The MCU has had a fantastic run, now in their twelfth year bringing us our favorite Marvel superhero stories on the screen. We’ve become accustomed to seeing one great movie after another, and the greatness is now extending to TV in the form of integrated series at Disney+! It’s a great time to be a Marvel fan, as we have so many great sequels and originals to look forward to in the coming years. But if you’re one of the many out there who blindly believe that every movie with the Marvel stamp on it is going to be great before you even see it, MCU President Kevin Feige thinks you should take a different approach.
In a recent interview with the New York Film Academy, Feige was asked how he navigates keeping up with fans’ expectations. He responded:
“Up to this point, staying true with our vision has connected with fans. Even when that’s [with] unexpected choices… with filmmakers they haven’t heard of or actors which still happens sometimes.”
He went on to add:
“What used to happen is that there’d be a big outcry and people would bemoan the choice and say it’s terrible. I’d say, ‘Alright, everybody. Let’s prove them wrong and do the work.'”
But that was the way Feige preferred things. He had a plan, a story, and a team he believed in each time, and it all turned out fine. It’s now that he has established a solid track record that he has found the blind faith from fans to be more unsettling. When talking about using new directors or actors now, he says the fan reaction is vastly different:
“Now, and I don’t know if this makes me any more comfortable, they say, ‘Oh, I don’t know who that is, but I trust them.’ I’m like, don’t trust us. We have to prove it. We have to work to prove it to you.”
This is a great attitude to have, and I think Feige’s hard work and willingness to not rest on his laurels has proven to be just the formula that propels this universe forward. I can’t wait to see what comes next with all the films and series in the works.
Which project are you most stoked for?