Johansson’s candour lands while Marvel prepares to top that scale. Kevin Feige told exhibitors the newly filming Avengers: Doomsday roster is “many, not all” of the names fans will see, confirming more additions and a six-month principal shoot that begins “in a few days”.
GamesRadar’s CinemaCon report notes Feige’s on-stage joke that even the five-hour chair-reveal “didn’t include everyone”. The studio already lists more than 20 heroes and villains, with Patrick Stewart, Florence Pugh and Robert Downey Jr. among those announced, while Jeremy Renner quipped that “getting everybody together” will be “challenging” but likely inevitable.
Production managers say Johansson’s frustrations are baked into the logistics. Filmustage’s scheduling guide warns that ensemble pictures risk “costly chain reactions” when even one A-lister’s window slips, recommending block-shooting and stand-ins to keep crews moving.
Marvel must juggle that complexity while responding to corporate orders for restraint. Disney chief Bob Iger has repeated plans to “pull back” the number of MCU releases after viewers complained of quantity over quality, and insiders say the phased-down pipeline gives Feige fewer slots to accommodate another sprawling crossover. Yet the producer remains bullish, insisting that soundstage work and carefully chosen exteriors can contain leaks and keep schedules on track.
Johansson, meanwhile, is asserting control beyond acting. She asked Marvel to drop her executive-producer credit on Thunderbolts because “I wasn’t involved,” underscoring how even long-time Avengers are recalibrating their relationship with the franchise’s machinery. Whether the next team-up feels messy or miraculous may hinge less on capes than on call sheets, an issue the studio—and its stars—can no longer shrug off.