Latest news with #Bolerjack
Express Tribune
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Stan Lee's final chapter marked by alleged abuse and exploitation, says former assistant
New allegations have emerged surrounding the final years of Marvel Comics co-creator Stan Lee, suggesting the beloved icon was manipulated and exploited during a vulnerable period before his death in 2018 at age 95. According to filmmaker and former assistant Jonathan Bolerjack claims that Lee endured years of mistreatment at the hands of opportunists seeking to benefit from his fame and deteriorating health. Bolerjack says he had a firsthand view of the troubling events while working closely with Lee and is now working on a documentary, Stan Lee: The Final Chapter, which he says will reveal never-before-seen footage from those years. 'At the time, I didn't have the power to stop it,' Bolerjack states in a YouTube video promoting the project. 'But I did have a camera—and filmed everything.' He claims the footage includes scenes of Lee being jostled at conventions and wheeled around by handlers in a frail condition. A key figure tied to the controversy is Lee's former business manager, Keya Morgan. He was charged with multiple offenses in 2019, including theft, embezzlement, and elder abuse, for allegedly stealing over $222,000 in cash from memorabilia signings in 2018. However, in 2022, the case against Morgan ended in a mistrial after a jury deadlocked 11 to 1 in favor of acquittal. The judge dismissed the charges 'in the interests of justice,' according to the report. Despite the legal outcome, Bolerjack's film aims to expose what he describes as a culture of exploitation surrounding Lee in his final years, highlighting what he calls a 'thriving market' built around the comic book legend's declining health and signature.
Express Tribune
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
New Stan Lee documentary to explore elder abuse allegations in his final years
A new documentary titled Stan Lee: The Final Years is set to explore the troubling allegations of elder abuse that the legendary comic artist and Marvel mastermind, Stan Lee, allegedly endured during his final years. Directed by Jon Bolerjack, the film will focus on the mistreatment Lee reportedly faced at the hands of those closest to him. Bolerjack, who was Lee's assistant, confidant, and friend, has compiled hundreds of hours of footage from premieres, comic book conventions, and other personal moments. However, the documentary is still in need of funding, which led Bolerjack to launch a Kickstarter campaign to help complete the project. In the trailer for the film, Bolerjack reflects on the "incredible highs" and "heartbreaking lows" of Lee's final years, emphasizing that Lee spent his last years enduring mistreatment, manipulation, and betrayal. Bolerjack insists that the mistreatment is documented on camera, making the evidence undeniable and irrefutable. He calls for donations to finish the documentary, promising to provide a transparent and comprehensive look at the situation. The allegations of mistreatment have been publicly discussed since 2018, the year of Lee's passing. A The Hollywood Reporter investigation from that time revealed that after Lee's wife died, his daughter, J.C. Lee, was accused of spending his money freely and emotionally manipulating him. Further accusations also implicated Lee's manager and caretakers, who were allegedly exploiting his assets. In 2019, J.C. Lee expressed her frustration with Marvel and Disney, accusing them of commodifying her father's work without giving him or his legacy the respect he deserved. Bolerjack's documentary aims to shed light on these allegations and provide clarity about the tragic events of Stan Lee's final years.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Documentary on Stan Lee Alleges Exploitation of the Marvel Comics Legend in Final Years of His Life
A new documentary on Marvel Comics co-creator Stan Lee claims that Lee was mistreated and exploited by some of those in his inner circle during the last few years of his life. Jon Bolerjack, a comic book artist and a former assistant to Lee during the last four years of Lee's life, filmed the documentary and on Tuesday launched a Kickstarter campaign looking for funding to complete the film, titled 'Stan Lee: The Final Chapter.' In a trailer for the movie, Bolerjack says Lee spent 'his final years enduring mistreatment, manipulation, and betrayal at the hands of a few very bad actors.' More from IndieWire 'Black Bag' Review: Steven Soderbergh's Crackling Thriller Stars Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett as Married Spies with Nuclear Trust Issues 'We Bury the Dead' Review: Daisy Ridley Goes Zombie-Hunting Bolerjack says the film includes interviews with other witnesses close to Lee and with comic book creators like Rob Liefeld and Roy Thomas. It also concludes with a string of interviews with other comic book artists who have seen an early cut of the footage discussing what they say are some of the shocking details. 'Seeing Stan in that situation, being taken advantage of, was really hard to watch,' artist Tyler Kirkham says in the trailer. 'I had no idea how badly he had been exploited, and that's a message people need to hear,' comic book writer Mark Waid added. Lee, who passed away in 2018 at age 95, was the subject of an investigation from THR shortly before his death in which it was claimed that he was the victim of elder abuse and had other individuals improperly influencing his family members and worked to gain control of his assets and money. Lee's estate in 2023 lost an elder abuse lawsuit on a technicality against a former attorney, but Bolerjack's documentary claims to explore other aspects of Lee's exploitation. The trailer for the documentary does not name any individuals specifically, but it has several sequences involving Max Anderson, Lee's former road manager for many of his convention appearances. Anderson was named in THR's 2018 investigation, though he has denied wrongdoing. Bolerjack is seeking $300,000 through Kickstarter in order to complete 'Stan Lee: The Final Chapter.' The money will go toward finishing post-production, paying some of the volunteer crew, and to various legal fees. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
