Marvel’s Kevin Feige Talks Scaling Back, Losing Kang and His Texts to James Gunn After ‘Superman’

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In an unremarkable meeting room on the particularly noteworthy level of Marvel Studios (adorned with Iron Man statues, superhero murals, and movie memorabilia) stands a door securely padlocked. Beyond this locked door lies a whiteboard outlining Marvel’s film plans for the subsequent seven years.

In an excited manner, Marvel Studios’ head honcho Kevin Feige, the man behind the longest-running box office triumphs in Tinseltown, playfully taunted reporters as he ushered them into the very room where Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange‘s star, and filmmaker Chloe Zhao, who presented her vision for Eternals, first crossed paths.

Lately, Marvel’s success has been questioned, particularly this year with movies like “Thunderbolts” and “Captain America: Brave New World,” which have not performed as well financially compared to usual Marvel standards. However, Feige doesn’t seem swayed by the notion of superhero burnout, a theory he finds unconvincing. Instead, he highlights the success of DC Studios’ “Superman” at the box office, notably in domestic markets.

Feige said he texted filmmaker James Gunn to let him know how much he liked it.

Fiege excitedly commented on the film, which Gunn directed (he previously helmed three Guardians of the Galaxy movies for Marvel before moving to head DC Studios). “You haven’t met Mr. Terrific yet? Too bad. You’ll catch up. Don’t know what that is? Just dive in, dive in. This is a fully realized universe.

Endgame.

Currently, our company is gearing up for the July 25 premiere of its newest film titled “Fantastic Four: First Steps“. This is Marvel Studios’ first time managing these characters. Earlier attempts, ranging from decent to mediocre in quality and box office success, were made by Twentieth Century Fox before their 2019 acquisition by Disney. There was also an unfinished 1994 feature film produced by low-budget master Roger Corman. Interestingly, the four main actors from that movie make a cameo appearance in “First Steps“.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but appreciate the fact that this upcoming film stands alone without the need for excessive background knowledge. It’s set in an immersive universe all on its own, eliminating any sense of obligation to revisit old material or do extra research – just pure, unadulterated fun!

He stated that rather than dealing with the questions about ‘Where have the Eternals been all this time, why didn’t they intervene against Thanos?’ we chose to keep them separate from our reality. This way, we wouldn’t need to explain their whereabouts by saying something like, ‘Ah, they were secretly here.’

The aesthetic was distinctive, almost as if it could exist independently, its own universe or reality. When audiences watch it during our pre-screenings, they instantly embrace it and appreciate the freedom to simply enjoy the content without any need for prior knowledge or analysis. In essence, he emphasized that it’s an immersive experience with no homework needed.

As I sat down for a lively chat with some journalists, donning my cool blue Fantastic Four hoodie and snazzy Wonder Man cap, I shared insights on various topics. Among them were updates about Blade, my own plans within Marvel Studios, and the recent departure of Jonathan Majors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Here is what The Hollywood Reporter learned.

Yes, Feige knows Marvel made too many movies and shows (and the other things they did wrong)

Over a span of 11 years, from the release of the first “Iron Man” in 2008 up until 2019’s “Endgame,” Marvel created approximately 50 hours of narrative content across their films. Since then, that number has skyrocketed to an astonishing 102 hours when only live-action movies and TV shows are considered. If you factor in animated productions as well, the total climbs to a whopping 127 hours!

“That’s too much,” Feige said.

After the epic conclusion of Endgame, I’ve come to view this phase as a time of innovative exploration, growth, and regrettably, sprawl. While I take immense pride in the experimentation, shows like WandaVision and Loki truly showcase some of our finest stories, it’s the expansion that seems to have diluted these exceptional pieces.

Being overly enthusiastic about their achievements might have made them eager to take on additional programming tasks during a period when Disney and other Hollywood players were intensely competing in the streaming market.

There was a strong initiative from the company, and not much persuasion was needed for us to get on board. People have been eagerly awaiting Ms. Marvel for years, and now we finally can? Let’s make it happen! Oscar Isaac is interested in playing Moon Knight? Go for it! So, we found ourselves caught up in this directive, but we also saw an opportunity to bring these characters to life in a fun and exciting way.

Marvel is planning to reduce the number of films and series they produce in future years. Some years might only feature a single movie, while others could have just one show released. Additionally, Marvel is aiming for cost savings, with upcoming movies expected to be as much as a third cheaper compared to those produced in 2022 or 2023.

Here’s why Thunderbolts* failed (even though it’s a “very, very good movie”)

Engaging with Marvel content, particularly through Disney+, began to feel more like completing assignments or schoolwork for some viewers.

It was the growth that likely caused people to remark, ‘Do I really need to learn about all of these? It used to be enjoyable, but now does it feel like I have to know everything?’ I believe the Marvel series struck this sentiment most forcefully, as people might say, ‘I recognize her from a blockbuster film. But who are those other two? I assume they were in some TV program. I’ll pass on that.’

The impact was noticeable on the Thunderbolts series, where characters were showcased who appeared across different media, with certain ones exclusive to television shows.

Feige clarified that some viewers were under the impression they needed to watch other shows to understand this character. However, he stated that if you’ve watched the film, this wouldn’t be necessary. Yet, it’s crucial that the audience is aware of this.

Feige is staying put at Marvel (for now)

In Hollywood, executives don’t hold their positions forever. It could be due to leadership changes or a series of unsuccessful films. Change is an undeniable reality, and the topic of succession is currently heating up discussions, particularly at Disney and across the broader Hollywood landscape.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve always been curious about where Kevin Feige stands in terms of his tenure with the company. In a subtle manner, he hinted that he has approximately “two years, a bit less” left on his current contract.

However, it’s clear that his intention remains focused on creating large-scale films aimed at reaching a vast public.

Feige shared that in the next decade or so, he aspires to create major films for large crowds. Right now, Marvel offers him an excellent platform for this goal. However, he dreams of continuing to produce big-scale movies for diverse audiences throughout his career.

Feige Addresses Jonathan Majors for the first time (without talking about Jonathan Majors)

Marvel encountered a series of unexpected challenges during its post-“Endgame” period, including global crises such as the pandemic and Hollywood strikes. Additionally, they mourned the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed Black Panther. Moreover, there was the legal issue involving Jonathan Majors, the actor slated to play the antagonist Kang, whose conviction cast a shadow over his future in this role.

In his conversation, Feige didn’t directly use Majors’ name but instead referred to him as “Kang’s actor” at times or simply “the actor.” Moreover, he mentioned that Marvel had already started to shift focus from Kang as a character before the Majors problem emerged.

Feige mentioned that the discussions about Dr. Doom began prior to the events involving the actor, as it became clear that Kang wasn’t suitable for the role of Thanos’ caliber. Given that Dr. Doom had been a significant character in the comics for years, he seemed like the perfect candidate once the Fox acquisition was finalized. In fact, conversations about this bold idea with Robert Downey Jr. started before Ant-Man 3 was released, making it part of a well-thought-out plan to bring one of our most iconic characters to life with one of our top actors.

Don’t expect a live-action Miles Morales any time soon (thanks a lot, Sony)

For quite some time, numerous fans have been eagerly anticipating a live-action debut of Miles Morales, the Spider-Man famously portrayed in Sony Animation’s critically-acclaimed Spider-Verse films. When asked about the progress of a live-action adaptation of this character, Feige simply stated, “There is no development on that front at the moment.

And added that Morales’ fate was in Sony’s hands. 

According to Feige, Sony’s remarkable ‘Spider-Verse’ animated series is still ongoing, so for the time being, it’s advised that we steer clear of it.

Blade being sharpened (again)

What’s the hold up with Blade? Well…

Ryan Coogler contacted us asking for costumes for his film ‘Sinners.’ In response, we were more than happy to oblige, saying ‘Go ahead!’ as he’s a good friend of ours. We’ll postpone our own movie in the meantime.

Indeed, Feige was playfully referencing the upcoming adaptation of “Sinners,” drawing comparisons to a new take on “Blade,” which is currently in production. This fresh interpretation is set against the backdrop of the Prohibition Era, much like Coogler’s popular original film released earlier this year.

Feige verified that four iterations of the movie “Blade” have been produced in more recent years, with two being set in a specific time period and the other two not.

Marvel has now “landed on modern day.” And yes, Mahershala Ali is still attached. 

Instead of sharing a specific timetable for the release of “Blade,” he mentioned that they (he and Ryan Coogler) do have a set schedule in place for “Black Panther 3.

Tonal malleability is a key to Marvel’s success (yes, there will be more R-rated stories coming)

It’s clear that Marvel is growing increasingly bold in telling mature, adult-themed stories, as demonstrated by series like Deadpool and Wolverine, as well as the Daredevil television program.

Characters from this series can adapt to scenarios suitable for different age groups. This flexibility keeps viewers engaged and invested, as demonstrated by the Green Goblin constructing snowmen in Disney+’s “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends,” but then causing Aunt May’s demise in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” (Feige highlighted this adaptability as a key aspect of their storytelling approach.)

The character portrayed by Jon Bernthal as The Punisher is currently under production for a special, set to premiere on Disney+ in the upcoming year. This series is planned to be rated TV-MA.

But “when Punisher is in the Spider-Man movie, it’ll be a different tonality,” said Feige.

Feige still likes the flexibility of going into production without a set script

In contrast to the Marvel approach of continuously revising scripts and extensive work during post-production, Gunn, previously with Marvel, has asserted that his DC Studios will only commence a project once the script is finalized and the ending is clearly defined.

Feige admits that Marvel always begins a film without a finalized script, yet he’s never felt content with any script they’ve worked on. He further stated, “I’ve never been completely satisfied with a movie we’ve put out.

What he and the company like to do is “plus-ing at every turn.”

Every day on the set of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, there’s a constant stream of greatness unfolding, and it’s truly captivating to observe. The filmmakers and actors, whether they’re portraying these characters for the first or tenth time, are simply unparalleled in their expertise and understanding of these characters. When they come up with ideas, you listen attentively, adapt when necessary, and strive to make it even better. I wouldn’t dream of changing that.”

Or, more informally:

“Things are going fantastic on the ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ set every day! Watching these talented filmmakers and actors, whether they’re new or veterans, bring these characters to life is a treat. When they come up with ideas, you listen carefully and work together to make it even better. I wouldn’t want to change that.

Stephen McFeely is penning the screenplay, yet it’s been disclosed that Loki’s original creator, Michael Waldron, is also lending a hand.

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2025-07-20 22:25