If the X-Men and the Fantastic Four are entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige doesn’t know about it.
Image: Fox
Last month, news broke that Disney was going to purchase 20th Century Fox. Immediately, fan culture thought of one thing: Finally, the entire Marvel Comics universe could become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
To be even more specific, it meant the X-Men (which includes breakout characters such as Wolverine and Deadpool), along with the Fantastic Four could, potentially, clash with Iron Man, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, and everyone else who’s already part of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. The only big piece Disney has always been missing are the Fox characters. However, if that were to happen, one man for sure would know about it: Feige. And, as it turns out, he’s just as in the dark about it as we are.
“I read about it in the press like most people did,” Feige told Vulture. “These are big deals and certainly above my pay grade.”
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige (center) with Marvel directors James Gunn and Peyton Reed. Image: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
Buying Fox obviously means more to Disney than just Wolverine and Deadpool, but one would assume that played at least some role in it. But whether or not that’s true, Feige says a potential crossover or blending of the brands hasn’t been discussed yet.
The truth of the matter as I understand it is the deal has to be figured out. There’s been no communication. We’re not thinking about it. We’re focusing on everything we’ve already announced. If and when the deal actually happens, we’ll start to think more about it. Until then, we have a lot to do.
And it’s true – there’s already a lot to do. Such as, release Black Panther in two weeks, Avengers: Infinity War in three months, Ant-Man and the Wasp in six months, Captain Marvel in 13 months, Avengers 4 in 15 months and, finally, a Spider-Man Homecoming sequel in July of 2019. That’s as far as things are planned, at least as far as the public knows. (Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will be coming in 2020, too, but that’s still technically unannounced.)
“It would be years away,” Feige said of any big changes to the roster as a result of the Fox deal. “We’ve announced everything through 2019, so none of those would be adjusted.”
So, hypothetically, could something like X-Men vs. The Avengers be coming in 2021? Yes. But, if it happens, it hasn’t even begun to become a thing yet. At least, according to Feige.
[Vulture]