Marvel’s Kevin Feige discusses the potential for female-led superhero movies

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Today marks the release of Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, already on track for a $90 million opening weekend. The ensemble team movie also introduces another strong female character in Zoe Saldana’s Gamora. And, once again, that hero is a secondary character to a bunch of male heroes. Marvel has introduced several strong women in their ten blockbuster films including Scarlett Johannson‘s Black Widow and Hayley Atwell‘s Peggy Carter, but frustration with some audiences is growing in anticipation of a female-led Marvel movie.

Just a few days ago, comments were made public by GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY screenwriter Nicole Perlman who said there is already a female-led superhero movie in development at Marvel Studios although she did not say which. With Wasp not set to appear in next year’s ANT-MAN, Marvel honcho Kevin Feige was asked by Comic Book Resources about whether Marvel is serious about making a female superhero movie.

“I very much believe in doing it. I very much believe that it’s unfair to say, ‘People don’t want to see movies with female heroes,’ then list five movies that were not very good, therefore, people didn’t go to the movies because they weren’t good movies, versus [because] they were female leads. And they don’t mention THE HUNGER GAMES, FROZEN, DIVERGENT. You can go back to KILL BILL or ALIENS. These are all female-led movies. It can certainly be done.”

But when he was pressed for when Marvel Studios would actually make a solo Black Widow film or a Ms. Marvel movie, Feige gave this answer.

“We find ourselves in the very strange position of managing more franchises than most people have — which is a very, very good thing and we don’t take for granted, but is a challenging thing,you have to put one franchise on hold for three or four years in order to introduce a new one. I hope we do it sooner rather than later,”

With Marvel Studios supposedly set through 2028 with a rough roadmap of movies to make, undoubtedly one of those will be a female led movie just as much as one could be led by a minority superhero. For all of the success Marvel has had so far, there is still a long way to go and there are a lot of heroes they have yet to adapt. But, if their success rate keeps up at Pixar-like levels, I wouldn’t foresee those awaiting MS. MARVEL from waiting much longer.