London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Apr 08, 2026

Oliver Stone says you need a 'sensitivity counselor' to make films now

Oliver Stone told the New York Times in an inerview that 'everything has become too fragile, too sensitive' in Hollywood and the new ways of working are 'ridiculous' amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Oliver Stone slams politically correct Hollywood and says you need a 'sensitivity counselor' or 'Covid adviser' to make a movie now and compares Academy to an 'Alice in Wonderland tea party

* Oliver Stone said 'everything has become too fragile and sensitive,' in Hollywood

* 'You can't make a film without a Covid adviser. You can't make a film without a sensitivity counselor. It's ridiculous,' he said in a new interview

* The director, 73, said he has never seen the Academy of Motion Pictures 'quite mad like this' and compared it to an 'Alice in Wonderland tea party'

* He complained about longer shoots due to social distancing for actors amid the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in increased costs

* Stone said his forthcoming film will show that J.F.K. was murdered by powerful government forces and he may release it on 'YouTube or in Transylvania'

* He admitted that his 20 or so Hollywood films have worn him out and he doesn't feel like doing another one right now

* Stone's novel Chasing the Light, which depicts his life from the Vietnam war zone to the Oscar stage, comes out July 21

Movie director Oliver Stone has criticized modern Hollywood for being 'politically correct' and and feels the industry has gone 'mad'.

Stone, 73, who won Academy Awards for his 1986 movie Platoon, feels 'worn out' after making 20 motion pictures with major studios, and the current industry standards amid the coronavirus pandemic have put him off projects that are not on his terms.

'The problem is in Hollywood. It's just so expensive — the marketing. Everything has become too fragile, too sensitive,' Stone told the New York Times Magazine in an interview. 'Hollywood now — you can't make a film without a Covid adviser. You can't make a film without a sensitivity counselor. It's ridiculous.

'The Academy changes its mind every five, 10, two months about what it's trying to keep up with. It's politically correct [expletive], and it's not a world I'm anxious to run out into. I've never seen it quite mad like this. It's like an "Alice in Wonderland" tea party.'

Stone also pointed to increased costs that are expected to come with production due to the coronavirus pandemic as he clarified the complications he was referring to.

'I just read something about how films are going to be very expensive to make now, because you need to take all these precautions, and a 50-day shoot becomes a 60-day shoot, and social distancing for actors,' he explained. 'That's what I'm talking about.'

In recent years Stone has released 2016's Snowden starring Joseph Gordon Levitt and 2012's Savages starring Blake Lively.

In his memoir Chasing the Light, out July 21, he details his life from the Vietnam war zone to the Oscar stage.

Stone - whose 1991 movie, JFK, starred Kevin Costner - said in the new interview that he's not afraid to make films that aren't necessarily going to be popular.

That includes the upcoming working title J.F.K.: Destiny Betrayed, which he says he is making because 'there's been quite a bit of new material revealed that people have basically ignored' in the last three decades since his film where he was accused of fear-mongering.

'I'm not scared of that,' Stone continued about a possible repeat of accusations. 'I'm past that age. I don't need to make a Hollywood movie. I don't need to get the approval of the bosses.'

Stone's documentary will explore how there's 'no chain of custody' to the single bullet fired by Lee Harvey Oswald that caused multiple wounds to Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally who was riding in the same car. It also delves into how the autopsy from Bethesda, Maryland 'was completely fraudulent'.

'And there's Vietnam. No historian can now honestly say that the Vietnam War was Kennedy's child. That's crucial,' Stone continued. 'The last thing is the C.I.A. connection to Oswald. We have a stronger case, not only for post-Russia but also for pre-Russia. In other words, he was working with the C.I.A. before he went and when he came back. Those are the main points.

'Those who are interested will find it's pretty clear that J.F.K. was murdered by forces that were powerful in our government.'

Stone added that while he 'would have no problem doing another' Hollywood film, he doesn't 'feel it right now'.

'Frankly, I did 20, and I got worn out,' he admitted.

He says the J.F.K film points the finger at a 'couple of individuals' and whether or not the mainstream accepts it 'it will be out'.

'Even if it's on YouTube,' Stone added. 'Or in Transylvania.'
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Denies Visa to Kanye West After Sponsors Withdraw from Wireless Festival
Trump-Era Forest Service Restructuring Leads to Closure of UK Lab Focused on Kentucky Woodland Health
Foreign Students in the UK Describe Harsh Living Conditions and Financial Pressures
Reform UK Proposes Visa Restrictions on Nations Pursuing Reparations Claims
Public Reaction Divides Over UK Decision to Bar Kanye West
Calls Grow for UK to Review US Base Access Following Concerns Over Escalating Rhetoric
UK Indicates It Will Not Permit Use of Its Bases for Potential US Strikes on Iran’s Energy Infrastructure
UK Prime Minister Defends Decision to Bar Kanye West, Questions Festival Booking
UK Accelerates Efforts to Harmonise Medical Technology Rules with United States
Wireless Festival Cancelled After Kanye West Denied Entry to the United Kingdom
Australia’s most decorated living soldier was arrested at Sydney Airport and charged with five counts of war-crime murder for the killing of unarmed Afghan civilians
The CIA’s Secret Technology That Can Find You by Your Heartbeat Successfully Locates Downed Airman
Operation Europe: Trump Deploys Vance to Hungary to Save the EU
King Charles Faces Criticism From Some UK Christians Over Absence of Easter Message
Former UK Defence Secretary Raises Concerns Over Ability to Counter Iran Missile Threat
UK Signals Non-Involvement in Iran Conflict as Trump Reasserts Firm Deterrence Stance
US and UK Strengthen Medical Device Cooperation Following Tariff Removal
Trump Backs Steve Hilton for California Governor, Highlighting Reform Agenda
UK Seeks Closer Ties With Anthropic as AI Policy Divergence Emerges Across Atlantic
Experts Warn of Evolving Extremism After Teens Arrested in UK Ambulance Arson Case
UK Convenes Talks to Safeguard Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz After Conflict Escalation
Trump Highlights Strong Leadership in Critique of UK Stance on Iran
UK Authorities Review Kanye West’s Entry Status Following Festival Backlash
UK Considers Deploying Aircraft Carrier for US Independence Day Celebrations Amid Renewed Transatlantic Focus
United Kingdom Moves to Attract AI Firm Anthropic Amid Tensions with US Defense Officials
RAF Intercepts Iranian Drones in Middle East to Defend Allied Security Interests
Labour Signals Shift on Foie Gras and Fur Restrictions to Advance EU Trade Talks
Seven Arrested Near RAF Base as UK Authorities Respond to Protest Activity
Economic Pressures Mount as Analysts Warn UK Growth Is Being Constrained by Policy Burdens
UK Green Party’s Push for Church-State Separation Sparks Debate Over National Identity
Strategic Island Emerges as Growing Challenge for United States and United Kingdom Defense Planning
Pepsi Pulls Sponsorship from UK Festival Following Backlash Linked to Kanye West
Signs Emerge of Declining Enthusiasm for Social Media in the United Kingdom
Security Alert Raised Ahead of Meghan Markle’s Planned Visit to Australia
UK Food Halls Defy Hospitality Slowdown, Emerging as Bright Spot in Challenging Market
UK Sets Firm Conditions for Military Action, Insisting on Legal Mandate and Clear Strategy
UK Medicines Regulator Launches Probe into Peptide Clinics Over Health Claims
New North Sea Drilling Unlikely to Significantly Cut UK Gas Imports, Analysis Finds
Woman Linked to UK’s First All-Female Terror Plot Faces Deportation
Downed US Aircraft Over Iran Linked to Operations from UK Airfield
Two Men and Teen Detained in UK Following Attack on Jewish Charity Ambulance
UK Police Launch Inquiry After Firearms Left Unattended Outside Mayor’s Residence
Giuffre Family Calls on King Charles to Meet Epstein Survivors During US Visit
Amber Wind Warning Issued as Storm Dave Approaches Parts of the United Kingdom
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit Set to Draw Heightened Global Attention
UK Considers Entry Fees for Overseas Visitors at Major Museums Ahead of 2026 Travel Season
UK Prime Minister and Kuwait Crown Prince Coordinate Security Response After Regional Escalation
Calls Grow to Expand Fully Paid Maternity Leave for UK Teachers Amid Workforce Pressures
UK Secures Tariff-Free Access to US Market in Landmark Pharmaceuticals Agreement
Trump Projects Strength in Critique of UK Leadership and Naval Readiness
×