Success in the movie industry is largely quantified by a movie’s box office take, or, to a lesser degree, its critical reception. By both of these standards, most would considerMarvel’sAvengers: Age of Ultrona hit, since it took in $457 million at the domesticbox office, $1.4 billion worldwide, and scored a solid 74% “Fresh” rating from the nation’s critics on Rotten Tomatoes. However, a new report fromBleeding Coolclaims that Disney actually sees the superhero sequel as a failure, which lead to a big shake-up atMarvelthat could positively impact the studio’s future.
This report claims that Disney has deemedAvengers: Age of Ultrona “failure” because it didn’t eclipseMarvel’s The Avengers, both financially and critically. The 2012 superhero movie ensemble took in $623.3 million at the domestic box office, $166.3 million more than the sequel, and $1.51 billion worldwide, over $100 million more than its follow-up.Marvel’s The Avengerswas also received better by the critics, earning a stellar 92% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Disney reportedly felt that there was not enough movie goers who sawAvengers: Age of Ultronmultiple times, which apparently means the movie “failed.”
Bleeding Coolclaims thatMarvel StudiospresidentKevin Feigeused this as a way to restructure his deal with Disney, whereKevin Feigeand co-presidentLouis D’Espositonow report directly to Walt Disney Studios chairmanAlan Horn, instead of Marvel Entertainment CEOIsaac “Ike” Perlmutter. The site also claims they have two reasons for this “character assassination” ofIsaac “Ike” Perlmutter, who has developed a bad reputation for his thrifty ways over the past few years. But those reasons have not yet been disclosed. We’ll keep you posted as soon as these new developments arise.
This news comes just one day after another report that the much-malignedMarvel Creative Committeehas been disbanded, which has been a source of contention for many filmmakers over the years. Rumor has it that the Creative Committee’s notes onAnt-Manare what drove writer-directorEdgar Wrightoff the project, after being attached as the director and co-writer (withJoe Cornish) for nearly a decade. The Creative Committee included Alan Fine, who came to Marvel withIsaac “Ike” Perlmutterafter their stints at Toy Biz, Marvel Comics writerBrian Bendiswho is a prolific Marvel Comics writer, Marvel Comics publisher Dan Buckley and Marvel Enterprises Chief Creative OfficerJoe Quesada.
It’s worth noting thatAvengers: Age of UltrondirectorJoss Whedonrevealed shortly after the sequel’s release, that making this movie “broke” him, stating that he won some battles but lost others, and that the entire process was much more difficult this time around. He didn’t extend any of the blame for “breaking” him toKevin Feige, who he said was “great” throughout the entire production, but it’s clear that he had issues with someone at the studio. Whether or not the director’s problems stemmed fromIsaac “Ike” Perlmutter’s frugal ways is not known, but withKevin Feige’s new restructured Disney deal,Marvelcould become a studio that is more filmmaker-friendly.
