We've heard a lot of criticism recently regarding the future of the superhero genre - not least from acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, who predicted it will go the "way of the Western" not too long ago. While promoting the DVD release of Avengers: Age Of Ultron with IGN, Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige addressed whether or not he thought CBMs will ever go 'out of style'...
"People have been asking me that for 15 years. In 2001, 2002, 2003 there were two Marvel movies, three Marvel movies, and I still believe the same thing, which is as long as the ones that we can control are as good as they can be, that's all that I care about. I think we've been doing pretty well. I'm very confident in the films we've announced that we have coming forward that they're going to be surprising and different and unique. I've said a lot: I don't believe in the comic book genre. I don't believe in the superhero genre. I believe that each of our films can be very different."
Furthermore, he claimed that "the Western lasted 40-50 years, and they still pop up occassionally" when asked specifically about Spielberg's quotes - adding "It's been, what, eight years since Iron Man if we count that, which I do, as the beginning of our MCU? Maybe [the superhero genre] will only last another 42 years." Conversation then turned to Zack Snyder's 'flavor-of-the-week' comments. Unlike the media, Feige avoided twisting the Batman v Superman director's words into a heated debate, instead choosing to focus on promoting the qualities of the MCU movies.
"Those are all very different movies. They all happen to be based on Marvel characters and Marvel comics, but from a genre and a cinematic perspective, they're all very unique. Civil War may as well be a different genre from Age Of Ultron. The way Winter Soldier was a political thriller, I think there is a more emotional and more geopolitical and real world through line through Civil War than there was in the broader Age Of Ultron with the killer AI Tony Stark invention. I think it's the same thing as saying, 'I don't know how many more movies can be made from novels. I think people are going to bored with novels being turned into movies. I don't know how long it's going to last.'"
Feige concluded the interview by reflecting on the year so far - in addition to looking to the future. "The year went very well for us," he declared, "The way we wanted it to: big giant movie with huge expectations that met those expectations with Age of Ultron, and a crazy movie that no one had heard of with a character that people were dubious of that also became a big hit with Ant-Man. That had happened the year before with Winter Soldier and Guardians, so for us that very much is in keeping. Next year, we hope same thing for Civil War and Doctor Strange. It is, as it often is with us, sticking to the plan and continuing to follow through on what we've laid out."
Well that plan seems to have worked out pretty well so far. Avengers: Age Of Ultron will be released on DVD October 2. In the meantime, do you agree with Feige's comments on superhero fatigue? Are you a fan of Marvel's strategy? Be sure to sound off below!