'Eternals' star Kumail Nanjiani says Martin Scorsese has 'earned the right' to criticize Marvel

• Kumail Nanjiani said Martin Scorsese has "earned the right" to criticize Marvel movies.
• The "Eternals" star said he doesn't agree with the director's views on the franchise.

The debate around Marvel movies continues to rage on following Martin Scorsese's comments about the franchise back in 2019, with Quentin Tarantino recently stoking the fire again by saying the focus isn't on actors anymore.

"Eternals" actor Kumail Nanjiani is the latest Marvel star to weigh in on the debate in an interview with Esquire. He follows in the footsteps of fellow Marvel Cinematic Universe actors Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson.

Nanjiani explained that he respects both Scorsese and Tarantino, and while he disagrees with their opinions on Marvel movies, they have "earned" the right to criticize them.

He said: "I obviously love the movies Tarantino makes or Scorsese makes, and I may disagree with Scorsese's opinion on superhero movies, but I mean, who else has earned the right to have an opinion?"

Nanjiani added: "If Scorsese hasn't earned the right to have an opinion on movies, then none of us should have an opinion on movies."

Scorsese is one of the most respected directors in the film industry, and for good reason, winning Oscars, BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and Emmys over the course of his lengthy career.

The "Eternals" actor also thinks it's "so strange that people get upset about" the criticism of the MCU.

However, Nanjiani did say that he misses seeing "the grownup movies that have a decent budget, decent movie stars in the theaters."

He also explained that his 2017 movie, "The Big Sick," wouldn't have been as successful if it was released today, saying: "I think our year was the last year where those indie movies found commercial success."

Nanjiani offered his own take on the state of cinema in the age of streaming, saying that audiences only flock to theaters to see certain genres.

Nanjiani said: "There's a sense that people, unless it's action or horror, don't want to go to the theaters to see it."