Documentary Aims to Expose Heartbreaking Final Chapter of Stan Lee’s Life, Seeks Funding Through Kickstarter
A newly announced documentary film project, "Stan Lee: The Final Chapter," is making headlines by alleging to unveil the purportedly tragic and exploitative circumstances surrounding the final years of the iconic Marvel Comics creator, Stan Lee. The filmmakers behind this ambitious project are currently seeking $300,000 in funding through a Kickstarter campaign to complete and release the documentary to the public.
Stan Lee, the creative visionary and cultural icon responsible for co-creating some of the most beloved and enduring superheroes in comic book history and subsequent film adaptations, passed away in November 2018 at the age of 95. "The Final Chapter" promises to delve into the tumultuous and often-hidden aspects of Lee’s final years, alleging that he was subjected to mistreatment, duplicity, and conflicts orchestrated by individuals within his inner circle.
According to a press release issued by the documentary’s production team, "The Final Chapter" will present "never-before-seen footage" that aims to expose the alleged exploitation of Lee’s declining health and advanced age. The film purports to highlight how certain confidants and associates purportedly profited off his name, likeness, and legacy during a vulnerable period in his life.
The Kickstarter campaign for "Stan Lee: The Final Chapter" places a particular focus on Jon Bolerjack, a comic book artist, filmmaker, and former assistant to Stan Lee. Bolerjack reportedly became a fixture within Lee’s inner circle during the final years of his life, capturing extensive footage of the events that unfolded. The campaign asserts that Bolerjack is now prepared to share his firsthand account of the alleged misconduct and exploitation he witnessed.
The Kickstarter campaign description states, "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." The release further alleges that Bolerjack "witnessed scandal and misconduct during his time by Lee’s side up until his death, culminating in the struggle for control over Lee’s legacy and fortune (or lack thereof)."
According to the filmmakers, "The Final Chapter" is positioned not only as an exposé of alleged mistreatment but also as a story of "betrayal, mistreatment, and ultimately, redemption." They claim that, prior to his passing, Stan Lee himself granted Bolerjack his blessing to utilize the footage and create a documentary that could be shared with the world.
The tangled web of drama surrounding Stan Lee’s later years is not entirely new to the public eye. In 2018, a Los Angeles court sided with lawyers representing Lee’s daughter, J.C. Lee, granting her an elder abuse restraining order against Keya Morgan, a former manager of Stan Lee. Furthermore, journalist Abraham Riesman’s 2021 biography, "The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee," provided a detailed and unflinching account of the lawsuits, failed business ventures, and overall complexities that plagued Lee’s life during his final years.
As of now, there is no official release date scheduled for "Stan Lee: The Final Chapter." The film’s production team has stated that they have already invested "hundreds of thousands of dollars of (their) own money" over the past four years to compile the documentary. The Kickstarter campaign is intended to cover the remaining production costs necessary to complete and release the film to the public. In the first two days of the 30-day campaign, the project has garnered nearly $38,000 in pledges toward its $300,000 goal.
The success of the Kickstarter campaign will determine whether "Stan Lee: The Final Chapter" will ultimately be brought to fruition and whether the alleged secrets and controversies surrounding the final years of one of the most influential figures in comic book history will be fully revealed.
The documentary is hoping to shed new light on an area that has already been speculated on in popular media due to the 2018 court case against Keya Morgan and Abraham Riesman’s book in 2021. The film claims that it can provide first hand accounts of what was taking place during those years. Many believe that if the documentary is successful, it could spark further interest in the iconic figure and what really happened at the end of his life.
As fans mourn the loss of a legend, they are keen to find out more information about what happened, which could be one of the reasons the Kickstarter is doing so well. The public can only speculate what the final product of the film may be.
