Kevin Feige Compares Fantastic Four to Spider-Man Films

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige admitted that an unusual visual style is not enough to attract a wide audience.

Kevin Feige commented on the modest box office results of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and compared the film to the much more successful “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”. According to the producer, merely striving to stand out from other superhero blockbuster films is not enough, as a story must above all else resonate emotionally with viewers.

Feige addressed this topic while discussing potential audience fatigue with repetitive films. As an example, he pointed to “First Steps”, which received a separate universe and a retro-futuristic aesthetic inspired by 1960s visions of the future, yet finished its worldwide theatrical run with $521 million.

“Several things can be true at the same time. I think last year’s ‘The Fantastic Four’ looked and sounded unlike any other superhero movie, but it only made $521 million. ‘Brand New Day’ is a very straightforward fourth installment. It starts shortly after the events of ‘No Way Home’, but it still tells a story that resonates with audiences.”

Kevin Feige

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” crossed the billion-dollar mark in just six days and set several local and global records. Feige believes that one of the reasons the story resonated with audiences is its theme of loneliness, which is especially relevant to modern viewers:

“Ultimately, it’s a story about loneliness and the danger of living shut in, when we stay alone in our apartments and look at our phones. Right now, that resonates across different cultures all over the world.”

Kevin Feige

The Fantastic Four will return in “Avengers: Doomsday”, which is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026.

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