Kevin Feige Likes Embracing the Underdog Role Once More: “I Prefer Being Able to Surprise”

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Disney and Marvel Studios faced a rough year in 2023, marked by a series of movie flops and lukewarm receptions of their TV shows. For the first time in ages, Disney didn’t have a billion-dollar movie, and Marvel Studios hit a low with ‘The Marvels’ becoming the lowest-grossing MCU film, failing to surpass the $100 million mark domestically.

The disappointing performance led Disney to reevaluate its project releases. CEO Iger revealed plans for significant cuts in creative output, aiming for a maximum of 3 movies and 2 shows per year.

Despite the challenges, Feige and Louis D’Esposito maintain optimism. Speaking to Empire, D’Esposito suggests that remaining on top might hinder their drive to enhance quality, making it the least desirable outcome.

It’s been a rough time. If we just stayed on top, that would have been the worst thing that could have happened to us. We took a little hit, we’re coming back strong. Maybe when you do too much, you dilute yourself a little bit, we’re not going to do that anymore. We learned our lesson. Maybe two to three films a year and one or two shows, as opposed to doing four films and four shows.

Feige is also eager to embrace the underdog status, relishing the opportunity to demonstrate once more their ability to astonish fans with extraordinary storytelling.

It’s nice to be able to rally behind one feature project this year. I’m much more comfortable being the underdog. I prefer being able to surprise, and exceed expectations. So it does seem like the last year, which has not been ideal, has set us up well for that.

Whether D’Esposito and Feige are genuinely committed to enhancing quality remains uncertain. Fans have long voiced concerns about shallow narratives merely checking diversity boxes. Amidst these grievances, a common thread emerges: many feel Marvel lacks compelling stories. However, fans of the source material recognize this perception is far from accurate.

What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments below!

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