Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the underwhelming performance of “The Marvels” at the New York Times DealBook Summit, attributing the film’s struggles to a lack of supervision during its production. Iger, who returned to the top position at Disney in November 2022, highlighted the impact of shooting the film during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the usual level of executive oversight may have been compromised.
“The Marvels,” the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), directed by Nia DaCosta, faced challenges during its production and postproduction phases. Iger acknowledged the unusual circumstances, stating, “There wasn’t as much supervision on the set, so to speak, where we have executives [that are] really looking over what’s being done day after day after day.”
Variety had previously reported that DaCosta began working on another project during “The Marvels” postproduction, which raised eyebrows in the industry. The film’s box office results reflected its turbulent journey, with the lowest opening weekend in MCU history and a disappointing overall performance, grossing $47 million domestically and $187 million worldwide.
Iman Vellani, who stars as Ms. Marvel in the film, had previously responded to the box office challenges, suggesting it was Bob Iger’s problem. “I don’t want to focus on something that’s not even in my control because what’s the point? That’s for Bob Iger,” she said.
“The Marvels” has faced criticism, with The Post describing it as “a sad study of the downfall of America’s favorite screen franchise.” The film currently holds a 61% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Iger also reflected on Disney’s historic success, acknowledging the company’s unprecedented achievements and suggesting the need for a more realistic approach to box office expectations in the future.
