Jeremy Irons Says Batman V Superman Deserved Kicking It Got From Critics

In a wide-ranging new profile of the actor in Britan's Daily Mail, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice star Jeremy Irons said that he expects the Justice League films to be better, and that Batman V Superman was "overstuffed" and "muddled."

In the course of the Q&A, Irons was apparently led to the point that Batman V Superman "took a kicking" from critics (it currently has a 27% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 66% from audiences).

"Deservedly so. I mean it took £800 million, so the kicking didn't matter but it was sort of overstuffed," he told the Mail. "It was very muddled. I think the next one will be simpler. The script is certainly a lot smaller, it's more linear."

Editor's note: The film has earned about $870 million at the box office, but given the fact that £800 would be nearly $1.2 billion, it should be noted that either Irons is mistaken, or he simply said "It took 800 million," meaning dollars, and was misinterpreted by a European reporter.

The degree to which the film was "muddled" remains a point of debate on the part of fans, many of whom bristle at the suggestion. Still, even those who enjoy the film hold out hope that director Zack Snyder's R-rated "Ultimate Cut" will be better and clearer, as it reportedly incorporates ta least a half an hour of previously-cut footage into the film.

In spite of all that, the film -- which will reportedly be released on video in July and may have a brief theatrical run for the R-rated version beforehand -- remains one of the highest-rated on the ComicBook.com Movie Database:

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City's own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis's most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it's ever known before.