Sony CEO Admits What Went Wrong With The MCU, And How Kevin Feige Is Fixing It

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A top executive at Sony Pictures is openly discussing recent problems with Marvel Studios and how Kevin Feige is working to fix things. After a few difficult years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is now refocusing its direction, with plans solidifying for 2026. While the film industry as a whole faced challenges, some of the MCU’s issues came from creative choices and how things were organized, which are now being re-evaluated. This Sony leader, who works closely with Disney, has praised Feige’s past successes and his new plan for the future of Marvel.

Sony Pictures CEO Tom Rothman recently discussed on Matthew Belloni’s The Town podcast what he thinks caused problems for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and why he believes Kevin Feige is the right person to turn things around.

Victoria Rothman, whose studio has worked with Marvel and Disney on the Spider-Man movies since Tom Holland first appeared in Captain America: Civil War, expressed her deep respect for Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. She even remembers seeing Feige on the set of the very first X-Men film, even when his role was small.

Rothman believes the biggest problem with the franchise lately is having too much content available too quickly. He argues that making things feel more exclusive – creating a sense of scarcity – is key to keeping audiences excited, especially with the rapid expansion on Disney+.

He’d probably agree with me. The key is finding the right balance – like we did when discussing Spider-Man. Creating a sense of scarcity makes something more valuable. Essentially, letting the audience want more of you – a little distance can actually increase their appreciation.

Even with those criticisms, Rothman emphasized his strong personal faith in Feige, saying he would “never bet against” him.

Let me put it this way: there are a couple of people you should never underestimate, and I might think of others, but right now, Jim Cameron and Kevin Feige immediately come to mind. Don’t ever bet against them.

Rothman explained that Marvel seems to be changing direction. He believes the large number of connected shows on Disney+ made it difficult for viewers who weren’t dedicated fans to follow along, making them feel left out.

It’s clear he’s taking deliberate steps to change course. I think a big part of it was how much time he spent watching television and getting caught up in everything connected to it – it made people feel left out if they weren’t fully engaged.

As a huge Marvel fan, I found it really interesting to hear Rothman talk about how Kevin Feige’s approach has evolved. Apparently, earlier decisions were heavily influenced by the previous Disney bosses, but now they’re embracing a ‘less is more’ strategy. He genuinely believes this will be better for the franchise in the long run, especially with massive movies like Avengers: Doomsday coming up – and honestly, that’s a relief to hear!

He received direction from the previous Disney leadership, and as a loyal employee, he followed those instructions. However, I believe he now understands that a more restrained approach will be more effective, and ultimately, very successful. Don’t worry about any potential large-scale problems with the Avengers.

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve been following the news about their upcoming releases, and it’s pretty clear they’re rethinking things. Tom Rothman was spot on – Kevin Feige and the team seem to be realizing that focusing on fewer projects can actually be better. Apparently, after three movies in 2025, Disney is only planning to release Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars over the next two years. Interestingly, Sony, under Rothman, will be the one distributing Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It’s a big shift, but I’m cautiously optimistic about what it means for the future of the MCU.

The executive’s statements confirm a recent report: Kevin Feige is currently focusing all his efforts on the two Avengers movies that will conclude the ambitious Multiverse Saga.

Even though Bob Iger is stepping down from Disney, Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel, will remain in charge and continue to lead the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Rothman clearly has a lot of faith in Feige and Marvel Studios, and for good reason. Their collaboration on the Spider-Man movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought in about $3.93 billion worldwide. Looking ahead, Sony is expecting their new Brand New Day film, set for release in 2026, to be a major box office hit and one of the year’s biggest earners.

Kevin Feige’s Future at Marvel Studios

Kevin Feige doesn’t need to apologize to anyone, including Disney or Sony. The Marvel Cinematic Universe remains the most successful film franchise ever, and its performance in the 2010s set a new standard for box office success – one that will be incredibly difficult to surpass.

Look, the pandemic really threw the MCU for a loop, and with everyone moving to streaming, things felt a little shaky for a while. But honestly, I’m still incredibly excited about what’s coming! I truly believe the best is yet to come for Marvel.

According to Rothman, creating a sense of limited availability can revitalize interest. If the films Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars are successful, they could kickstart a new phase of the cinematic universe in 2028, attracting a fresh audience two decades after Iron Man began it all.

Marvel’s popular characters like the Avengers, X-Men, and Spider-Man will continue to be featured in films, and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe looks promising, with each new installment expected to be even more exciting than the last.

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2026-02-24 22:06