(Bloomberg Businessweek) -- When Feige joined Marvel 19 years ago, the comic book publisher had recently emerged from bankruptcy. Unlike rival DC Comics, which had its Batman and Superman franchises, Marvel had yet to prove itself at the box office. But all of that changed in 2008 with Iron Man. Today, the 23 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have grossed a combined $23 billion. Black Panther made $1.3 billion globally last year with a largely black cast, and Captain Marvel took in $1.1 billion this year while introducing the company’s first female lead.
Feige treats blockbusters the way Stan Lee treated comics—as serials with interlocking plots and cliffhanger endings. With WaltDisney Co.’s new streaming service, Disney+, Marvel will have even more universes to conquer. (Disney bought Marvel in 2009. It also owns Lucasfilm Ltd., which Feige will team up with on a new Star Wars movie.) Marvel is already planning a slate of TV shows that will add more female, black, gay, and Muslim characters to its roster of box-office staples.
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