ALBAWABA - Director and comic book enthusiast Jon Bolerjack recently revealed that his Stan Lee documentary, which he began filming in 2024 to document how one of Marvel's most legendary icons spent his 90s before passing, has allegedly faced opposition from the industry.
Stan Lee: The Final Chapter is set to hit streaming services today. In addition to documenting Stan Lee's life in his 90s, Bolerjak previously revealed that it will also show how the industry exploited the American comic book writer and editor, including people in his circle.
Among those accused were two former managers of Lee who were charged in 2019 with fraud, theft, and the unlawful deprivation of liberty.
The documentary is set to premiere thanks to the $300,000 Bolerjack garnered from his Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, promising viewers hundreds of hours of "an insider look at Stan Lee's tumultuous final years, revealing how mistreatment and conflict threatened his life and legacy."
Stan Lee documentary faces industry opposition, director says
Bolerjack, who kept Lee company during his last days before passing, told AFP at San Diego Comic-Con that he faced pressure not to release the documentary, including from one of Lee's former managers and several other companies he didn't identify.
He said, "There are companies that did things that feel guilty. But then the other side of that is -- if you want Stan's face on a lunchbox, do you want people to think happy thoughts about Stan, or do you want them to know that it wasn't so happy?"
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While many praised Bolerjack for defying the industry by streaming the long-awaited documentary, many comic book fans took to social media with evidence warning people about Bolerjack and his "history of profiting off Stan Lee."
A Reddit user took to the platform with a lengthy yet extensive essay pinpointing how Bolerjack allegedly used Lee's fame to his advantage by having the Marvel icon sign artwork to sell later, using his likeness to promote artwork, and taking luxury trips with Lee, including Tokyo Disney and the expensive Club 33 restaurant.
User "SmonkBandikush" also claimed, citing a YouTube video by "Mata Nui," that Bolerjack sold signed comics and memorabilia by Lee for a large sum and used photos of him to create NFTs.
Mata Nui also claimed that the documentary isn't being made for altruistic purposes but to profit from the late Stan Lee. Moreover, fans also raised questions about why Bolerjack didn't release the footage to the public earlier.
Stan Lee, who passed away at 95 in 2018, was best known for co-creating Marvel's most iconic characters, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Hulk and many more.
