Former X-Men ’97 showrunner Beau DeMayo continues to call out Marvel Studios leadership — this time accusing studio head Kevin Feige of resenting the series’ success, skipping the premiere, and refusing to celebrate the crew’s work.
He also detailed what he calls a broken “parliament” system that gives uninformed notes and outsources comic research to assistants.
Kevin Feige’s “Parliament” of Execs
DeMayo says part of Marvel’s creative problem is “Kevin’s parliament,” a committee of executives who weigh in on every project, whether they understand it or not.
“A committee of executives who give endless notes on projects, even if they are not familiar with the project. Luckily, Kevin and Parliament didn’t care much about #xmen97 so I never received notes from them. It’s one of the reasons I think my team and I were able to pull off what we did. We weren’t making a show by committee.”
Part of @MarvelStudios problem is below. Kevin’s “parliament”. A committee of executives who give endless notes on projects, even if they are not familiar with the project. Luckily, Kevin and Parliament didn’t care much about #xmen97 so I never received notes from them. It’s one…
— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) August 15, 2025
No Premiere Support, No Wrap Party
According to DeMayo, Marvel leadership skipped the X-Men ’97 premiere and refused to host a wrap party — so he paid for one himself.
“One of the many final straws for me was Kevin and the studio leadership not attending the premiere to thank or show support for the cast and crew who busted their ass working 7 days a week for 3 years… And also the studio declining to do a wrap party to celebrate the show’s success in May. Who paid 7k out of his own pocket for the wrap party for the crew? That would be me.”
One of the many final straws for me was was Kevin and the studio leadership not attending the premiere to thank or show support for the cast and crew who busted their ass working 7 days a week for 3 years to make the show what it was.
— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) August 15, 2025
And, also the studio declining to do a wrap… https://t.co/EQ6hHieao2
“Feige Resented X-Men ’97’s Success”
DeMayo alleges that Feige was unhappy with how fans were using the series to criticize the MCU.
“I was told… he’d be ‘happier’ if fans and audiences weren’t using it as a referendum on what the MCU needs to be doing to fix itself. What makes it worse is that Kevin has nothing to do with #xmen97 and could take no credit for it.”
He says Marvel employees privately praised the series as the best thing the studio had done, but that made him a “threat” to leadership.
“Even internally, before the show aired, Marvel employees were reaching out to me asking how I was able to make a show this good given where the studio was… I was becoming a threat and regret to studio leadership.”
Yep. I was told this in a phone call after Ep 5 premiered. I asked the exec if Kevin was happy, because stupidly I still wanted to help the studio out.
— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) August 15, 2025
There response was a long pause, and then I was told that he’d be “happier” if fans and audiences weren’t using it as a… https://t.co/qmhE8vyHMa
“Not Sexy Enough” for Marvel Studios
DeMayo says Feige and Co-President Louis D’Esposito didn’t show up for the premiere to thank the fans, the original creative team, or the voice cast.
“Nope, we were just a little cartoon that wasn’t sexy enough or taken seriously enough to warrant that great Kevin Feige to attend.”
Outsourcing Comic Knowledge
DeMayo also blasted Marvel’s internal process for adapting its source material, comparing it to what Secret Invasion creators once bragged about — not reading the comics, and that the producers behind Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame didn’t bother.
“The assistant to the lead producer actually does all the reading of the comics, and creates a Development Doc… This is done so the actual producer… doesn’t have to actually read the IP they are making movies from.”
He says producers and Feige review that assistant-written document, narrow down ideas, and then hand it to writers — who are told not to read the comics themselves.
“Then… the writers [are] told not to read the comics but instead to… develop a pitch using the Development Doc… Thankfully, Brad Winderbaum knew better to insult my intelligence by handing me such a document.”
Also, remember how the Secret Invasion creators bragged about not reading the comics?
— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) August 15, 2025
Well, this is how Marvel does it.
The assistant to the lead producer actually does all the reading of the comics, and creates a Development Doc that covers the comics and that includes…
“They Need to Go”
DeMayo agreed with comic legend Rob Liefeld that Feige and most of his parliament should be replaced.
“Very few of them, if any, read the comics. They have their assistants — who are almost always actual fans — read the comics and write up ‘reports’ so they don’t have to… This isn’t just about fandom, it’s about doing your homework.”
Beau DeMayo also says he has no faith in Feige and Marvel’s plans for the X-Men reboot.
I agree with @robertliefeld
— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) August 15, 2025
Kevin and honestly most of his Parliment need to GO.
Fun fact: very few of them, if any, read the comics. They have their assistants — who are almost always actual fans — read the comics and write up “reports” so they don’t have to.
I’m sorry.…
