Dakota Johnson appeared on Hot Ones this week — and offered up a spicy take on risk-aversion in Hollywood.
The 50 Shades of Gray star, who is currently promoting A24‘s romantic drama Materialists, lamented groupthink and the flock to IP franchises during her appearance on the YouTube show.
Host Sean Evans asked if Johnson had a diagnosis for why Hollywood is “so risk-adverse.” She replied: “It’s hard when creative decisions are made by committee and it’s hard when creative decisions are made by people who don’t even really watch movies or know anything about them, and that tends to be what’s occurring a lot.”
She continued: “When something does well, studios want to keep that going so they remake the same things, but humans don’t want that. They want fresh, they want to feel new things, experience new things, see new things.”
Concluding her answer, Johnson shrugged her shoulders and sighed: “So I don’t know, I guess it’s all just a bit of a mess right now, isn’t it?”
Johnson is no stranger to franchises, having played Anastasia Steele in three 50 Shades films, based on E. L. James’ bestselling novels. Johnson also recently appeared in the Spider-Man universe flop Madame Web.
The actress joked about the latter. Evans said he was “no superhero” after a bite of one spicy wing made him watery-eyed. “I’m also not a superhero,” Johnson said, before flashing the camera a knowing look, and adding: “Tried. Failed.”
Materialists is an original movie from Celine Song, the woman behind Past Lives. Co-starring Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, it follows a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker who finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.
