Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty; Alexandra Wyman/WireImage
Director Marcus Nispel is speaking out afterJason Momoacriticized their 2011 movie,Conan the Barbarian.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Nispel opened up about the difficulties he faced as the director of the film.
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Nispel also shared that he was honored to give theAquamanactor, 43, his first leading role in the action-adventure film.
“My friend John Milius once said: ‘There is always a sense of defeat in every victory.’ In regards to having had the pleasure and privilege of having given Jason his first leading part, I say: ‘There can also be a sense of victory in a defeat,’ " adds Nispel.
The director concluded the statement on a light-hearted note with a joke about the action star’s famous physique: “By the way – the muscles that Jason flexed forGame of Thrones. I paid for those.”
In a new interview withBritishGQpublished on Monday,Momoaexpressed his disappointment withConan the Barbarian, telling the outlet, “I’ve been a part of a lot of things that really sucked, and movies where it’s out of your hands.Conanwas one of them. It’s one of the best experiences I had and it [was] taken over and turned into a big pile of s—.”
While Momoa did not go into detail about how it was “taken over,” the actor went on to state that after playing mainly hyper-masculine men in his career, he is looking forward to breaking that mold.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.
Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images
“It’s been hard because people always think I’m just this dude who plays [macho characters]. But I want to be moved, I want something new. Things are changing, and even the villain roles I’m playing now are eccentric,” he said.
Momoa will next star in the upcoming sequelAquaman and the Lost Kingdomand plays a villain in the upcoming 10thFast and Furiousmovie.
source: people.com
