Kevin Feige Facing Fire as Former Showrunner Slams Marvel’s Failures & Audience Fatigue

Beau DeMayo, the disgraced original creator of the animated series X-Men ’97, who was fired before the start of its second season, has been openly critical of Marvel Studios and its leadership under Kevin Feige. DeMayo argues that Marvel is not simply one successful movie away from course correction. Instead, he contends the studio needs an extended break to rebuild trust, as both fans and creators have grown increasingly skeptical of its direction. His recent remarks on X (embedded below) echo a rising frustration within the superhero community about Marvel’s lack of clear vision and creative vitality.

To those asking why I’m not so hard on #Superman, the answer is I’ve never worked with Gunn or DC.

Like Matt Shankman and the writers of #fantasticfour, I’ve sat in the “creative meetings” at @MarvelStudios. They’re horrible.

You basically sit in a room with Kevin Feige and…

— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) August 9, 2025

Despite high-profile announcements for forthcoming films like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, DeMayo warns that audiences may not turn out in the expected numbers. He points to the studio’s massive production budgets, which he says no longer guarantee box office success. Even with star-studded casts and ambitious projects, he predicts underwhelming returns as interest among viewers fades.

At the core of DeMayo’s criticism is a profound lack of confidence in Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios’ leadership. He questions whether fans should continue to trust the upcoming slate when storytelling and creativity appear to have stalled. DeMayo highlights a persistent problem in Marvel’s films: villains are introduced and defeated within the same movie, resulting in predictable, formulaic plots that contribute to audience fatigue.

The volume of Marvel content is another factor playing against the studio. DeMayo notes that Marvel has released more than 40 MCU films, along with numerous television shows and related superhero content. This saturation has dulled the event status these movies once held. DeMayo bluntly asks, “Who cares at this point?” as Marvel churns out project after project with little fresh innovation.

Turning to the inside of Marvel, DeMayo paints a bleak picture of creative meetings. He evokes a toxic environment detailed by former Marvel staffer Bo Deio, who described sessions where Feige and his team routinely dismiss the creative input of writers and encourage avoiding reliance on established comic book lore. Executives reportedly advise creators against pitching ideas rooted in the comics, saying key leaders “aren’t big comic guys” and prefer content that prioritizes fun and superficial appeal. This attitude alienates longtime fans and undermines authentic storytelling.

DeMayo recalls that even when Feige expressed some interest in comic-based concepts, others would reject them as “too comic booky.” He likens Marvel’s creative process to an assembly line that grinds down creativity and passion, calling it a “slaughterhouse factory” where quality projects are destroyed by poor leadership and arrogance.

Given these ongoing issues, DeMayo suggests a leadership shake-up is overdue at Marvel Studios. He calls for new voices who can revitalize the MCU by reconnecting with fans and committing to thoughtful storytelling. The current regime centered on Feige and his team appears increasingly aimless and disconnected from what audiences want.

Oh no, he did. Just as he was DEEPLY involved in #YourFriendlyNeighborhoodSpiderMan

But as soon as a project underperforms, they’re quick to pivot Kevin away from it to protect his name and then glom him onto anything that’s good.

Look at #deadpool, that was Ryan’s baby but…

— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) August 9, 2025

Marvel’s recent challenges reflect this leadership crisis. Even fans of early MCU entries acknowledge that the formula has grown stale. The sprawling narratives following Avengers: Endgame are becoming convoluted and hard to follow, pushing viewers away rather than drawing them in. Industry whispers suggest Marvel needs to pause, reassess, and restructure rather than continue overwhelming the market with uninspired projects.

DeMayo’s candid assessments highlight serious problems inside Marvel Studios. The future of the MCU may depend on whether its leaders recognize how far off course they have fallen and whether they are willing to make the changes necessary before the fanbase turns away for good.

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