While the legacy of Stan Lee is written across the world of Marvel and beyond, his final days were tragically spent suffering mistreatment, manipulation, and abuse. While he will always be ed fondly by fans, a new documentary Stan Lee: The Final Chapter seeks to shed light on this troubling exploitation of the Marvel icon during his last years.
Directed by Jon Bolerjack, the documentary offers an unflinching look at how Lee was manipulated by those closest to him for financial gain, especially during his public appearances and conventions. The documentary makers are seeking via Kickstarter to complete the film, but the first official trailer can be viewed below.
A rollercoaster of drama and duplicity, STAN LEE: THE FINAL CHAPTER is the story of how comic book legend Stan Lee - Co-creator of THE AVENGERS, X-MEN, SPIDER-MAN, THE FANTASTIC FOUR, HULK, and BLACK PANTHER - landed in the middle of a scandal as wild as any superhero saga.
The events are chronicled by filmmaker Jon Bolerjack who became an assistant to Stan and a fixture of his inner circle. Jon gained unprecedented access and filmed everything he saw. What he uncovered was a thriving market where Stan's signatures and memorabilia were converted into huge piles of cash and rival hucksters double-crossed each other to control Stan's fortune. After years of collecting this footage he's ready to share this shockingly and truly heartbreaking story with the world.
But to do that, he needs your help to get it over the finish line. We hope you’ll be a part of the journey to honor Stan’s legacy.
Drawing from hundreds of hours of footage captured by Bolerjack, Stan Lee: The Final Chapter details how Marvel's mosted beloved and Iconic creator's declining health was used to profit from autographed memorabilia and photo opportunities. These lucrative ventures generated vast sums of money, most of which never reached Lee or his family. The documentary also revisits the elder abuse claims that plagued Lee’s final years.
The Exploitation of A Legend
Stan Lee's Journey of Betrayal Captured on Film
Just months before his death, Lee filed a restraining order against his former business partner, Keya Morgan, accusing him of manipulation and elder abuse. Morgan was later arrested for convincing Lee that he was in danger and needed to be moved. It's certainly a troubling chapter of Lee’s life, highlighting how his vulnerability was exploited by the people who should have been looking out for him, leaving him in constant turmoil.
Stan Lee Explains The One Comic Book "Cliche" Readers Would Never Let Him Give Up
Stan Lee and company built Marvel on the principles of defying fan expectations, but when Stan took aim at one cliche, fans had strong opinions.
The documentary stands as a powerful call to ensure that the dignity of every person is upheld, no matter their public status, and that they are never reduced to mere assets for financial gain.
The documentary also revisits the elder abuse claims, exploring how Lee’s personal and professional life were hijacked by those who saw him as a mere asset. The film shows just how much the emotional and physical toll these betrayals took on Lee, who had always been beloved worldwide. By sharing his story, Bolerjack aims to ensure that the exploitation Lee endured is never forgotten, while emphasizing the need for greater respect and protection for icons in their final years. It’s a powerful reminder that no one should be treated as a commodity regardless of fame.
Honoring Stan Lee’s True Legacy
The Call for Respect and Protection
Bolerjack spent years working as Lee's assistant, and had intimate access to the famous creator and cameo actor's life, capturing hundreds of hours of footage during their time together. This unique perspective allows the film to present a raw and heartbreaking of how individuals in his inner circle used Lee as a cash machine. Stan Lee’s story is a testament to the power of creativity and the lasting impact of his work, but it also serves as a stark reminder of how even the most beloved public figures are vulnerable to exploitation.
Stan Lee: The Final Chapter not only seeks to honor Lee’s immense legacy but also emphasizes the importance of respecting and protecting individuals, regardless of their fame. The documentary stands as a powerful call to ensure that the dignity of every person is upheld, no matter their public status, and that they are never reduced to mere assets for financial gain. With from a Kickstarter campaign, Bolerjack is working to complete this vital piece of Lee’s story, hoping to bring it to audiences by the end of the year.
Source: Kickstarter
