This ‘The White Lotus’ star reveals that Marvel doesn’t pay actors as much as people think: “My time is more valuable elsewhere”
The actress explained that her decision was purely professional after receiving an offer that did not match her background and experience.
The success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in its first decade at the box office is undeniable. However, not all of that success has translated into fair compensation for its cast. Recently, actress Carrie Coon, known for her role in the critically acclaimed series ‘The White Lotus,’ confirmed her decision not to reprise the role of Proxima Midnight in ’Avengers: Endgame’. The main reason was a salary proposal that did not match her experience and development.
Carrie Coon reveals why she turned down a return to the MCU
In an interview with Variety, Coon backed up the statements made by her husband, actor and playwright Tracy Letts. Although she clarified that her exit was not due to gender issues, she criticized the logic of the industry, which tends to assume that any actor should feel lucky to be part of a major franchise, even if the pay is not commensurate with their professional level.
Coon illustrated his point with a business analogy: “Let’s say you’re starting off in a business, get an entry-level position, and are given an entry-level salary. You work in that business for 10 years, you’re no longer making an entry-level salary, and then an amazing company comes to you and says, “We think you’re great, and we would like to hire you.” And you say, “Fantastic. [This] is an amazing company. I’d love to work for you.” But they’re only going to pay you your entry-level salary. You decide it’s a great company; I’ll give it a shot. And then you work for them, and they extend your contract. You say, “Wonderful. Can I expect to receive a salary commensurate with my experience?” And the company says, “No, I’m sorry. We can only pay your entry-level salary.”
The actress emphasized that her departure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a purely business decision, considering that “my time is more valuable elsewhere.” In addition, she suggested that the general perception of what actors are paid in these types of productions is often wrong. “I think people operate under a tremendous misunderstanding about what we’re paid in those circumstances. I think if people knew, I think they’d be surprised—and wouldn’t be surprised at the decision I made,” she said.
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