Kevin Feige comments on Fox/Disney deal and future of the MCU films

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Recently while attending the press junket for BLACK PANTHER, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige revealed that he'd first heard about the Fox-Disney merger through the press, just like many of us. Upon being asked for his reaction to the news, and perhaps why he wasn't made aware of the potentially historic deal, Feige shared that a move like this is "above his pay-grade."

Of course, you'd think that Feige would be front and center for something like this, particularly when you consider that the deal could allow for the doors to swing wide on the use of Marvel properties like X-Men and Fantastic Four in the MCU proper. However, Feige says that, “The truth of the matter as I understand it is the deal has to be figured out,” said Feige, who then went on to explain that it's too soon to expect any manner of integration between the two cinematic universes. “There’s been no communication. We’re not thinking about it. We’re focusing on everything we’ve already announced. If and when the deal actually happens, we’ll start to think more about it. Until then, we have a lot to do.”

Even with the circumstances being what they are, one can't help but daydream about potentially sweet team-up scenarios between Fox and Disney-owned Marvel characters. Imagine for a moment if Captain America was forced to recruit Deadpool for a mission of the utmost importance. Or, if Black Widow were to return to Russia with Colossus along for the ride. While the possibilities are vast, Feige says that any crossover action "would be years away." He also mentioned that the studio has "announced everything through 2019, so none of those would be adjusted.”

The fact of the matter is that, beyond BLACK PANTHER, AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, ANT-MAN AND THE WASP, CAPTAIN MARVEL, and AVENGERS 4, we have no idea what's next for the MCU. Will Feige step down after AVENGERS 4 wraps? Is all of Feige's talk a smokescreen for big crossover plans, down the the road? Okay, so maybe that last one is a bit of a stretch, but still, anything is possible at this point.

When asked about his position in the company, and whether or not he plans to keep it, Feige said, “I think about it through 2019, through the movies we’ve already shot or are about to start filming,” he stated. “I’m hoping to deliver on everything we’ve promised thus far.” Feige then added, “That’s the reason we make the movies we make and the way we make them,” he said. “For years, predating the history of Marvel Studios itself, people asked me about superhero fatigue and if it was a fad or a phase. I say, if they’re all different, if they’re all special, nobody will get tired of these things before we at Marvel Studios will, since we live and breathe these things 24 hours a day. You make films like Thor: Ragnarok, like Homecoming, like Guardians of the Galaxy, certainly like Panther, and the upcoming Infinity War to keep it interesting and change it up. And we will continue to do that.”

It's a strange position to be in, not knowing the fate of either Marvel cinematic universe beyond a certain point. Do you think something will be revealed at this year's San Diego Comic Con? Are there characters you'd like to see crossover into the MCU? Will we finally get a FANTASTIC FOUR movie that's worth seeing? Ugh, so many mysteries! My head hurts, I'm going to go lay down for a while.