Even though it has not been quite seven years since he last participated in such a candid interview, it remains a rare opportunity for Feige to open up in this manner. After some casual small talk, during which Marvel’s chief creative officer shared his insights on DC Studios’ upcoming “Superman” reboot (more details on that shortly), Feige emphasized why he chose to spend the Friday before the highly anticipated premiere of “The Unbelievable 4: First Steps” — the 37th film and 54th overall title in the MCU — to speak on the record.

“We produced 50 hours of content from 2007 to 2019,” Feige stated. “However in the six years since ‘Avengers: Endgame’ wrapped up the Infinity Saga, we’ve created well over 100 hours of content — in half that time. That’s excessive.” In reality, including animated series, Marvel’s Multiverse Saga currently encompasses an impressive 127 hours of content.

Following “Endgame,” Feige indicated that Marvel entered a phase of “experimentation” and “evolution” regarding the types of films being produced, which led to projects such as “Eternals” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” “I’ve always believed that if you achieve success, you must take risks and experiment with it, otherwise, it loses its value,” he explained. “In addition, our focus shifted due to the launch of Disney+, leading to a significant expansion — and this expansion has made people question, ‘It was enjoyable, but do I really need to know everything about all these characters?’”

As a result, Feige believes that the well-documented challenges Marvel has faced in recent years stem from an oversaturation of content, rather than a sudden decline in audience demand. “Take a look at ‘Superman,’” he commented regarding the successful film, which debuted with a remarkable $125 million domestically and has grossed $407 million globally to date. “It’s clear that superhero fatigue isn’t the issue, right?”

(“I really enjoyed it,” Feige added about the DC film. “I appreciate how it dives right into the story. Not familiar with Mister Terrific? Tough luck, you’ll figure it out. It’s a fully fleshed-out world.”)

Feige elaborated that, as noted by Disney CEO Robert Iger on multiple occasions, Marvel’s substantial increase in output has stretched the company’s relatively small team of executives too thin to effectively manage.

“For the first time ever, quantity outweighed quality,” Feige expressed. “We dedicated 12 years to the Infinity Saga, insisting that this would never happen to us. We always had more characters than we could possibly portray because we weren’t making a film every month. Suddenly, there was a directive to produce more content. And we thought, ‘Well, we do have more.’”

Beginning in 2023, audiences started to show signs of fatigue towards Marvel’s offerings, both in theaters and on streaming platforms. As Variety reported in June, only three out of the 22 films within the Infinity Saga grossed less than $500 million worldwide. However, since the pandemic, seven out of 13 films in the MCU have failed to reach that financial milestone. Additionally, viewership for Marvel’s streaming series has also declined, according to data from Luminate. Most recently, “Thunderbolts*,” despite receiving some of the best reviews Marvel has garnered in years, has only managed to earn $380 million globally.

“I thought ‘Thunderbolts*’ was an excellent film,” Feige stated. “However, many viewers were unfamiliar with the title, and a lot of those characters originated from a [TV] show. Some [audiences] viewers felt that they needed to have seen other shows to understand who these characters were. Even if you actually watched the film, you wouldn’t have that issue, as we crafted it to ensure comprehension. Nonetheless, I think we need to ensure that the audience understands that.”

To that end, Feige dedicated an hour to discuss various topics, including budgets, TV schedules, the process of greenlighting Marvel projects, and the anticipated return of characters like Miles Morales, Ms. Marvel, and Charlize Theron. He also provided updates on the status of “Blade” featuring Mahershala Ali and confirmed popular fan theories that the upcoming “Avengers: Secret Wars” scheduled for 2027 would not only conclude the Multiverse Saga but also serve as a “reset” for the entire MCU — potentially introducing a new cast for the forthcoming “X-Men” films.

Anticipate Fewer Marvel TV Shows in the Future

While Marvel’s feature film output is slowing down to a maximum of three movies per year (a pace the MCU first achieved in 2017), its television output is reducing even further, with typically only one live-action series produced annually. Moreover, the series that are produced will have less direct connection to the feature films, helping to disabuse audiences of the notion that they must watch every single entry to keep up with the ongoing narratives in any MCU project.

For example, Feige referenced the Marvel television shows from the 2010s — such as “Daredevil” and “Jessica Jones” on Netflix, as well as “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “Agent Carter” on ABC — which were produced by a separate, now-defunct branch of Marvel Entertainment and had tenuous links to the MCU, if any at all.

“I believe we are returning to the principle of allowing a TV show to be a standalone product,” he explained. When asked if the events at the conclusion of “Thunderbolts*” — where much of Manhattan was enveloped in a dark shroud of despair — would impact Season 2 of the NYC-based Disney+ series “Daredevil: Born Again,” Feige succinctly replied: “No.”

Simultaneously, the distinction between film and television is not strictly defined. Jon Bernthal will reprise his character from “Daredevil: Born Again,” the Punisher, in both an upcoming television special and alongside Tom Holland in 2026’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

“Where we have outstanding actors portraying fantastic characters, I think it could be enjoyable to see them in multiple projects,” Feige noted. “However, the overall output will be significantly reduced.”

This reduction has also resulted in two of Marvel’s TV projects being delayed for over a year after completion: “Ironheart” featuring Dominque Thorne, which wrapped in early July, and “Wonder Man” starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, set to premiere in December. Feige expressed a desire to avoid such delays in the future.

“I dislike when projects sit on shelves,” he stated. “It’s frustrating.” The hold-up particularly affected “Wonder Man,” which follows an aspiring actor (played by Abdul-Mateen) with hidden superpowers as he seeks a role in a television series portraying a superhero. Feige, who was wearing a “Wonder Man” baseball cap, pointed out that Marvel completed the show before HBO Max’s 2024 comic book movie parody “The Franchise” or Apple TV+’s 2025 Hollywood satire “The Studio.” However, it now appears as though they are following a trend rather than leading it.

Marvel’s Commitment to Diversity Continues, but Miles Morales’ Future Remains Uncertain

Following the tremendous success of 2018’s “Black Panther,” Marvel has made a concerted effort to create projects centered around women, people of color, and LGBTQ characters. These titles encompass films like “Captain Marvel,” “Black Widow,” “Shang-Chi,” “Eternals,” “The Marvels,” and “Captain America: Brave New World,” as well as television series like “WandaVision,” “Ms. Marvel,” “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” “Secret Invasion,” “Echo,” and “Agatha All Along.” While several of these projects have thrived, both critically and commercially, others have struggled. Furthermore, with Marvel’s decision to significantly cut back its output, the future of many of these characters within the MCU remains ambiguous.

When pressed on this topic, Feige appeared unconcerned. “Marvel reflects the world outside your window,” he stated. “I’ve consistently maintained this perspective, both before and after DEI and ‘woke’ became buzzwords — are we after? I don’t think so.” He specifically highlighted “Ms. Marvel” and “The Marvels” star Iman Vellani as “one of the best casting decisions we’ve ever made,” adding, “I can’t wait to see her in future projects.”

The future of these characters is less clear. At the conclusion of “The Marvels,” Vellani’s Kamala Khan seemed to recruit Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop to join a young superhero team, but Feige skirted a question about whether a “Young Avengers” film, series, or special is in the works.

“Potentially,” he replied. “If so, it boils down to where the best story lies and what unique alchemy can be created. Who would be enjoyable to see together? That’s what the Young Avengers represent, but we also want to mix things up.”

Feige was more definitive about the potential of another highly anticipated Marvel character — Spider-Man’s Miles Morales — appearing in the MCU anytime soon. “That’s nowhere,” he stated firmly. Until Sony Pictures, which holds the film rights to the character, wraps up its animated Miles trilogy with 2027’s “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” Feige clarified, “We’ve been instructed to stay clear.”

The Marvel Methodology Will Persist — But Expect Cost Reductions

DC Studios’ co-head James Gunn has repeatedly stated that he will only greenlight projects that have a completed script. This stands in stark contrast to Marvel Studios, which has often announced projects with release dates before a writer has even been hired, let alone a completed script, and is known for reworking films throughout the production process. Recently, “The Unbelievable 4” star Ebon Moss-Bachrach mentioned to Variety that he didn’t believe “the script was fully ready” when the cast began three weeks of rehearsal before filming, indicating they were essentially workshopping the film during that time.

However, Feige took issue with the comparison between Gunn’s stringent requirements at DC and Marvel’s approach, as well as the implication that Marvel needed to radically overhaul its filmmaking process. “We’ve never started a film without a complete script, and I’ve never been satisfied with a script we’ve had,” he asserted. “I’ve never been pleased with a movie we’ve released.”

He defended Marvel’s practice of continuously improving projects “at every stage” during production — a term in art referred to as pushing for incremental enhancements, which Feige credited to Walt Disney. “Actors, whether they are portraying these characters for the first or second time or are seasoned veterans in their roles, are the best in the world at what they do and know these characters intimately,” Feige stated. “If they have an idea, you should listen and adapt accordingly to improve it. I wouldn’t want to change that.”

Feige continued, “I know there are filmmakers — James, in my experience, isn’t one of them; maybe he is now — who say, ‘If you want to be part of my film, you simply say the lines and keep your entire schedule open in case we need you.’ We have so many actors, we can’t do that. We don’t operate that way. We provide people with a window, and we adhere to that window.”

Marvel has shifted its approach regarding at least one major aspect of its films: their budgets. After production costs began to soar following “Endgame” — partly due to the pandemic and partly due to the perceived need to deliver a certain level of spectacle — the studio has begun “grinding down the budgets” in 2023. Feige stated that Marvel’s films from “Deadpool & Wolverine” to “The Unbelievable 4” are “approximately a third cheaper than they were two years prior.”

Feige mentioned that Marvel executives even consulted with the teams behind the 2023 science fiction epic “The Creator,” which director Gareth Edwards made for an astonishingly low $80 million, to learn how they achieved that cost-effectiveness.

“I think everyone is in that mindset, at least at Disney,” Feige remarked regarding the trend of budget tightening. “I believe it has to improve. Is AI going to help with that? I don’t know.”

The Future of the MCU Lies Beyond Hollywood

Don’t expect the Avengers to set up shop in Los Angeles anytime soon. The superhero team’s next two adventures, “Doomsday” and “Secret Wars,” are being produced at Pinewood Studios in London, marking a continuation of the trend where big-budget Hollywood films are relocating to the U.K. This move has raised concerns within the industry about runaway productions — a sentiment that was briefly echoed by President Trump when he suggested imposing tariffs on foreign-made blockbusters.

Feige clarified that the decision to film the new movies overseas rather than in Georgia, where many previous Marvel films were shot, was primarily influenced by space constraints, rather than solely the U.K.’s attractive subsidies.

“There was a time, which is not right now, but there was a time when we made that deal…five to six years ago when everyone was competing for stage space amidst the significant expansion not just for us but for everyone,” Feige explained, referencing the surge in production that accompanied the streaming revolution. “Thus, we had the opportunity to secure Pinewood, which is why many of our films will be shot there for the foreseeable future.”

He predicted that future Marvel films might once again be filmed in the U.S., particularly in production hubs like Georgia and New York, which offer more competitive filming incentives than California, where a new $750 million production tax credit has recently been enacted.

“My career in producing these massive films has predominantly seen only a few set in California after the Phase One movies, as they relocated due to costs,” Feige remarked. However, there is one exception: “Wonder Man,” which is set in Hollywood, was filmed in the entertainment capital.

The Fate of Kang and the Future of Other MCU Characters Remains Uncertain

In March 2023, just a month after Jonathan Majors portrayed the archvillain Kang the Conqueror in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” the actor was arrested for assault and harassment against his then-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. Kang had been positioned as the Thanos of the Multiverse Saga, slated to star in his own film titled “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” which would set the stage for “Secret Wars.” However, on the day Majors was convicted on two misdemeanor counts of harassment and assault, Marvel announced it was parting ways with the actor; the following July, the studio revealed that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the MCU to portray the even more villainous Doctor Doom in what has now been retitled “Avengers: Doomsday.”

However, Feige disclosed on Friday that the studio had started to have reservations about Kang’s viability as a character before “Quantumania” even premiered.

“We began to realize that Kang wasn’t substantial enough, wasn’t Thanos-level, and that there was only one character who could fulfill that role, as he had in the comics for decades,” he said. “We began discussions about Doctor Doom even before we officially moved away from Kang. In fact, I began discussing this bold idea with Robert before ‘Ant-Man 3’ was even released.”

While Kang’s future (or lack thereof) in the MCU is apparent, Feige was more circumspect regarding the possibility of seeing other prominent MCU characters — such as Charlize Theron’s Clea, Brett Goldstein’s Hercules, Harry Styles’ Starfox, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s Mephisto — return in upcoming projects.

“Do you want to see them again?” Feige playfully queried.

When a reporter suggested that the inclusion of these characters implies a promise of their return, Feige referenced the comeback of Tim Blake Nelson’s character Samuel Sterns from 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk” for 2025’s “Captain America: Brave New World,” and Rolf Saxon’s character William Donloe from the 1996 “Mission: Impossible” for 2025’s “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.”

“That’s fun for me,” he remarked. “So let’s revisit this in 12 years and see who comes back.”

What about major characters like Moon Knight or the Eternals — will they return?

“I can’t say it’s any of the specific ones you just named, but yes, that’s part of the plan: characters we’ve introduced after ‘Endgame’ will appear again in some of the upcoming films and beyond,” Feige confirmed. “The fun of comic books is that anyone can pop up anywhere.”

Perhaps the most intriguing moment during the interview occurred when a reporter inquired about Marvel’s plans to create more films focused on single characters, akin to “Shang-Chi,” instead of large-scale team-up films. “We’ve been discussing a structure for an upcoming post-‘Secret Wars’ film that I won’t name,” he noted. “However, I will say, like ‘Shang-Chi,’ [it’s about] returning to what genres haven’t we explored and want to pursue and how this film may embrace a specific genre that we haven’t seen in a while.” Let the online speculation commence!

Feige’s Viewing Preferences and His Vision for the Future of Marvel

Dressed in a “Unbelievable 4” hoodie and positioned next to an oversized, $80 Galactus popcorn bucket, Feige took a moment to celebrate the return of Marvel’s First Family to the MCU, stemming from Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. “They need to be A-listers,” he emphasized. “There have been good ‘Unbelievable 4’ films in the past, and not-so-good ones as well, but nothing that truly showcased their potential.” (Feige also hinted that the four lead actors from the unreleased 1994 “Unbelievable 4” film produced by Roger Corman will make cameo appearances in the new movie.)

He expressed particular enthusiasm for the retro-futuristic aesthetic of “The Unbelievable 4” and how the film reflects the company’s efforts to create projects that are approachable for casual Marvel fans. “We have always been planning, even before it became a talking point, to introduce them in their own world where they are the only heroes,” Feige stated. “It’s a no-homework-required film. It truly shouldn’t be tied to anything we’ve done before.”

One potential indication of where the MCU may venture next lies in Hollywood’s cinematic history. When asked about his recent viewing habits, Feige admitted to watching classic films each night, primarily from the 1930s and 1940s, such as the noir thriller “The Big Clock” featuring Ray Milland and Charles Laughton, the courtroom drama “Lawyer Man” starring William Powell, and the Western “Dodge City” with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. “[It’s] a reminder of what cinema is, what filmgoing means, and how to entertain audiences,” he remarked. “Everything old is new again, by the way. That’s just another reason I watch those classic films.”

As for his own future at Marvel, Feige seems to be keeping his options open. “Succession is a hot topic at Disney,” he noted, alluding to Iger’s impending departure as Disney’s CEO. “We always discuss succession, even within divisions, too, I think for that reason. Do I want to be making big films for large audiences in 10 or 15 years from now? Yes, absolutely. That’s all I want to do. Marvel is a great platform for me to do that right now, but I aspire to create big films for a wide audience forever.”