Krysten Ritter as Marvel's Jessica Jones. Photo: Netflix
Last week, Iron Man 3 director Shane Black revealed how Marvel higher-ups forced him to rewrite the film's original female villain as a man because they were concerned that having a woman as a lead character would cut into their toy merch sales.
Jessica Jones star Krysten Ritter isn't buying that pissweak excuse.
The actress - who became Marvel's first female TV superhero with the hit Netflix series, which picked up a Peabody this weekend for its nuanced portrayal of a woman battling the effects of an abusive relationship - appeared on Stephen Colbert's show, and was visibly shocked when the host, discussing the "sausage fest" criticisms surrounding the Marvel Universe, informed her of her bosses' gendered merch concerns.
"Really? Oh my god, I didn't know that. Girls can sell toys!" Ritter yelled, to loud cheers from the studio audience.
She also revealed she'd be having a talk to someone at the studio about getting a Jessica Jones figure on shop shelves asap.
"I don't know if there is [a Jessica Jones toy] yet, but there should be... and I bet it would sell huge and I'm going to make some phone calls right after this," Ritter said.
.@JessicaJones won a #PeabodyAward, celebrating #StoriesThatMatter.
— Danielle Binks (@danielle_binks) May 22, 2016
Um. Tell me again why there aren't more female-led superhero films?
I don't know who's in charge of Marvel's toy department, but that guy's about to get an unimpressed visit from Jessica Jones herself. I wish you minimal bruising, you poor fool.
The series was renewed for a second season back in January, with production set to begin later this year.
