Marvel Studios executive Victoria Alonso recently discussed the future of Marvel Studios, talked about her own executive journey, and promised Marvel Studios will be developing more animated series following their upcoming What If…? series.
Alonso spoke with Variety’s Mark Malkin at the NALIP Media Summit.
She first teased, “We have so much coming your way that you might tell us, ‘Okay, take a break now!'”
Alonso then confirmed that some of what they will be developing will be animated.
She explained, “We’re going to have our animation branch and mini studio, and there will be more to come from that as well.”
“We’re super excited about animation, which is my first love,” she added.
Marvel Studios first animation project is What If…? The series will feature a number of MCU characters including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, and Thor. Marvel claims the series will reimagine “famous events from films in the MCU” by exploring “a multiverse of infinite possibilities.”
The series is directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as the head writer. It’s expected to hit Disney+ on August 11th.
While Alonso promised a lot more content from Marvel Studios including more animation, she also doubled down on her claims that one of her main goals at the company is to increase diversity efforts.
She explained, “There’s something really magical about being seen. When you are being seen, the shame drips down like there’s no tomorrow. There’s a layer of shame that goes away, there’s a layer of ‘I don’t belong. I don’t deserve it, I am not worthy’ that goes away.”
Alonso previously claimed that Marvel Studios is leaving money on the table by not representing people.
She explained, “So you can look at it from the social point of view, the cultural point of view. But truthfully, this is a business. From a fiscal point of view, you are leaving money on the table by not representing.”
Alonso would then go on to detail her own experience in Hollywood to Variety, “I walked into rooms that I wasn’t invited to, but I should have been there, and I just sat there until somebody asked me to leave.”
She further relayed, “If you cannot find your fit in those rooms, make your own rooms for you. If the room didn’t want me, I walked away, unless I felt like I belonged in that room, and I refreshed their minds of the reasons why I should be there.”
Interestingly, Alonso would also claim Marvel is listening to fans when they voice concerns about the company’s films and TV shows.
She explained, “I think it’s important to consistently listen to what fans are saying. If there’s a vast majority that feels that something is not hitting home, then we need to look at it.”
However, she then noted there are times where they will just ignore fans, “But then there’s times where we say, ‘You know what, this is a story we’re gonna tell.'”
Related: Marvel Producer Victoria Alonso Believes The Name X-Men Is “Outdated”
Finally, Alonso gave advice to young storytellers telling them, “You don’t need a cape, you don’t need a hammer, you don’t need a shield.”
She continued, “Your superpower is your voice, and your voice will create change for yourself, for society and for those who you love.”
“If you use your voice, you will create the kind of energy that will bring change to us. To not use your voice is silence, and silence is poison,” she concluded.
What do you make of Alonso’s comments are you surprised by any of them? Do you plan on creating your own rooms?