Marvel Exec Says Disney Ruined the MCU—Backs James Gunn (Exclusive)

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During Comic-Con, I caught a lively argument taking place between a previous Marvel studio executive and a well-known visual effects artist from the film industry.

It’s clear they both share the same viewpoint: Disney, not the existing creative teams or executives at Marvel, is primarily responsible for the issues currently faced by the MCU.

In my critique, it became evident that there was a strong sentiment among fans that Disney had mishandled the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The underlying message was unmistakable: they were pointing fingers at Disney’s corporate decisions as the root cause of the MCU’s current problems. James Gunn’s recent comments seem to align with this perspective.

Gunn Blames Disney for Marvel’s Decline

In a current conversation with Rolling Stone, James Gunn candidly discussed the wane of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, expressing that Disney’s eagerness to produce more content, particularly during the surge of streaming platforms, put undue strain on Marvel.

In my conversation, long-standing Marvel executive producer Louis D’Esposito confided in me that such an action was unfair and wrongfully administered, ultimately proving detrimental.

According to Rolling Stone’s report, Marvel insiders have admitted that they made a mistake by releasing an excessive number of films and series within a compact period.

Gunn Clarifies: They Were Screwed by the System

Following a controversial remark about “killing them,” Gunn explained on Threads that he wasn’t suggesting Marvel no longer existed, but rather that the system they were entangled within was flawed and dysfunctional.

According to Gunn, the obsession with streaming everything has led to the demise of numerous valuable aspects due to an unrealistic need for ‘content’ that often cannot be fulfilled.

Gunn said Marvel is now on the other side of that phase, but the damage was done.

DC Will Avoid the Same Mistakes

Gunn explicitly stated that the fresh start at DC Studios will avoid repeating Marvel’s errors. He emphasized that each film and series should stand on its own merit and not be forced to fulfill any specific requirements.

He stated that there’s no specific quota for the number of films and series we release annually… Instead, our focus is always on providing content of exceptional quality.

He added that nothing gets made unless he’s personally satisfied with the script.

“Nothing goes before there’s a screenplay that I personally am happy with,” said Gunn.

Disney Slashes Marvel Budgets, Pulls Back on Content

Kevin Feige and Disney CEO Bob Iger have both confirmed that Marvel is pulling back on content.

As a passionate movie buff, I’ve just learned from Kevin Feige that upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series on Disney+ won’t be directly tied to the films, and the opposite is also true. This means each storyline will have its unique narrative path, offering a fresh perspective for both TV shows and movies in the MCU.

Additionally, due to the poor performances of shows such as “Secret Invasion,” “She-Hulk,” and “Ms. Marvel,” Disney has reduced the production budgets for their Marvel streaming series.

Feige recently blamed the failure of The Marvels on fans not watching Ms. Marvel.

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2025-07-29 08:31