Marvel Boss Kevin Feige Vows To Steer The MCU Into New Genres In Phase 4 And Beyond

A Marvel-backed Western movie? Or how about an MCU installment that strays into full-blown horror territory?

It’s certainly not out of the question, according to Kevin Feige, after the Marvel Studios president told ComicBook.com that the superhero franchise will “continue to explore other genres” as it nears the fourth phase in its historic lifecycle.

The Marvel executive has been out promoting Peyton Reed’s imminent sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 6th), and when asked if the MCU will ever whisk viewers off into uncharted territory – for a Marvel movie, at least – Feige hinted that he’s not opposed to backing a horror or Western film.

For the meantime, though, the MCU boss aims to uphold the franchise’s track record for exploring “other genres” as time wears on.

I’m interested in all of them. I love film. I love film, I love all different film genres. I saw Hereditary, I’m still rattled by that one. You seen Hereditary? It’s amazing but it sticks with ya. So, specifically, to horror, western, I don’t know but generally to continuing to play with genres and continue to explore other genres, absolutely.

It’s part of the reason why Marvel Studios has adhered to a quota of three movies per year since 2017; not only is the company able to balance the old with the new, but this accelerated output increases the chances of breaking new ground – be it with an MCU newcomer like Captain Marvel or Ragnarok, which offered a total refresh of the Thor series. And it did so with style.

Here’s what Kevin Feige had to say about the studio’s M.O. back in April:

I think it always and I hope will continue to vary. I enjoy very much the success of Thor: Ragnarok, and all of the articles that were being written around the release of that film that ‘the MCU has now just gone full comedy,’ ‘MCU has just embraced the full silliness and is just embracing a very eclectic, strange sense of humor.’ And I remember reading those and thinking, ‘Yes, but wait till you see Black Panther.’ And now Black Panther and the advertisements for Infinity War, ‘everything’s gonna be dark now, everything’s gonna be…’ I will say it always will vary depending on the story we wanna tell on any individual movie.

And after the apocalyptic mayhem of Infinity War, Marvel Studios is now on the verge of launching its third and final movie of 2018 – Ant-Man and the Wasp, a crime caper sequel set within the Quantum Realm. And, well, if that isn’t a palpable shift in style and tone, we don’t know what is.