Inside sources suggest Marvel Studios is reviewing its leadership to address its activist staff eager to project their views onto storylines.
But Lucasfilm, the studio behind Star Wars, is said to still be allowing progressive workers to call the shots. Both Marvel and Lucasfilm are owned by Disney, but they operate separate studios and have their own creative teams.
Film Threat founder and acclaimed writer Chris Gore made the claims about Marvel during an appearance on The Critical Drinker podcast on Friday.
“I know people who work at Marvel. They’ve been cleaning up. A few months ago, they quietly fired all the producers who could be described as ‘activists,'” Gore said.
Gore explained that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige acknowledged that taking a proactive approach didn’t work for them, revealing that “(Feige) said he tried it, it didn’t work.”
A film studio behind some of the most iconic superhero movies has reportedly purged its staff of progressive activists in a last-ditch effort to save its franchise, while its rival studio doubles down on progressive storylines.
Insiders suggest Marvel Studios is revamping its leadership to address recent setbacks, while Lucasfilm continues on a troubled creative path.
“He’s talking about Phase 4,” the noted film critic continued. “That’s it. I tried it, it didn’t work. There’s no Kang, none of these supporting characters who don’t have the legacy of the classic characters.
“And if Deadpool and Wolverine prove anything… have you heard the phrase ‘pale and masculine is stale’? That’s been said loudly by every studio. But if you look at this year’s box office, I would say ‘pale and masculine is money. ‘ And that’s the phrase I think people should embrace more.”
By contrast, Gore said rival studio Lucasfilm, also owned by Disney, “is doomed.”
“They’re doubling down on all this nonsense. Nothing good will ever come out of Lucasfilm and Star Wars. That’s all,” Gore said.
Gore predicted a return to success for the Marvel franchise as they released the remaining “woke” films in cans, before focusing solely on entertaining viewers, rather than preaching to them.
“I think we’re going to have a year of bad things from Marvel,” Gore said, referring to the upcoming television series Agatha All Along and Ironheart, as well as the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four.
Recently, Marvel caused a stir among its fans when it revealed that Robert Downey Jr., who played Iron Man, would be returning to the Marvel Universe as the villain Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars duology, a possible attempt to reconcile its audience.
Film Threat founder and acclaimed writer Chris Gore (pictured) called out Marvel during an appearance on The Critical Drinker podcast on Friday.
Recently, Marvel caused a stir among its fans when it revealed that Robert Downey Jr., who played Iron Man, would be returning to the Marvel Universe as the villain Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars duology, a possible attempt to reconcile its audience.
Marvel fans had been eagerly awaiting the introduction of the quintessential villain Dr. Doom and a possible return of Iron Man by Robert Downey Jr.
However, the recent announcement that Downey Jr. would be playing Dr. Doom left them stunned.
“We’ll see how Robert Downey Jr. is used,” said Gore, intrigued by the studio’s decision to bring back an actor who “is a variant of Tony Stark? Is he just an actor playing a different character? So whatever it is, I think it’s interesting.”
Avengers: Doomsday is expected to be released in 2025.
Claims that the films are “progressive” have shaken other Hollywood studios, including a third Disney entity, Pixar. The Buzz Lightyear prequel, Lightyear, sparked controversy over a lesbian kiss, and a Disney executive was caught on camera promising to include as many “queer” stories as possible.
Disney CEO Bob Iger has since reversed course and insists the entertainment giant is putting its stories ahead of activism.
