According to Mark Ruffalo, fans have Kevin Feige to thank for Marvel’s diversity

During a recent interview, Mark Ruffalo revealed that Kevin Feige fought hard for the diversity we’ve seen recently in Marvel — and we sort of love him for it.

With films like Captain Marvel and Black Panther coming out in recent years — and Marvel’s first onscreen LGBTQ+ superhero heading our way in The Eternals — it’s hard to deny that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become increasingly diverse over the past few years. Although the frachise’s films started out very white, straight, and male, they’ve come a long way — and if the slate of future films and television series is to be believed, they’re still pushing the envelope.

According to Mark Ruffalo, fans have Marvel president Kevin Feige to thank for the much-needed inclusion they’ve seen in the MCU. In a recent interview with the Independent, Ruffalo discussed the systemic racism and sexism often seen in Hollywood at length, and Feige’s efforts to

“When we did the first Avengers, Kevin Feige told me, ‘Listen, I might not be here tomorrow,'” the actor explained. “And he’s like, ‘Ike [Isaac Perlmutter, Disney’s largest shareholder at the time] does not believe that anyone will go to a female-starring superhero movie. So if I am still here tomorrow, you will know that I won that battle.'”

It seems that Feige did win that battle, and thank the heavens for that. This website on its own is proof that women can and will go see superhero films — and most are grateful that the characters onscreen are finally beginning to resemble us a bit!

Of course, Feige’s efforts didn’t end at convincing Disney to get on board with his ideas. It took years for Marvel Studios to finally begin acting on his calls for inclusion, but fans are finally beginning to see the consequences of Feige’s actions. Many of the Phase 4 movies and series star women and people of color, and Feige has been vocal in his promises that fans will see LGBTQ+ characters onscreen in the near future — yes, ones that have more than one line and everything!

“Because Kevin wanted black superheroes, women superheroes, LGBT superheroes,” Ruffalo added. “He changed the whole Marvel universe. We now have a gay superhero on the way, we have black superheroes, we have female superheroes.”

If what Ruffalo says is true, then Feige has definitely changed the future of Marvel for the better. Hopefully, other studios — including the studios owned by Disney — will follow suit. Ruffalo even pointed out that Marvel has become one of the more progressive film studios on this front, but he did add that others would be wise to take notes. In regard to including a broader range of characters, he said, “They have to, though. This is the f***ing world.”

And indeed, it is, Mr. Ruffalo. Indeed, it is.

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