In the world of entertainment, there are few individuals who have had a greater impact on the industry than Kevin Feige, the mastermind behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, it was recently revealed that Feige’s time at Marvel Studios was almost cut short in 2015, and it was only due to the intervention of Disney CEO Bob Iger that he was able to continue his work on the MCU.
Marvel’s Close Call: Bob Iger Steps In to Save Kevin Feige’s Job
Bob Iger‘s recent interview with CNBC shed light on a crucial turning point in Marvel’s history. According to Iger, in 2015, Kevin Feige, the then-President of Marvel Studios, was almost fired by former Marvel Entertainment CEO Ike Perlmutter.
This was a surprise revelation, given the monumental success that Marvel Studios has had since its creation, with films such as the Avengers franchise, Iron Man, and Captain America, among others.
Iger further revealed in the interview that he stepped in to prevent Feige’s firing, as he believed it was a mistake, given Feige’s talent and the success of the Marvel franchise. He moved the movie-making operations of Marvel away from Perlmutter’s control and into the movie studio.
“In 2015, he was intent on firing Kevin Feige, who was running Marvel Studios, or the movie making, at the time, and I thought that was a mistake, and stepped in to prevent that from happening. I think Kevin is an incredibly, incredibly talented executive. The Marvel track record speaks for itself, and so I moved the movie-making operation of Marvel out from under Ike into the movie studio.”
When asked if this caused any ill will between Perlmutter and Feige, Iger was diplomatic, noting that Perlmutter was not happy with the decision, and the unhappiness still exists today. However, Iger declined to speculate on the reasons behind the unhappiness.
“Well, you’d have to ask Ike about that, but let’s put it this way, he was not happy about that, and I think that unhappiness exists today. And what the link is, between that and Nelson, his relationship, I think that’s something that you can speculate about. I won’t.”
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Iger’s intervention saved Kevin Feige’s job and ensured the continued success of Marvel Studios, and the films that millions of fans around the world have come to love.
Marvel Mayhem Averted: Fans Rejoice Bob Iger’s Timely Intervention in 2015
The revelation that Feige was almost fired in 2015 came as a shock to many fans, who had no idea that such drama was taking place behind the scenes. Many fans were grateful to Iger for his intervention, recognizing that without him, the MCU may never have reached the heights it did.
Thank you Bob 😍 pic.twitter.com/67hTLzOwex
— Trevor Ashman (@kiwi4you) February 9, 2023
Good thing Bob saved him pic.twitter.com/Dmv8vIUmCm
— ⏱Շђє Շเ๓є ๒гєคкєг⏱🇧🇧 (@TheBlackAtomic1) February 9, 2023
Yes, Iver's intervention is the reason we got Civil War and in turn Black Panther… Feige was pushing for it and Ike didn't want it.
I like that they essentially rearranged Marvel so Ike couldn't stop that.
— Craig Penfold 🦄🏴🇪🇺💗💜💙 (@CraigUntlNytTym) February 9, 2023
Fans also praised Feige for his unwavering commitment to creating high-quality films, despite the challenges he faced along the way.
Damn. That would have been their biggest mistake!!!
Imagine firing somebody that literally achieved the impossible:
The Avengers (2012) – 1.51B
Iron Man 3 (2013) – 1.21B
Guardians Vol. 1 (2014) – 773M
Avengers Age of Ultron (2015) – 1.4B pic.twitter.com/r8BVEw3aSA— Albert Ismalaj (@IsmalajAlbert) February 9, 2023
Another user wrote that Kevin Feige is synonymous with Marvel and without him, Marvel wouldn’t be Marvel
Kevin Feige is Marvel. You fire Feige you don't deserve to have the rights to Marvel.
— Gerard Malone (@GerardM45734427) February 9, 2023
Bob Iger saving Kevin Feige from being fired in 2015 is a reminder of the important role that leaders can play in shaping the future of an organization. It’s also a reminder of the importance of investing in creativity and vision, even in the face of challenges.
The MCU would not be what it is today without the foresight and leadership of Bob Iger, and fans will always be grateful for his role in saving the franchise.
Source:Twitter
