(Image: Marvel Studios, Collider)
Ahead of the release of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," the first film in Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige held a special media roundtable to discuss the future of the MCU.
First, addressing the arrival of the new "X-Men," Feige confirmed rumors that "Thunderbolts*" director Jake Schreier will helm the project. He stated that the X-Men will be a central focus for Marvel's future, set to be introduced after "Avengers: Secret Wars" performs a "timeline reset" on the MCU. However, Feige stressed that "Secret Wars" will be a "reset," not a "reboot" as is commonly understood, a distinction he hopes the public will recognize.
Speaking of resets, Feige also acknowledged that classic characters like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers could be recast with new actors in the future, similar to how James Bond and Superman are often passed to new talent. Feige didn't specify a timeline for when this might happen, only stating that it is a definite possibility.
(Image: Los Angeles Times)
Regarding recent audience complaints about storylines containing "too much political correctness" or overemphasizing diversity, Feige responded: "Marvel represents the world you see outside your window. I always ask this: 'Was Marvel doing this before DEI and wokeness became mainstream, or did we only implement it after? Did we do it later?' I don't think so." Feige's point is that Marvel's DEI policy isn't about chasing social trends, as they were implementing it long before the public debate began.
While Miles Morales is one of the few characters of color to be successfully adapted to screen without significant backlash, Feige admitted that fans shouldn't expect him in the MCU anytime soon. He revealed an agreement with Sony Pictures requires Marvel to "stay away from the character" until the "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" trilogy is complete.
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DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has repeatedly pointed out that many superhero films fail because they begin filming before a quality script is written, or even finished. Feige clarified that Marvel has never started shooting a film before the script was complete, adding that they naturally make adjustments throughout the production process until they are satisfied with the final product.
Declining viewership, shrinking box office returns, and ever-increasing costs are the financial pressures many believe Marvel is facing. However, Feige stated that their spending has been significantly reduced since 2023, with overall production costs now a third cheaper than they were two years ago. He even mentioned that Marvel consulted with the team behind "The Creator" to learn about saving on VFX costs, as that film was famously produced with a $200 million look on just an $80 million budget.
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It's widely believed that Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the MCU as the villainous Doctor Doom is a move to rescue Marvel's recently declining reputation and replace Jonathan Majors, the actor behind Kang who was embroiled in a domestic violence scandal. Feige clarified this was not the case. He revealed that even before "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" underperformed at the box office, they were already concerned that Kang wasn't a big enough threat compared to Thanos. The bold idea of bringing Downey back as Doctor Doom was already being discussed at that time.
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Feige was inevitably asked about "Thunderbolts*," which received strong reviews but disappointed at the box office. He offered his analysis: "Some people are still influenced by the idea that, 'It looks like I have to watch other shows to know who these characters are.' I think if you actually saw the film, you wouldn't feel that way, and we didn't make the film like that. But I think we still have to make sure the audience understands that." Feige also believes that "The Marvels" suffered from the same audience perception, leading to its poor box office performance.
Finally, Feige revealed that his contract as President of Marvel Studios has less than two years remaining. He didn't specify whether he would renew, only emphasizing that while Marvel is an excellent storytelling platform, he is also interested in producing mainstream blockbusters for a wider audience beyond Marvel in the future, hinting at an interest in other types of films.