Director and comic book enthusiast John Bolerjack has stated that his documentary about Stan Lee, filming of which began in 2024 and focuses on the life of one of Marvel's most iconic figures during the 90s before his death, allegedly encountered resistance from the industry.
The film 'Stan Lee: The Final Chapter' is set to be released on streaming platforms today. In addition to covering Stan Lee's life in the 90s, Bolerjack previously revealed that the film will show how the industry exploited the American writer and comic book editor, including people from his circle.
Among the individuals accused are two former managers of Lee who were charged with fraud, theft, and illegal confinement in 2019.
The documentary was made possible by a $300,000 fundraiser collected by Bolerjack through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. He promised viewers 'an inside look at Stan Lee's turbulent final years, revealing how mistreatment and conflicts threatened his life and legacy.'
Bolerjack, who accompanied Lee in his final days before his death, told the AFP agency at the San Diego Comic-Con event that he felt pressure not to release the documentary. This pressure came from one of Lee's former managers and several other companies he did not name.
He noted: 'There are companies that do things that evoke guilt. But the other side of it is whether you want people to think of Stan happily if his face is on a lunch box, or whether you want them to know that it wasn't all happy.'
While many highly praised Bolerjack's decision to challenge the industry by releasing the long-awaited film online, many comic book fans issued warnings about Bolerjack and his 'story of profiting from Stan Lee' on social media.
A Reddit user published a detailed essay claiming that Bolerjack allegedly used Lee's fame for his own benefit: forcing the Marvel icon to sign drawings for later sale, using his image to promote works, and taking luxurious trips with Lee, including visits to Tokyo Disney and the expensive restaurant Club 33.
The user 'SmonkBandikush' also referenced the YouTube video 'Mata Nui', asserting that Bolerjack sold signed Stan Lee comics and memorabilia for large sums and used Lee's photos to create NFTs.
'Mata Nui' also claimed that the documentary was not created for charitable purposes but to profit from the late Stan Lee. Furthermore, fans questioned why Bolerjack had not released the material sooner.
Stan Lee, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 95, is best known for co-creating Marvel's most iconic characters, such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the Hulk, among others.
The South Indian star Vijay's film 'Jan Nagan' is generating significant interest even before its release. Director H. Vinod made a statement that amplified the buzz among fans. He clearly indicated that 'Jan Nagan' should be viewed not as Vijay's latest movie, but as the debut project for the current head of government.
During one interview, H. Vinod emphasized that 'Jan Nagan' is not an ordinary commercial picture. According to him, the film was created not merely to praise or showcase Vijay's greatness, but to address extremely sensitive political themes. The plot is based on the confrontation between those who try to undermine democracy and those who strive to protect it. The director believes that watching the film could spark serious political discussion among viewers.
H. Vinod noted that although the film's total duration is about two hours, a roughly thirty-minute segment possesses exceptional depth and power. He asserted that upon careful viewing of this segment, the audience will find something new every time, as it contains such a volume of material that can be studied for a year. The director also revealed that initially, the script for 'Jan Nagan' was presented to another major actor, not Vijay himself. However, when H. Vinod informed this actor about the political nature of the film, the actor expressed doubts about its success in the region and ultimately declined the project.
The director mentioned Vijay's famous rally, noting that the selfie he took during this event should be considered the first image of 'Jan Nagan'. In H. Vinod's opinion, the film's title has a dual meaning: it signifies both a people's hero and a hero defending democracy. Besides politics, the film will depict modern military actions. H. Vinod clarified that people often refer to everything as 'cyberwarfare,' whereas the real battle today is fought with drones and new technologies. He cited the war in Ukraine and the tension between Iran and the US as examples.
Vinod admitted his concern regarding the film's premiere, as it is not a typical movie that can be compared to the box office revenue of other films. He noted that the release has been postponed multiple times, some viewers have already seen the film, and now it is coming out in a very sensitive atmosphere. The director also expressed regret over the film receiving an 'A' rating, as this prevents viewers under 18 from watching it, even though Vijay's films are attended by children.
H. Vinod believes that 'Jan Nagan' was created not only for the present time. He predicts that the theme of 'Jan Nagan' will remain relevant and significant in 10, 20, or even 30 years, similar to how some other films are remembered. The film 'Jan Nagan' will also feature Pudhu Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamita Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narayana, and Priyamani in leading roles. The world theatrical premiere will take place on July 23, 2026.
