President of Marvel Studios, film producer Kevin Feige, has been leading the organization to its 10th anniversary celebration with huge successes. His personal net worth is about $50 million. His productions worldwide have a combined gross at the box office of $10 billion. A single film, Guardians of the Galaxy, is currently on its way to passing the billion-dollar mark world-wide. Clearly, Feige is superbly skilled. He’s an incredibly intelligent and talented devotee of science fiction and the depiction of fantastic characters in film. His goals for Marvel Studios include bringing all the Marvel characters into film. There are now fifteen films in the Marvel cinematic universe. If Feige continues his trajectory toward success, then his hopes for an enduring Marvel legacy will be realized.
Feige says he’s not a huge fan of comic books.
That’s a strange notion for the man who is an executive for a company which deals with comic book stories and heroes. But, here’s the deal… he IS what he calls “a closet fan” of specific heroes. Which ones? He lists Marvel hero, Iron Man, first; and then Guardians of the Galaxy, second. He also has said that he loves female heroes, and believes that the ones which didn’t do well as films were because the films were technically less well done.
His first job was as an intern in Hollywood.
He was a film student at USC, and there were plenty of internships posted at the school. He wanted to interview at a place which he admired. He felt lucky because there was a flier for Schuler Donner Productions posted on a student job board at the old, now demolished, George Lucas building on campus. Donner Productions made Superman and Goonies and so many other films which he liked. He filled out one resume… the only one he ever did in his life… for that position. He ended up working in many different capacities there, and then he was hired as a part time Production Assistant. When he graduated, he was hired as Schuler Donner’s Personal Assistant. His tasks included heating soup, washing cars, walking dogs, and then… he got to read scripts. It was the beginning of his life in film.
He was equally obsessed with Star Wars and Star Trek.
He said that most people choose one or the other as their favorite. But, his imagination was ignited by both. He said that he was always obsessed with movies, and went every Friday. He only went to the comic book store occasionally on Wednesdays. He lists the Back to the Future films and Goonies as some of his top favorites. He loved the Indiana Jones movies, too. But, he saw Back to the Future 2 in the theater 7 times.
He cherishes creative friction because he believes it leads to the best product.
He believes that working collaboratively allows the best intellectual discussions and film results, even when individual creativity causes frequent head butting. It’s this kind of give and take that he believes makes Marvel Studios so successful. He says that the large number of movie stars who “want to play in the Marvel sandbox” do so because they are fascinated with the roles. He says they also know that people join in the Marvel universe because they trust that their roles will be provided the best support and highest quality production levels. He acknowledges that big money always lures people to big projects. But Feige focuses not on financial reward, but creative fulfillment. He enjoys what he does, and he’s passionate about the creative process.
One of his wildest dreams was to see Spiderman in the upcoming 2018 Avengers: Infinity War.
He said it was so much beyond his wildest dreams, that he refrained from thinking about it and didn’t even dare talking about it in public for some time. Looking ahead, getting all the Marvel heroes together under one umbrella is his goal. He wants kids who loves comics to be able to see their heroes come alive. Replicating the experience of enjoying comics and translating that to movies his passion and what he finds incredibly exciting.
Feige’s dreams also include inspiring the next generation of filmmakers to enter the business and take their own chances at adding to more than 150 years of filmmaking history. His passion for the art is part of his family heritage. His grandfather was a television producer for the highly popular soap operas, As the World Turns and The Guiding Light.
Feige is a study of how to persevere. He applied five times to the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. He was rejected five times. But, he tried again, and his sixth application gave him entrance to study at the school where George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, and Ron Howard had studied. They are his favorite directors. Feige’s Marvel comic book adaptations for film are blockbusters. Feige, the Marvel fan, has certainly won his place in the Marvel universe.
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