Kevin Feige Issued Shock Ban: Two Names Excluded from All Future Marvel Projects

At this point, MCU has a long history. Starting with ‘Iron Man’ released in 2008 the cinematic universe keeps expanding and we can look forward to plenty of new faces joining the franchise.

Still, despite its enormous success, we can also definitely rule out some faces possibly forever since the head of Marvel Studios blacklisted them despite the success of their projects.

Feige has been pretty open in the past regarding who he likes to work with and who he doesn’t like to work with, and two names, unfortunately, found themselves in the latter category.

In the book ‘MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios,’ authors Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzalez, and Gavin Edwards explore behind-the-scenes problems at Marvel Studios that resulted in Kevin Feige banning two individuals from future MCU projects. The individuals in question are Joss Whedon and Edward Norton.

If the Inhumans could be rehabilitated, apparently everyone in MCU history was on Feige’s call list. Except Edward Norton, the franchise’s first Bruce Banner, and Joss Whedon, whose Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. characters remained in limbo.

The animosity between Edward Norton and the studio is a public secret. Back when the actor was dismissed from his role Feige stated the following:

We have decided to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. Our decision is not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members.

As you know, Edward Norton was the original Hulk in the MCU, but he was replaced by Mark Ruffalo after the first film, and Ruffalo has portrayed the character ever since. Although opinions on how the MCU handles Hulk vary, Norton’s portrayal has largely faded from memory, and Marvel has firmly refused to bring him back, which is quite telling.

There have been numerous rumors about why Norton was let go, ranging from claims that he was difficult to work with—a reputation that often follows the Oscar-nominated actor—to suggestions that he was unhappy with the film and sought more creative control or credit.

The book reveals that a combination of factors was to blame for the situation, with both Norton wanting to do something vastly different with the character that was originally planned and the fact that he was difficult to work with:

“We have a no-asshole policy on our movies,” one Marvel performer summarized.

Then, we have Joss Whedon. Whedon, who directed the first two “Avengers” films, had a specific vision for the direction of the characters and the storyline. Feige, as the head of Marvel Studios, had broader plans for the MCU, which sometimes clashed with Whedon’s ideas.

Everything however culminated with ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ oss Whedon, along with his brother Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, created ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ as a way to explore the world of MCU beyond the main films. Whedon wanted to explore the organization of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the impact of the superhero world on everyday people.

The show initially gained attention due to its connection to the MCU and the involvement of characters like Agent Phil Coulson (played by Clark Gregg). However, early episodes faced criticism for not feeling closely tied to the larger MCU narrative, which frustrated some fans who expected more direct ties to the films.

As ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ progressed, the show began to establish its own identity, which sometimes conflicted with the direction of the MCU. For instance, events from films, such as ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier,’ heavily impacted the show, leading to significant changes in the storyline and character dynamics.

Whedon’s vision for the show included integrating it into the larger universe, but the studio’s priorities occasionally led to tension regarding how this integration should happen.

Whedon never got the opportunity to present the fans with his original vision as he wasn’t all that involved with the show following ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ and the show’s status as canon is not clear to this day.

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