Why was Marvels director Nia DaCosta absent from the cast and crew screening?

Nia DaCosta

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The box office crew is besieged Wonders She couldn’t even attend her own cast and crew screening, which took place on November 8 at the Fox Village Theater in Westwood. That’s because the show started at 7:30 p.m. — but even though the actors’ strike ended that night, SAG-AFTRA members had to wait until 12:01 a.m. before they could participate in studio events.

But that doesn’t explain Nia DaCosta’s absence. The director had attended the film’s premiere in Las Vegas the night before. But according to upset Marvel employees who complained about the November 8 screening, DaCosta chose to ditch the cast and crew show for a birthday party instead — for herself. (the Candy man Helmer turned 34 that night.)

Marvel Executive producer Mary Livanos produced the film in DaCosta’s absence.

“It would be extremely disrespectful and annoying to suggest that Nia has anything other than adoration for her creative team,” a rep for DaCosta responded.

According to the actor, DaCosta was not invited to the cast and crew screening. Only when she invited some crew members to her birthday party did she learn of the offer, and by then it was too late, the rep says.

“Nia could have been there,” the rep continues. “She would do anything for her cast and crew.”

DaCosta is now in London in pre-production for her next film, calmadapted from the play by Henrik Ibsen Hedda Gabler For Orion Pictures starring Eve Hewson and Tessa Thompson.

A version of this story first appeared in the Nov. 16 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.