Marvel's Kevin Feige Frustrated by X-Men '97 Success, Ex-Showrunner Calls Out Disrespect!

The off-camera turmoil at Marvel Studios persists, with Beau DeMayo, a previous producer of the ‘X-Men ’97’ series, openly accusing Marvel chief Kevin Feige of being displeased by the success of the animated program. In a critical post on social media platform X, DeMayo suggests that Feige deliberately kept his distance from the project, but later showed signs of irritation when it turned out to be one of Marvel’s most popular releases on Rotten Tomatoes.

DeMayo Alleges Feige Gave No Support to X-Men ’97

According to DeMayo’s post, he was told by someone from Marvel Studios that Feige felt uneasy about the favorable response of the show and its comparisons to the movie ‘X2: X-Men United’, which Feige had a hand in producing during the early stages of his career.

It’s quite unfortunate, isn’t it? I recently learned from an employee at Marvel Studios that Kevin Feige himself expressed his contentment over the show’s success and its status as their top-rated project on Rotten Tomatoes. Interestingly, he mentioned that he’d rather it not be seen as a benchmark for evaluating…

— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) March 18, 2025

“According to an employee from Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige’s reaction to the show’s success and its top rating on Rotten Tomatoes was that he didn’t want it to be a measure of the MCU’s shortcomings. He also expressed frustration that people often compare it to X2. DeMayo mentioned this during an appearance on X. Feige had initially ignored #xmen97, as he wasn’t involved with it. DeMayo pitched the project to him and was hired, but never received any feedback from him afterwards. Now, it seems, he’s irritated that the show did well without his direct involvement.”

In simpler terms, it was disclosed by DeMayo that Marvel Studios chose not to arrange a celebration event when the production of X-Men ’97 concluded. Instead, it was left for DeMayo himself to cover the costs and organize a party to honor the team’s accomplishments.

He expressed that it was somewhat disregardful and arrogant, he stated. This is the reason I ended up covering the wrap party costs for the team from my own funds since Marvel didn’t acknowledge their hard work. I never realized that heroes could be like this.

Tensions Between DeMayo and Marvel Studios

Previously, Beau DeMayo has had disagreements with Marvel management that have become public. As mentioned in our earlier articles, DeMayo was dismissed before the release of X-Men ’97, following allegations – yet to be proven – that he sent improper images to his male colleagues. These accusations, which DeMayo has strongly denied, are what he described in a recent video statement as part of a campaign aimed at damaging his reputation and diverting attention from potential wrongdoing within Marvel Studios.

He declared that these accusations of serious wrongdoing are entirely unfounded. The gossip circulating about him online is fabricated and hurtful. However, what’s even more troubling is that it appears to be a smear tactic intended to undermine my reputation. This campaign reaches back to certain staff members on X-Men ’97, and extends all the way up to the leadership at Marvel Studios, with the aim of concealing egregious, biased misconduct.

Marvel’s Creative Interference Alleged by DeMayo

In the same video, DeMayo also asserted that Marvel executives attempted a significant change in the mood and storyline of the X-Men ’97. He claimed these executives were upset by DeMayo’s commitment to keeping true to the comics and the original animated series and instead aimed to transform the show into something more in line with today’s ideological storytelling.

He stated, “When I pointed out certain issues, they switched their criticism to questioning my skills, labeling me as overly enthusiastic about the material. They openly showed animosity towards me advocating for fans who loved comics. They accused me of merely imitating those comics and were consistently telling me that we should create our own X-Men stories, write fresh tales rather than adapting ones written by ‘older white authors,’ which I believe they meant to imply people like Stan Lee and Chris Claremont.

DeMayo shared some of the imaginative ideas he turned down, such as a proposal by Marvel to portray Jubilee using hand gestures associated with street culture and shooting energy blasts shaped like offensive gestures.

He stated that these people tried to undermine me at work by portraying me as abusive when I refused to alter character traits significantly, specifically by not allowing Jubilee to shoot plasmoids from her mouth, make gang signs, or create plasmoid art in the sky resembling offensive gestures.

Pointing to Disney’s Feminist Agenda

Additionally, DeMayo criticized what he referred to as Marvel’s feminist approach and perceived bias against male characters, notably Cyclops.

In his video address, he mentioned that it’s inappropriate for a cast member on the program to consistently label all men as insensitive individuals and to implicate him by saying he’s undermining our shared goal because I’m allowing a man like Cyclops to continue leading the group.

This criticism emphasizes a more extensive argument that’s been raised against Disney and Marvel Studios in recent times – essentially, the tendency to prioritize female-empowerment narratives over well-established male characters.

Feige’s Post-Endgame Struggles

It’s worth noting that DeMayo’s claim about Feige being frustrated by the success of X-Men ’97 arises at a period when Marvel Studios has been receiving more frequent criticism regarding their projects following the end of Endgame. The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe productions, such as Eternals, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Marvels, and even the recently premiered Captain America: Brave New World, have received lower box office earnings, mixed reviews from critics, and a growing sense of exhaustion among fans.

It’s quite possible that Kevin Feige feels frustrated because the revival of X-Men ’97 has become Marvel’s most successful project in a long time, and many fans are likening it to classic hits like X2. This success, however, comes from the series existing independently of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s interconnected storyline, and without his direct creative influence.

Recently, even renowned creator of Deadpool, Rob Liefeld, has taken aim at Feige, claiming dismissive conduct towards him during the debut of Deadpool & Wolverine. This seems to hint at some tension brewing within Marvel Studios.

What’s Next for X-Men ’97?

After DeMayo’s departure, Marvel Studios revealed that they are developing Seasons 2 and 3 of X-Men ’97. Matt Chauncy will take over as the new showrunner. Reports suggest that Season 2 has undergone some changes, but a definite release date hasn’t been set yet.

Meanwhile, DeMayo continues to disagree with Marvel Studios, as his lawsuit persists. He’s suggested that he might disclose further information—perhaps even identifying key figures within Marvel—as the court hearing draws near.

It’s evident that the disagreements between DeMayo and Marvel Studios aren’t likely to end soon, and the continued success of ‘X-Men ’97’ only serves to underscore the growing frictions within Disney’s previously indomitable superhero realm.

2025-03-19 00:56

Marvel’s Kevin Feige Frustrated by X-Men ’97 Success, Ex-Showrunner Calls Out Disrespect!