This week, rumors circulated online regarding an alleged confrontation between Robert Downey Jr. and Ryan Reynolds during the filming of Avengers: Doomsday. These claims quickly spread across social media and some media outlets, but they are completely unfounded and false. While disagreements among actors on set can occur, such incidents are typically kept private and rarely surface publicly.
Despite the lack of truth behind the Ryan Reynolds MCU set clash rumors, Marvel Studios has seen various intense conflicts behind the scenes over the years involving not only actors but also executives and filmmakers. These disputes have shaped the trajectory of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in significant ways.
Victoria Alonso’s Departure and Disputes Over LGBTQ Representation
In 2023, Victoria Alonso, who served as President of Physical and Postproduction, Visual Effects, and Animation Production at Marvel Studios, was dismissed after a sixteen-year tenure. Reports vary on the reasons, with some citing her use of time off to promote external projects, while others highlight her outspoken criticism of Disney’s position on Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Kevin Feige, the MCU’s chief creative officer, reportedly disapproved of Alonso’s public opposition to Disney’s policies.
The book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios revealed a pivotal moment when Alonso resisted Marvel Studios’ demand to remove LGBTQ pride symbols from Quantumania for international markets.
Alonso refused to act on Marvel Studios’ request to remove LGBTQ pride symbols from Quantumania for foreign markets. The atmosphere at the studio was tense: the department of ‘yes’ had said ‘no.’ D’Esposito outsourced the VFX work anyway, an act Alonso regarded as a betrayal.
—MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios
As a lesbian, Alonso’s defense of LGBTQ representation aligns with her personal identity, and many support her stance. Nevertheless, Disney and Marvel Studios maintain that she violated her contract and have cited Alonso as a factor contributing to what they describe as a toxic work environment for VFX artists at Marvel.
Spider-Man’s Studio Battle: Marvel Studios vs. Sony Pictures
During the production of Spider-Man: Far From Home, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures faced a critical dispute over the rights to the Spider-Man character. Negotiations broke down, casting doubt on Marvel’s involvement in the upcoming third installment of the franchise. Fans and industry figures, including the Russo Brothers and actor Tom Holland, expressed dismay at the prospect of Sony proceeding without Marvel’s creative input.
Holland personally reached out to Disney CEO Bob Iger in an effort to resolve the disagreement. Thankfully, a new deal was finalized, preserving the collaboration that has become central to Spider-Man’s success within the MCU.
This clash was not the first between the two companies. Amy Pascal, a Sony executive, reportedly once threw a sandwich at Kevin Feige when he suggested Sony needed Marvel Studios’ guidance. Had the partnership ended, pivotal films like Spider-Man: No Way Home would never have materialized. Rumors suggest that in Sony’s planned version, Kraven the Hunter would have been the primary villain, with Peter Parker hunted down after his secret identity was exposed. A crossover with Venom may also have been imminent without Marvel’s oversight.
Power Struggles: Kevin Feige’s Fight Against Isaac Perlmutter
Isaac Perlmutter, who served as Chairman of Marvel Entertainment, was initially Kevin Feige’s boss, overseeing the creative direction Marvel Studios took. However, Feige grew increasingly frustrated with Perlmutter’s penny-pinching tendencies and interference. Perlmutter empowered a group of comic book writers and executives to overrule Marvel Studios’ decisions, which created internal discord.
One notable incident involved Perlmutter’s willingness to let Robert Downey Jr. go rather than meet his salary demands for Captain America: Civil War. Moreover, Perlmutter attempted to push an Inhumans film on Marvel Studios, believing the Inhumans could fill the void left by Fox’s X-Men properties. These conflicts pushed Feige to appeal directly to Bob Iger to grant Marvel Studios autonomy.
Following Iger’s approval, Marvel Studios gained independence, and Perlmutter was eventually removed from power, ending his direct influence over the MCU’s creative decisions.
Edgar Wright‘s Departure Over Creative Disputes for Ant-Man
Edgar Wright, known for directing cult hits like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, initially signed on to direct Marvel’s Ant-Man. However, repeated delays and the MCU’s rapid expansion complicated the project’s direction. As the shared MCU universe took shape, Marvel Studios wanted to integrate the Ant-Man storyline within the broader narrative.
Kevin Feige assigned in-house writers to alter Wright’s screenplay, creating tension between the director and the studio. Wright, a highly regarded writer-director, found the exclusion from the rewriting process difficult to accept. He explained his predicament:
I was the writer-director on it and then they wanted to do a draft without me, and having written all my other movies, that’s a tough thing to move forward [with],
—Edgar Wright, Director
Following these creative differences, Wright left the film, despite having already cast many roles and choreographed key scenes.
Alan Taylor’s Criticism of Thor: The Dark World’s Final Cut
Alan Taylor, recognized for directing episodes of Game of Thrones, was selected to direct Thor: The Dark World with the hope that he would bring a Westeros-like atmosphere to Asgard. Instead, the film became a more conventional blockbuster with much of the action set in London.
Taylor openly criticized the post-production decisions made by Marvel Studios, particularly distancing himself from the film’s post-credits scene, which linked the story to Guardians of the Galaxy. At the film’s premiere, Taylor stated:
very happy not to take responsibility
—Alan Taylor, Director
He further described his experience with the studio:
The Marvel experience was particularly wrenching because I was sort of given absolute freedom while we were shooting, and then in post it turned into a different movie,
So, that is something I hope never to repeat and don’t wish upon anybody else.
—Alan Taylor, Director
Edward Norton and Marvel Studios: A Troubled Collaboration
The MCU’s 2008 film The Incredible Hulk followed Iron Man but failed to achieve similar acclaim or commercial success. Actor Edward Norton gained a reputation for being difficult, stemming partly from prior conflicts such as his replacement of Tony Kaye on American History X.
Norton attempted to exert significant creative control on The Incredible Hulk, rewriting scenes on set. Despite these efforts, many felt that his contributions were minimized in the final cut, leading Norton to refuse participation in promoting the movie. This strained relationship contributed to the film’s muted reception compared to other early MCU projects.
The Rift Between Marvel Studios and Marvel Television
For years, Marvel Studios and Marvel Television operated as separate entities with a broad divide that ultimately hindered cohesive storytelling across film and TV. Disney eventually resolved this by granting Kevin Feige full creative control over all MCU-related stories, including those on television.
Previously, Marvel Television was run by Jeph Loeb and influenced by Isaac Perlmutter, often left with leftover characters and storylines that Marvel Studios either declined or was forced to relinquish. This separation resulted in shows with loose connections to the core MCU.
Feige openly avoided addressing why major characters such as Daredevil and Luke Cage did not appear in films and admitted to not having watched the entire Daredevil series. Initially, Daredevil: Born Again was set for a full reboot before fan demand reshaped the plan.
It has since come to light that Marvel Studios intentionally undermined Marvel Television projects by destroying S.H.I.E.L.D. in Captain America: The Winter Soldier without regard for the continuity of the TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. They also prohibited the television team from using certain characters, such as M.O.D.O.K.
Joss Whedon’s Struggles with Marvel Studios Over Creative Control
Joss Whedon directed Marvel Studios’ first blockbuster to surpass $1 billion in box office revenue with 2012’s The Avengers. However, his experience during the production of the 2015 sequel, Avengers: Age of Ultron, was fraught with creative conflicts. Whedon fought to retain several crucial scenes, including the Scarlet Witch’s visions and the team’s visit to a farmhouse.
Despite his efforts, Whedon was compelled to include a subplot involving Thor and the Infinity Stones that he regarded as detracting from the film’s quality. Reflecting on this, he said:
With the cave, it really turned into: they pointed a gun at the farm’s head and said, ‘Give us the cave, or we’ll take out the farm’ … in a civilised way,
I respect these guys, they’re artists, but that’s when it got really, really unpleasant.
—Joss Whedon, Director
Further complicating matters, Feige allegedly misled Whedon by promising Captain Marvel’s inclusion in a key scene, only to later replace her with Wanda Maximoff in post-production. These disputes contributed to Whedon’s decision not to return for Avengers: Infinity War.
The Lasting Impact of Behind-the-Scenes Clashes on the MCU
The rumors surrounding a Ryan Reynolds MCU set clash have been thoroughly debunked, yet the history of tension within Marvel Studios is undeniable. Conflicts involving Victoria Alonso, Kevin Feige’s power struggles with Isaac Perlmutter, disputes over creative control with directors like Edgar Wright and Joss Whedon, and the divide between Marvel Television and Studios have all left an imprint on the franchise.
These feuds reflect the complexity and high stakes of managing one of the world’s most successful entertainment franchises. They also highlight the challenges of balancing artistic vision, corporate interests, and fan expectations in a fast-evolving cinematic landscape. How Marvel chooses to navigate future collaborations and creative disagreements will greatly affect the direction of the MCU going forward.
