Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige Reflects on Stan Lee and Teases Upcoming Cameos
Yesterday was a rough day for fanboys and fangirls around the world with the passing of Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee. So many people were paid tribute to the man, shared stories, and talked about the influences that he had in their lives.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige had a lot to say about the man that played a huge role in everything that we are seeing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In regards to that, Feige told Variety, “The amazing thing to be thankful for is that Stan got to see it all happen.” He went on to say:
“Stan dominated pop culture. He saw it and was aware and he loved it. I’ve been saying for years that the characters he created will outlive all of us making the movies, and enter the pantheon of myth which he read and was inspired by as a kid.”
When talking about Lee’s contributions to bring the MCU to life, Feige said that Lee was “insisting the characters be rooted in their larger social and emotional contexts". He went on to talk about the kind of man Lee was to work with and his influence:
“Stan was always very gracious with all of us at Marvel Studios and very encouraging. Despite his persona on stage, Stan was very humble. He was not the type to come in and tell us how to be, but he encouraged us to follow his lead. Take ‘Black Panther’ — people would talk about the importance of the movie and what a brave thing it was for Walt Disney Studios to spend this kind of money on an almost entirely African-American cast — which is entirely true. But look at what Stan Lee and Jack Kirby did in the 1960s, creating that character in the center of the Civil Rights movement. At many turns, as we work on the movies and aim to do justice, part of that is in taking those kinds of risks. And recognizing the important thematics that Stan did.”
He went on to share what it was like for him meeting with Stan Lee over the years and working with him on these movies. He told Deadline:
“Every meeting with Stan Lee was better than the last. That’s been true from the first time I met him — when I was 26 years old and on the set of the first X-Men movie and we were filming his cameo on a beach in Malibu as a hot dog vendor — to just 10 days ago at his house. That was one of the amazing things about Stan: his charisma and his enthusiasm. For 95 years, almost 96 years, that spirit was infectious and that spirit made Marvel what it is.”
When talking about Lee’s life work in comicbooks and what his stories and characters meant to him, Feige said:
“It’s hugely important and it’s another among Stan’s multitude of genius choices and innovations. He found what was relatable for the readers within these extraordinary characters. I know that’s why I responded to them when I was a kid and why so many people respond to them. Yes, I don’t have super powers, unfortunately I can’t climb walls, I can’t spin a web any size — but I sure felt awkward in high school and I felt the alienation that many teenagers do. That was Stan’s brilliance. Bringing something very personal and very authentic to a canvas that extraordinary and larger than life. “
I think we can all relate to that. He was able to create these characters with super powers, but at the same time makes these characters so relatable.
As for any upcoming Stan Lee movie cameos go, Feige said “I’m not going to tell you what specifically, but Stan always appreciated a good surprise.”
Lee shot a few cameos for upcoming films before his passed and we’ll get to see him in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Captain Marvel, and Avengers 4. We don’t know for sure if he shot cameos for Spider-Man: Far From Home or X-Men: Dark Phoenix. But, there is a chance that he did. We’ll just have to wait and see.