Endgame 'and Leading Marvel Studios – Variety

Growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige was obsessed with movies.

"I had a diary and I wrote every movie I saw, where I saw it, and how many times I saw it," says Feige. "I was recording the sound system. It was very cheesy.

Feige, a child of the 1980s, not only loved Eddie Murphy's comedies and Arnold Schwarzenegger's films that dominated the multiplexes at the time. He had a predilection for longstanding franchises such as "Indiana Jones", "Star Wars" and "Star Trek".

"I've never been cynical about the aftermath," says Feige. "I was always excited to see how the characters I loved would grow and change. I would sometimes be disappointed. Whenever a movie disappointed me, I sat there thinking about what I had done differently. I would not write a screenplay, but I would let it go in my head. In many ways, it's not so different from what I'm doing now. "

Indeed, the rest of the game has been very lucrative for Marvel and its parent company, Walt Disney Co., which is celebrating this year the 10th anniversary of its acquisition of the $ 4.24 billion comic book company. dollars.

Just before you sit down for a rare and long interview with VarietyFeige spent most of the morning performing the latest visual effects work on "Avengers: Endgame", due out on April 26. The expected blockbuster represents the culmination of the Infinity Saga saga, composed of 23 films, which debuted in 2008 with "Iron Man". The images presented to moviegoers a vast collection of costumed heroes ranging from Ant-Man to Black Panther, while popularizing the concept of cinematic universe – as well as the idea that a set of characters from 39, a film franchise could face or team up with the protagonists of another.

"Kevin is a non-conformist," says Joe Russo, who along with his brother Anthony has made four films in the saga, including "Avengers: Endgame." "The whole idea of ​​building these stories and intermingling them was so disturbing. It's a great experience that could have failed at almost every stage. If one or two of these films do not work, everything is over. "

Instead, the films collectively collected more than $ 18.5 billion at the global box office. Each entry in the series debuted first in North America, and none lost money.

"We had high expectations for Marvel when we acquired it, but the MCU Kevin and his team exceeded all we could imagine," said Bob Iger, CEO of Walt Disney Co. "They have redefined the superheroes for a new era, dramatically expanding their relevance to gender, generation, and geography – setting new standards in compelling storytelling – this kind of creative success is never a coincidence; the fruit of talent, vision, pbadion and courage – and at Marvel Studios everything starts with Kevin. "

With the possible exception of animation giant Pixar (which also belongs to Disney), no studio has been as commercially consistent. Feige may not have a spidey sense or claws in adamantium, but it has an almost superhuman ability to cause fleeting success.

"He approaches all this from the perspective of a fan, not as a businessman or producer," says Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor in the Marvel films. "He's really making stories that he knows he'd like himself."

But, having reached the pinnacle of his profession at age 45, Feige is about to start all over again. "Endgame" will feature several popular team members (Iron Man by Robert Downey Jr. and Captain America by Chris Evans are among the players expected), while future Marvel projects such as "The Eternals" and "Shang-Chi" "Introduce a new group of heroes and villains whose adventures will overlap. As with everything in the Marvel world, the details of these projects are treated as state secrets. They could tell you, but then they will probably have to carve the Hulk on you.

"I have never been cynical about the aftermath. I was always excited to see how the characters I loved would grow and change. "
Kevin Feige

"Some of these movies will feature characters you already know," says Feige. "Some supporting characters will take on lead roles, while new characters will be introduced. The reward for all these films is that we try to do it differently, learn from our mistakes and try something we have never tried. "

An element that will be different is that the upcoming plot will not be revealed exclusively on the big screen. This year, Disney launches its own challenger for Netflix, a streaming service called Disney Plus. Feige and his team oversee several limited series for the platform featuring Marvel characters such as Loki and the Scarlet Witch. They will be interpreted by Tom Hiddleston and Elisabeth Olsen, who have portrayed the same characters in several sequels and fallout from "Avengers" on the big screen.

"These episodes will intersect with the cinema in a very important way," says Feige. "It's a totally new form of narration with which we can play and explore."

While the Avengers: Endgame actors are coming together for a final global promotional campaign, it's clear that this may be the latest super-group for a group of actors who have been making these films for about a year. decade.

"I'm just starting to treat it," says Scarlett Johansson, best known for playing Black Widow in the movies. "Every two years, as if on wheels, I know it's Marvel time. I knew we were going to bring the band together. It was almost like being part of a family. "

But for Feige, this is part of the attraction of "Endgame". At a time when movie franchises continue to shoot, as film quality is declining and the number of box office returns decreases, he sees something drastic in the writing of "Fade Out" . "On this part of the Avengers' journey. Feige wants to let the public ask for more instead of having to launch the final credits after fans get tired of Tony Stark's antics.

"We always wanted there to be a definitive end," he says. In the movie, Downey wrote an astonishing phrase: "Part of the journey is the end. That's what "Endgame" is. "

Marvel will launch three films in 2019. In addition to "Endgame", they include the $ 1 billion "Captain Marvel" movie, which is the company's first protagonist-centered film, and "Spider-Man: Far From Home". ". he co-produced with Sony Pictures. This is a fairly standard workload for Marvel, which requires a vertiginous level of organization and discipline, as well as an ability to delegate.

"Kevin trusts who he hires to fulfill his vision. Brie Larson, star of the movie "Captain Marvel," said Brie Larson. "He seems to understand that his presence changes the mood, but you also know he's working tirelessly behind the scenes, inventing new concepts and ideas for making the best film possible."

At any time, Feige and his team mingle between several movies, some shot on site, others that do not work in the editing room, while developing scenarios for about half a dozen spinoffs at different stages. of development. .

"I call him Yoda because he has a sense of all-knowing," notes Johansson.

The complex nature of the Infinity saga, with each new sequel or spin-off depicting a brick in a multi-movie narrative arc, has forced the Marvel team to think of several stages at all times. While the Russo brothers participated in the post-production of the movie "Captain America: Civil War" in 2016, they created a "War Room" in the editing room, where authors Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have been actively working on the next two films "Avengers".

"We would sit for hours telling a story," says Anthony Russo. "When you work in these compressed times, you need to be disciplined and efficient so that your scripts are in perfect shape when you start shooting cameras on the next one."

Given the financial success of Marvel films, it is easy to forget the precarious position of the comic strip house when it decided in 2005 to start making its own films rather than simply giving up its characters to other studios . While 20th Century Fox and Sony controlled the rights of Marvel's prestigious heroes such as Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, it remained to the company to determine whether there was a liking for movies about lesser-known characters such as than Iron Man and Captain America. . To finance these projects, the studio, which was still two years out of its multi-billion dollar sale to Disney, secured a $ 525 million loan from Merrill Lynch, using property rights on properties such as Black Panther and Doctor Strange. Jon Favreau, the director of "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2", reveals that working on this first film has been a stressful experience.

"We were on a very fragile terrain," recalls Favreau. "This first film could not have felt smaller or more handmade. I was constantly reminded that if we went broke and could not repay the loan, the bank would take the whole catalog. "

Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet attracts visitors to Feige's office. Joe Toreno for Variety

It did not happen. "Iron Man", the story of a dissolute industrialist who rediscovers his moral compbad after being held hostage by terrorists, praised by the public and critics, collecting $ 585 million worldwide and rejuvenating the moribund career from Downey. Marvel was lucky on one important point: there had been comics before Iron Man. Films such as Richard Donner's Superman and Tim Burton's Batman showed in Hollywood that these costumed vigils were the kind of great shows that could transcend barriers and play in front of an increasingly global audience.

And yet, there was some mistrust in the industry in the thought of becoming a full – fledged geek. Moviegoers would pay to watch Spider-Man save New York City from Green Goblin, but dive too deeply into Infinity Gauntlets and Cosmic Cubes and you could alienate much of the mainstream who does not buy comics . But while Marvel became more ambitious in building his interlaced narratives, it was found that viewers were able to keep up, while adding more and more layers of detail and nods to the source material. At the end of "Iron Man," Marvel made the groundbreaking decision to include a short scene or label on the film. Nick Fury, the discreet government agent of Samuel L. Jackson, tells Tony Stark, Iron Man's alter ego, that he is not the only hero with extraordinary abilities.

Sam said to him, "You think you're the only one, but you're not," recalls Feige. "You're part of a larger universe." In many ways, we were saying the same thing. I thought it would only resonate with a small group of comic fans, but it caught the attention of the general public.

Since Marvel began to delve into his catalog, the entertainment landscape has been completely overtaken by nerd culture. Fantasy series and graphic novels such as "Game of Thrones" and "The Walking Dead" became heavyweights, and captaining heroes and sparring protagonists from Shazam to Harry Potter dominated the box. office. It seems that the fringe of comics has fully integrated popular culture. The dorks won.

Mark 1Iron Man's suit stands guard in a corridor at Marvel's headquarters in Burbank. Joe Toreno for Variety

In this climate, the ability to speak as a fanboy is an integral part of Feige's success. After graduating from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts in 1995, he was badistant to Lauren Shuler Donner, producer of "You've Got Mail" and "Dave", who ended up become a director of production. When Shuler Donner was chosen in 1999 to make "X-Men", the first major studio film derived from the Marvel canon, she quickly found that Feige's ideas were invaluable. The fact that he grew up reading comics, unlike many people on the set or in the studio, played a vital role in establishing the authenticity of the mutant team, confirming that everything from spandex they wore to their character, was perfect.

"He helped us make sure we're on the right path," says Shuler Donner, "so that we stay true to the comic while having the freedom to turn history into a different medium."

Few people in Disney know as much about the comic book tradition as Feige. The studio's decision to do "Guardians of the Galaxy," for example, raised eyebrows. After all, it was a series about a great team of interstellar warriors including a bounty hunter raccoon and a talking tree. And yet, the final product was an irreverent adventure that gave a much needed nonnogy to a genre that threatened to become serious.

On paper, the next phase of Marvel Studios is also mystifying. Although there is an independent film "Black Widow" and popular movie suites such as "Doctor Strange" and "Black Panther", many characters who play an integral role are obscure. The Eternals, drawn from a series of comics about a race of proto-humans with a long life, should leave a void for most people, but it will be one of Marvel's next major projects.

Alan Horn, president of Walt Disney Studios, says he trusted Feige to continue to find stories that resonate with a global audience.

"He has earned the right to bring us things we may not be 100% familiar with," says Horn. "How many of 100 people knew Doctor Strange or Guardians of the Galaxy before the film was made? Maybe five. "

A vintage Captain America helmet keeps the company from the Marvel Library. Joe Toreno for Variety

As he strives to find the next big novelty in comics, Feige will have more toys. Disney's recent $ 71.3 billion purchase of much of 21st Century Fox's film and television business gives him access to Marvel characters such as the X-Men, Wolverine and Deadpool, who were previously licensed to Fox. This means that, in the near future, Fox's iconic heroes could join Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, and other Disney-controlled Avengers.

"The details of what it means are still to be seen, but overall, it's wonderful and it feels like these characters have returned home," says Feige. "It will be nice to have what all the others [intellectual property] Holder I can think of, who is access to all their IP. Imagine if Donald Duck was in another studio. Imagine if Dingo or Moana were elsewhere and you do not have access even if they are yours. "

Feige may be vague about the future of Disney-Fox, but Marvel plans to continue presenting movie heroes from different backgrounds. Joining "Captain Marvel" as the studio's first female-centric film – and "Black Panther", was hailed as one of the first big-budget cartoon movies to feature a cast almost entirely composed of people of color – "Shang-Chi" will be the first image of superhero led by Asia.

"The future of these films will be inclusive," promises Joe Russo. "Diversity, in front of and behind the camera, will be its gold standard."

While some film buffs have decried the age of comics, lamenting that they are erasing other genres and discouraging studios from supporting dramas, comedies and other types of medium-budget films, it's easy to ignore or minimize the creative risks that Marvel takes. and the visionary filmmakers that he has employed. "Captain America: Winter Soldier", for example, played as a paranoid thriller; "Thor: Ragnarok" is a triumphant spatial opera; "Ant-Man" is a photo of burglary; and "Black Panther" is a geopolitical action film. Some characters may remain the same, but almost all movies have a distinctive tone.

At the same time, Feige and his team have regularly invaded the world of independent film and television to find unlikely filmmakers. Before piloting "Captain Marvel", Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck were best known for making dramatic dramas such as "Half Nelson" and "Mississippi Grind". The director of "Guardians of the Galaxy," James Gunn, had primarily made low-budget horror films such as under the name "Slither." In the future, Marvel would have asked Chloé Zhao, director of the favorite artist, The Rider, to oversee The Eternals, and hired Cate Shortland, Australian director of the much-admired and little known film. saw "Berlin Syndrome", to execute point on "Black Widow".

The "Guardians of the galaxy" character burst into a corner of Feige's office. Joe Toreno for Variety

"It's the" Moneyball "approach," says Favreau, who believes the strategy of finding art house stars is Marvel's time as an underfunded independent studio. "They have the habit of finding underrated talent and helping them stand out and have a great career."

As for Feige, its reputation as a successful movie builder has earned it being sought after by any media company seeking to boost its box office revenue. But he says that he is not interested in running another studio or holding a senior position in a company. Despite his familiarity with the workings of an editing bay, he is not interested in making future Marvel films.

"I have too much fun working at this level and having an impact on several movies at once to work on only one thing," he says.

Feige's fandom is not an act – and is not limited to superheroes. He listens to movie music while driving, has an office filled with Ewok stuffed toys and Jabba the Hut figures and has an encyclopedic knowledge of everything from the story of Jason Voorhees, the film's famous villain. Horror, in the duo of Sherman Brothers composers. On vacation, Feige loves to take her extended family to Disney World in Orlando; At home, he travels regularly to Disneyland with his 10-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. When Disney announced the purchase of Marvel, Feige met Iger and highlighted his love for Magic Kingdom by displaying his Disney Vacation Club card. For the most part, the boss of Marvel always seems to be able to hold a stand at Comic-Con. His standard outfit is a t-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

"I had a lot of hair that was difficult to handle and I wore a hat all the time. My high school vice principal always said to stop wearing a hat, otherwise I would become bald, "says Feige, taking off her cap to reveal a few lonely strands of red hair. "Of course, I'm the only member of my family to go bald. My father has beautiful hair, my 95 year old grandfather has his hair. Maybe my former deputy director was right about something.

Marc Malkin contributed to this report.