Kevin Feige nearly lost his job before Disney CEO Bob Iger stepped in to save him, Iger says

Disney CEO Bob Iger says he was singlehandedly responsible for saving Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige from being fired back in 2015. 

While speaking with reporters this week after the first quarter earnings call on Wednesday, Iger reportedly told CNBC's Alex Sherman that Marvel Entertainment President Ike Perlmutter wanted to fire Feige before he stepped in. 

The reporter in a tweet shared that Iger said Perlmutter is still 'unhappy' to this day over the Disney CEO stepping in and saving Feige at the eleventh hour. 

Feige- the much loved president of Marvel Studios- is considered the mastermind behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is often credited with the franchise's massive success in the 15 years since launching its first film. 

It's long been stated that Feige and Perlmutter had a contentious relationship and in 2022, multiple outlets reported DC Comics at one point was looking to poach Feige from Marvel to lead their own film studio.

Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, 49, was almost fired by his former supervisor, according to Disney CEO Bob Iger

CEO Bob Iger, 71, said Marvel Entertainment's chief wanted to fire Feige in 2015

Ike Perlmutter, 80, is still 'unhappy' about Iger stepping in and saving Feige 

Feige and Perlmutter had worked together inside Marvel for nearly 10 years before Feige was named as president of Marvel Studios in 2007. 

Back then, Marvel Studios was still under the control of Perlmutter and the general Marvel Entertainment umbrella. 

Their partnership came to a head in 2015, however, over leadership styles and ideas for the future of the studios' film endeavors. 

Perlmutter is notorious for cost-cutting initiatives, including wanting to cut the budget for 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier.'   

The Marvel Entertainment president was also known for his hesitancy to make movies focused on women and people of color. 

In 2017, it was reported Disney 'quietly sidelined' Perlmutter because of his 'outdated opinions about casting, budgeting, and merchandising.'

He decided to 'scale back production of Black Widow-themed merchandise' because he 'believed "girl" superhero products wouldn't sell,' an article from Vanity Fair revealed. 

It took Marvel ten years from the release of their first film, 'Iron Man,' to release 'Black Panther,' the franchise's first film led by a black character. It was another year before Marvel Studios released 'Captain Marvel,' the first movie focused on a female superhero. 

Feige is credited as the architect for the massively successful Marvel Cinematic Universe

The tweet from CNBC Reporter Alex Sherman posted on Thursday

 It took Marvel Studios 10 years to release a film led by a person of color. 'Black Panther' came out in February of 2018 and went on to earn more than $1.349 billion worldwide 

'Captain Marvel' was the first female-led film released by Marvel  

Luckily for fans, Iger stepped in and separated Marvel Studios from Marvel Entertainment in August 2015. The move made it so that Feige and the studios' films were no longer under Perlmutter's supervision. 

As for Feige's struggles with Perlmutter, it was reportedly known to even some of the actors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as Mark Ruffalo, who plays The Hulk.

Feige allegedly went directly to Iger and former Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn, who became his boss after Perlmutter.    

At the time, Perlmutter and Marvel Entertainment was still left with the animation and television departments. 

In 2019, those categories were moved over to Marvel Studios and became the responsibility of Feige, who was named Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Comics, Marvel Television and Marvel Animation.

Variety reported that Perlmutter was being left essentially powerless, especially after the 'turf war' in 2015 with Feige and the film branch. 

'There is enormous internal confusion,' a company insider told the outlet. 'Ike seems to be in a very weak position now.' 

In 2015, Iger separated Marvel Studios from Marvel Entertainment, breaking up Feige and Perlmutter 

'Avengers Endgame' is currently the third highest-grossing film of all time 

Marvel Studios has seen continued success since the 2015 division of power. 

The studio currently hold four of the top 10 box office movies of all time, including 'Spider-Man: No Way Home,' which was released during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

All three of Marvel Studios' 2022 releases, 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,' 'Thor: Love and Thunder,' and 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,' raked in over $340 million domestically. 

Feige is most often credited as the architect of the film franchise's success which is why it came as no surprise in 2022 when it was reported that DC Comics had been hoping to steal him from Marvel. 

During Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the head honcho was fielding offers from DC to help get their 'DC Extended Universe' up and running. 

The rival comic book company has long faced criticism for their inability to create a cohesive universe for DC fans to enjoy. 

The 2022 report from Puck News claimed that Warner Bros./Discovery CEO David Zaslav was considering making 'another run' at luring Feige over to DC.    

The report also stated that Warner Bros. targeted some of Feige's top lieutenants including Marvel Studios co-president Louis D'Esposito, to no avail.

Feige, at the helm of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has led the studio to multiple billion dollar films including 'Avengers: Endgame' 

Feige took over as president of Marvel Studios in 2007

DC also allegedly attempted to poach other key players at Marvel Studios, including co-President Louis D'Esposito  

In October, DC leaders announced that it would be James Gunn and Peter Safran who would take over the helms of the universe. 

Gunn, a Marvel vet who brought 'The Guardians of the Galaxy' from page to screen had previously directed 'The Suicide Squad' for DC in 2021 which received critical and audience acclaim, an unusual feat for a DC film. 

The 'Guardians of the Galaxy' director was also responsible for HBO Max's 'Peacemaker' TV show, a spin-off of 'The Suicide Squad,' which received an Emmy in 2022. 

Gunn will have to make a trip back over to Marvel later this year, however, as he promotes his film 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' which releases in May. 

DC Studios announced James Gunn (left) and Peter Safran (right) would take over the film franchise in October 2022 

Gunn still has to promote 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' for Marvel, which comes out in May

Despite the studios being rivals, there appears to be no bad blood between Gunn and Feige who worked together for years. 

'Not only do I love Kevin, he was the 1st person I told after I did the deal with DC (@JohnCena was the 2nd),' Gunn tweeted in October. 

'Contrary to popular belief, a dollar less for Marvel is not a dollar more for DC. DC & Marvel have the common goal of keeping the theater-going experience vibrant & alive,' the filmmaker said.  

Feige at the time echoed the love. 

'Well, he has got a lot of work to do for Marvel between now and May, which he's well aware of,' the Marvel boss told Deadline. 'But after that, I'll be first in line to see anything he does.'

'I'll be first in line to see anything he does,' said Feige (right) of Gunn (left) taking over DC