'The Lost City': Sandra Bullock says women not invited to franchise table (exclusive)

Watch: Sandra Bullock discusses getting original movies made as a woman

Sandra Bullock says women "generally aren't invited" to join big franchise blockbusters, which is why she is proud of original movies like The Lost City.

In the Nee Brothers' adventure epic, she plays romance novelist Loretta Sage, who finds herself stranded in the jungle after being kidnapped by Daniel Radcliffe's eccentric billionaire for her archaeological knowledge.

Bullock, who is also a producer on the project, told Yahoo it was "beyond" attractive to her to be able to take on a big film that wasn't based on a novel, comic book or previous movie.

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She added: "Nothing I have ever done has been an IP [intellectual property].

"Women generally aren't invited unless you are second or third tier. Only recently have they had their own spin-offs."

In 2018, Bullock starred in Ocean's 8, the female-centric spin-off of the Ocean's 11 heist franchise alongside Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna and more.

"It's frustrating while you are doing it because there's the frustration of hearing that there's not a comp, there's nothing we can compare it to, so you guys have to work within these parameters.

"But it's also the thing that ignites the fire to prove everyone — not wrong, but to prove that there is something here that's worthy of people's time.

"It's entertainment. We are clowns. We are professional clowns. Our job is to provide entertainment and, if you know something can be great and fun and someone else might not, that's kind of a sneaky fun place to be."

Bullock's character is joined in the jungle by her dim-witted cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has flown to rescue her from the clutches of Radcliffe's villain.

Given the considerable comedy chops of both Bullock and Tatum, it's no surprise to hear they were given the freedom to go off-piste in their scenes together.

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"We had the allowance to do whatever we wanted to do. Most of it didn't work. Most of it we thought we were hilarious," said Bullock.

"You want the feeling of improvisation. We did have incredible lines that were written that were easy to make feel as though they were improvised. I'd say it was a good 50/50."

In the wake of Uncharted and other recent adventure blockbusters, it appears one of Hollywood's oldest genres is roaring back to screens.

Bullock blamed "cynicism and self-importance" for the lukewarm response to action-adventure tales in recent decades.

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She added: "I think we might have gotten a little full of ourselves and forgotten that the reason we go get entertained is to be entertained and forget a little bit. Maybe we became less cynical being locked in our homes."

The Lost City is released into UK cinemas from 15 April.

Watch: Trailer for The Lost City