Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige confirmed that not all of the characters introduced in the studio’s Phase 4 films and television projects will appear in the company’s upcoming Avengers films.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 27: Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige (R) and guests attend the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 World Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 27, 2023. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Disney)
In an interview with Gizmodo, Feige was asked if moviegoers would get to see the multitude of characters introduced in Phase 4 in the Avengers films.
He responded, “I rarely speak in absolutes like that, right? The notion of never ever seeing somebody again, we’ve got Tim Blake Nelson in a movie coming up next year, right? So I never talk in absolutes like that.”
However, he then admitted, “But the truth is, you know, we’re going to tell a story in these Avengers movies, and there won’t be room for 100,000 characters in it. So choices will have to be made, that’s for sure. But that doesn’t mean you won’t ever see anybody ever again.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 11: Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios speaks onstage during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 11, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Marvel’s Phase 4 included Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on the movie side.
On the television side it included WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…?, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
There were a ton of new characters introduced in these projects including Shang-Chi, the gender-swapped Taskmaster, Namor, She-Hulk, Monica Rambeau, U.S. Agent, Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, America Chavez, Riri Williams aka Ironheart, Blade, Eros, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Moon Knight, Kate Bishop, Kang the Conqueror, and more.
(L-R): Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), Thena (Angelina Jolie), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Ajak (Salma Hayek), Sersi (Gemma Chan), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) and Druig (Barry Keoghan) in Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
READ: Report: MCU’s Woes Due To Bad Writers, Directors, Focus On Unpopular Characters
Feige’s comments come in the wake of a report back in May at The Economist that detailed Marvel’s woes were due to a focus on unpopular characters.
The report stated, “Disney insiders suggest several causes for the slump. One is to do with personnel. Several trusted writers and directors have moved on. Many of the actors playing the most popular superheroes left the MCU after Avengers: Endgame in 2019, and Chadwick Boseman, the star of Black Panther, died in 2020.”
Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez in Marvel Studios’ DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. Photo by Jay Maidment. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
His comments also come in the wake of a report that Marvel Studios is bringing back Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo back into the fold to direct the next two Avengers films.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Borys Kit and Aaron Couch reported earlier this week, “The Russo Bros. are in early talks to return to Marvel Studios to direct not just one, but the next two Avengers movies, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.”
Josh Brolin as Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Marvel Studios
What do you make of Feige confirming that not all of the characters introduced in Phase 4 will be showing up in the next Avengers films?
