Kevin Feige Says Marvel Won’t Drop Diversity Despite Hollywood Backlash

Hollywood has seen a lot of pushback lately against efforts to bring more diversity, equity, and inclusion, often called DEI, into movies and TV. Some studios have quietly scaled back on these programs after pressure from critics and changes in politics. But Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige made it clear that his studio is sticking to its goal of better representation on screen and behind the scenes.

Feige told reporters, “I said this before ‘woke’ and ‘DEI’ became a thing and I’m still saying it after: Marvel is the world outside your window. It’s not Gotham City and Metropolis. This is New York and L.A.. And yes, there’s also Wakanda and Asgard, but it is all made up of the people who make up our world.”

The success of 2018’s “Black Panther,” directed by Ryan Coogler, showed that diverse stories can be huge hits.

The movie earned more than $700 million in the U.S. alone and became the first superhero film nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. It helped push Hollywood to rethink how to create more opportunities for women, actors of color, and filmmakers from different backgrounds.

But in recent years, especially with Donald Trump back in office, many studios have quietly pulled back on DEI efforts. Executives who ran these programs have left, and political pressure has made studios hesitant. Disney, which owns Marvel, even rebranded its DEI program earlier this year to remove the words “diversity” and “inclusion.” Despite that, the FCC chair appointed by Trump launched an investigation into Disney.

Marvel has still had some wins with diverse heroes besides Black Panther. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” did really well at the box office in 2021, setting a record for Labor Day weekend, even though theaters were just starting to reopen after the pandemic. But not every movie has been a hit.

Anthony Mackie’s first film as the new Captain America, “Brave New World,” didn’t make $500 million worldwide this year, and “The Marvels,” which stars an all-female superhero team, was the first MCU movie to make less than $100 million domestically.

Still, Feige says he’s very proud of Iman Vellani, who plays Kamala Khan, also known as Ms. Marvel. He called her “one of the greatest bits of casting we’ve ever done,” along with Tom Holland, who rose to fame playing Spider-Man. Even though “The Marvels” didn’t do well at the box office, Feige hinted that Ms. Marvel’s story isn’t ending anytime soon.

Marvel’s message is clear: they want their movies to reflect the real world and will keep pushing for diversity, no matter the backlash. Feige’s words show that Marvel plans to stay committed to this path.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!