The news broke yesterday evening that legendary director Richard Donner (Superman: The Movie) had passed away, and a lot of prominent actors and filmmakers have since shared their tributes.
Among them is Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. He worked with Donner, and his wife, X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner, in the early stages of his career and it's clear that had a significant impact on him. Feige has frequently spoken positively about Richard and Lauren, and in this statement, he even credits them for their role in his creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
"Richard Donner not only made me believe a man could fly, he made me believe that comic characters could be brought to life on the big screen with heart, humor, humanity, and verisimilitude," Feige says. "Above all, he taught me that it can and must be done with respect, caring, and kindness to everyone in front of and behind the camera."
"Dick and Lauren became mentors during my early career, and key supporters throughout the birth of the MCU. I owe my career to the way they took the time to nurture and teach a kid from New Jersey who didn't know how to use a fax machine or make coffee very well. I always thought that Dick was immortal. I still do. My thoughts are with Lauren and the entire family."
That's a very touching series of comments from Feige, and based on what he says here, it seems we probably wouldn't have the MCU as we know it today had he not spent that early part of his career learning from Donner.
Check out the Marvel Studios President's statement in full below: