprising path.
Why it matters: While the entertainment industry at large wrestles with panicked confusion, Levy has been able to find success theatrically and on streaming services, both in film and in television. His optimistic, positive perspective on how to approach the business today offers an antidote to any defeatism.
Niche breaker: Starting out as a TV director, Levy transitioned his way over into family-friendly theatrical comedies. By refusing to be defined by his success, he was able to prove he could handle different types of genre work. By betting on original ideas and both creating and putting his mark on intellectual property with a pre-sold audience, he’s been able to define his career.
More than a director: As Levy has seen audience attention spans fray and that good work is not enough, he’s become more involved in the marketing of his projects and enlisting partners who’ll do the same. He credits the new Deadpool’s success in part to its “360-degree” campaign, which got people engaged without giving the whole movie away.
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