Deadpool Creator Calls for Kevin Feige's Firing After Massive Box Office Drop for Captain America

Rob Liefeld, who helped create Deadpool, has publicly pressed Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige to step down, following the underwhelming box office results of “Captain America: Brave New World” this past weekend. This is the latest escalation in his continuing dispute with the studio.

Liefeld expressed his disappointment on social media following the significant 82.4% decrease in attendance for Captain America during its second weekend at the domestic box office, and an additional 71.8% drop compared to its opening over the holiday weekend.

Get Feige off the mound. He’s spent.

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) February 22, 2025

Translation: “Take Feige away from the pitcher’s mound. He has exhausted all his resources,” Liefeld wrote on X, commenting on a discussion about the movie’s noticeable drop in quality.

Following Liefeld’s choice to completely cut ties with Marvel, this move is made after years of perceived disrespectful handling towards comic artists by the company.

In his earlier statements, Liefeld expressed that he felt Kevin Feige didn’t give fair treatment to comic book creators, a sentiment rooted in his personal experience. This is evident by his omission from events such as the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere.

The movie titled “Captain America: Brave New World” has earned approximately $289.4 million worldwide, but it’s been given a relatively cool response, with a 49% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a B- grade on Cinemascore – the lowest in MCU history. The significant decline in its box office performance during its second week has increased the spotlight on Kevin Feige’s leadership.

Previously, the showrunner of the ’90s X-Men series, Beau DeMayo, expressed views similar to those of Liefeld, offering insights into more profound matters concerning Marvel Studios.

The issue at the studio seems deeply rooted in cultural challenges, even reaching the highest tiers of management. For instance, consider the X-Men ’97 series. In March 2024, I had a captivating season 2 with 9 episodes already locked in animatic form, ready for animation. The same post-production polish that Season 1 received was planned for this season as well (where I finessed certain aspects). However, despite being prepared, it appears that they didn’t move forward with the production.

— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) February 22, 2025

As a film critic, I find myself compelled to express my concerns about the creative process at Marvel Studios, which, from my perspective, appear to be deeply rooted within the organization itself. These systemic challenges seem to permeate from the studio’s leadership down to the rank and file, and I believe they are significantly impacting the cultural landscape of Marvel’s cinematic universe.

DeMayo, who was let go from “X-Men ’97” before it even debuted, has been open about his difficult time working with Marvel. His views align with Liefeld’s, implying that Marvel’s problems run deeper than just a few failed films and involve the way they manage their creative team.

The remarks by both Liefeld and DeMayo suggest an expanding rift between Marvel Studios and the creators who originally constructed its dominion. Liefeld frequently voices concerns about Marvel neglecting comic book icons, while DeMayo has revealed what he perceives as a harmful work environment that suppresses creativity.

Amidst Marvel’s struggles with subpar box office performances and internal turbulence, the clamor for change from influential figures like Liefeld and DeMayo, targeting Feige and the Marvel studio culture, has grown increasingly loud. With Deadpool and Wolverine on the horizon and mounting expectations from both fans and creators, all attention now falls upon Kevin Feige as he navigates Marvel through this challenging phase.

2025-02-24 21:55

Deadpool Creator Calls for Kevin Feige’s Firing After Massive Box Office Drop for Captain America

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