Mark Ruffalo recalls Marvel’s Kevin Feige almost quitting due to lack of diversity

Mark Ruffalo looks back on Kevin Feige nearly leaving Marvel Studios.

Mark Ruffalo has provided some new details on the situation that nearly led Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige to leave his post. While speaking with The Independent, he revealed that Feige almost walked out during production on The Avengers:

"“When we did the first Avengers, Kevin Feige told me, ‘Listen, I might not be here tomorrow.’ And he’s like, ‘Ike [Perlmutter, Disney’s largest shareholder at the time] does not believe that anyone will go to a female-starring superhero movie. So if I am still here tomorrow, you will know that I won that battle.'”"

Things ultimately played out in Feige’s favor, as the producer remained with the company and has since produced hit films like Black Panther and Captain Marvel. Ruffalo considers Feige’s success a “turning point” and is excited about what the producer has done, and what he still plans to do:

"“Kevin wanted black superheroes, women superheroes, LGBT superheroes. He changed the whole Marvel universe. We now have a gay superhero on the way, we have black superheroes, we have female superheroes – Scarlett Johansson has her movie coming out, we have Captain Marvel, they are doing She-Hulk next.”"

The actor went on to credit Marvel Studios for diversifying their heroes and making efforts to showcase the world. “No other studio is being that inclusive on that level,” he said. “They have to, though. This is the f***ing world.”

It’s been previously reported that Feige had a difficult time working with Marvel Entertainment’s Ike Perlmutter and Marvel’s creative committee. The CEO reportedly held antiquated views when it came to films headlined by women and people of color. Through his recent book, Disney’s Bob Iger even detailed the hurdles Feige and Marvel had to face to get certain films made.

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Today, Marvel Studios is making efforts to diversify the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the results have been to the company’s benefit. Both Black Panther and Captain Marvel debuted to positive and became box office success stories, with both films finishing their theatrical runs with over $1 billion worldwide. Black Panther also won three Academy Awards, becoming the first MCU film to take home an Oscar.

Phase Four will see more key moments for the franchise in regard to diversity. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be the first Marvel film with an Asian lead. And both The Eternals and Thor: Love and Thunder will feature LGBT characters.