It’s hard to believe that it has been fifteen years since Marvel released Iron Man. Since then, Marvel Studios has grown exponentially, but its CEO thinks that the company has just scratched the surface of what’s possible.
In a recent interview with Variety, Kevin Feige weighed in on Marvel’s fifteen-year journey. Marvel’s chief is still in awe of the impact that Marvel movies have in the industry and is excited for what is to come. The studio released a total of 31 movies since 2008’s Iron Man.
“I feel so lucky that I get to do this job,” Feige said. “Every costume fitting, when we see the actors transform for the first time, there’s always this moment of awe. It’s so incredible to take these characters and bring them to life on the screen.”
Feige shared one tradition that Marvel Studios still does even after fifteen years. He, the cast, and the crew sneak into theaters during the opening night to feel the excitement of audiences attending the premiere. Marvel’s CEO shared how he felt seeing the audience’s reaction during the premiere of Avengers: Endgame.
“We’ve had a tradition at Marvel Studios that started with the very first ‘Iron Man.,'” Feige shared. “For every new release, the cast, producers, director, and I will drop in on an opening night showing and watch the movie with the fans. Feeling the excitement in the theater, hearing cheers or gasps from the audience, is always a reminder of what these movies and characters mean to fans.”
He adds, “Being there on opening night of Avengers: Endgame, hearing the crowds, is something I’ll never forget. Also, the feedback we received after Black Panther came out. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would have the kind of impact it did.”
Feige teased that Marvel Studios still has a lot in store for its fans even after fifteen years. He believes that the franchise has just scratched the surface of the Marvel source material. It looks like we will be getting a lot more of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
He said, “The great thing about Marvel truly is how many wonderful, interesting characters we have in the comics — they’ve been at it for 85 years. Even after 32 movies, it feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface.”
Marvel is now gearing up for the premiere of The Marvels next month. However, the box office predictions for the next MCU movie suggest that it will struggle during its opening weekend. Experts believe that Brie Larson’s second movie will not be able to replicate the success of 2019’s Captain Marvel, which earned over $1 billion at the box office.
The good news is that things are looking up for the franchise in 2024 onwards with the Deadpool 3, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and Blade arriving in theaters. Marvel is ending the Multiverse Saga with Fantastic Four, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Avengers: Secret Wars.
