Marvel Movie Boss Responds to Diversity Criticism

Marvel Studios has come under fire for its lack of diversity in its films' casts, most notably for this year's Doctor Strange. In an interview with Vulture, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige responded to the diversity criticisms, stating that diverse casts are important to the company.

"I think that in the movies we've already made, and certainly in the movies that are coming up, it will be as inclusive a group of characters as one could want," Feige explained. "For us, it's important that we don't feel like a completely white, European cast.

Vulture points out that while a role like Doctor Strange's Ancient One has gone to a white actor--which Feige and director Scott Derrickson said they did to avoid a stereotype--Marvel has cast several actors of color in prominent roles. Chiwetel Eijofor (12 Years a Slave) plays the traditionally white Mordo in Doctor Strange, while Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Beyond) appears in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Zendaya (K.C. Undercover) co-stars in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Tessa Thompson (Creed) features in Thor: Ragnarok, and Lupita Nyong'o (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) appears in Black Panther. Feige added that next year's Spider-Man: Homecoming is a big step forward for the studio in regards to a bigger push for diversity.

"[Homecoming director Jon Watts] came in and had pictures of real high schools, and they are as diverse as you could imagine," he said. "That was something that was important to us, to set it apart from other Spidey films that have been made--to carve that niche--and to have it represent the world today."

Spider-Man: Homecoming opens in theaters on July 7, 2017. In addition to Zendaya, it stars Tom Holland (Captain America: Civil War), Donald Glover (Atlanta), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler), Michael Keaton (Spotlight), Tony Revolori (The Grand Budapest Hotel), and Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo).