Kevin Feige on Two-Part AVENGERS: SECRET WARS Reports, Adam Driver, and BLADE Makes Him Feel Like "A Gigantic Loser and Failure"
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has been making the press rounds for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and as you'd expect, the conversation quickly shifted from Spidey to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
During a wide-ranging interview, Feige touched on everything from the long-rumored involvement of Adam Driver in the MCU to the troubled Blade reboot, the future of the X-Men, and whether Avengers: Secret Wars is really being split into two movies.
There were plenty of interesting teases, but one of the biggest surprises came when Feige candidly admitted how disappointed he is that Marvel still hasn't managed to get Blade across the finish line.
When asked about the long-running rumors that Adam Driver could eventually join Marvel, specifically speculation that he could play Mister Sinister in the upcoming X-Men reboot, Feige didn't address the character rumors directly. He did, however, confirm that Marvel has been trying to bring the Star Wars actor into the fold for quite some time.
"Many, many, many [conversations]. It's no secret that we'd like to, but it's a tradition to Zoom with him, and then he passes. That's a long-lived tradition. It couldn't be any more cordial. He's usually upfront about how he's feeling."
Driver was previously rumored to be Marvel's top choice for Reed Richards before The Fantastic Four: First Steps ultimately went in another direction, so it sounds like the studio hasn't stopped trying.
The interview also turned toward fan casting when Josh Horowitz brought up Ryan Gosling and Cynthia Erivo, both of whom have publicly expressed interest in joining the MCU as Ghost Rider and Storm.
Rather than shutting the idea down, Feige left the door wide open. "You never know what the future may bring. Both very good actors and great characters."
Then came the topic Marvel fans have been waiting years to hear about: Blade. The reboot starring Mahershala Ali was first announced during San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, but since then it's gone through multiple writers, directors, and creative overhauls without ever making it into production. At this point, it's become one of Marvel's biggest unanswered questions.
Feige didn't try to dodge it. "I'm feeling very excited that we got Wesley back for a time in Deadpool & Wolverine, and like a gigantic loser and failure that we didn't get off the ground with Mahershala."
He clearly delivered the comment with some humor, but it's hard to believe there isn't at least a little genuine frustration there.
Marvel landed one of Hollywood's most respected actors for the role, and seven years later, fans are still waiting for the movie to happen. With San Diego Comic-Con right around the corner, maybe we'll finally hear where the project stands.
Feige also put one persistent rumor to rest by confirming that Avengers: Secret Wars isn't being split into two films. That's been circulating online for months, but according to Feige, it simply isn't happening.
As for the X-Men reboot, he revealed that Marvel has "not necessarily" cast its core team yet, suggesting there's still plenty of time before those announcements begin rolling out.
The conversation eventually shifted to what comes after Secret Wars. While some fans have wondered if Marvel is planning a full MCU reboot, Feige says that's not the direction they're taking.
"No, but I look to the comics as I always do in terms of our storytelling. After both Secret Wars, but particularly the Hickman Secret Wars, there's a nice roadmap to where we can go."
That answer lines up with what many fans have expected. Jonathan Hickman's 2015 Secret Wars comic didn't completely erase Marvel continuity. Instead, it reshaped the universe while keeping most of it intact.
Characters like Miles Morales were folded into the main Marvel Universe, and it's easy to imagine the MCU following a similar path by bringing the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and Earth's Mightiest Heroes together on one unified Sacred Timeline.
There have been rumors suggesting Marvel's First Family could remain on Earth-828 after Secret Wars and that the Multiverse could continue playing a major role.
Still, it would be surprising if Marvel passed on the opportunity to finally have the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men all sharing the same universe after spending years building toward that moment.
For now, Marvel's biggest crossover event remains on the horizon. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.
If Feige's comments are any indication, the MCU's next era is starting to come into focus, even if a few major puzzle pieces, especially Blade, are still waiting to fall into place.