Kevin Feige Responds To Steven Spielberg: Will Superhero Movies Go The Way Of The Western?

In the next five years, we'll see more than 25 comic book movies. Will audiences continue to care about men and women fighting in tights? Steven Spielberg doesn't think so. Now, Marvel head hancho Kevin Feige responds to Steven Spielberg. Read his response after the jump.

Earlier this month The Bridge of Spies director told the Associated Press superhero movies won't last forever.

I still feel that way. We were around when the Western died and there will be a time when the superhero movie goes the way of the Western. It doesn't mean there won't be another occasion where the Western comes back and the superhero movie someday returns.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice director Zack Snyder, to an extent, agreed. Snyder isn't worried about people getting sick of Batman and Superman, considering they're both icons. Marvel CEO Kevni Feige told IGN that if Marvel puts out quality films, audiences will stick around.

In 2001, 2002, 2003 there were two Marvel movies, three Marvel movies, and I still believe the same thing, which is as long as the ones that we can control are as good as they can be, that's all that I care about. I think we've been doing pretty well. I'm very confident in the films we've announced that we have coming forward that they're going to be surprising and different and unique. I've said a lot: I don't believe in the comic book genre. I don't believe in the superhero genre. I believe that each of our films can be very different.

Even if superheroes become extinct, Feige is positive, like westerns, that won't stop more comic book adaptations from happening.

It could, but the Western lasted 40-50 years, and they still pop up occasionally," Feige said. "It's been, what, eight years since Iron Man 1 if we count that, which I do, as the beginning of our MCU? Maybe [the superhero genre] will only last another 42 years.

The problem is, with so many superhero movies coming out, they can't all be great, and even if they are, which is doubtful, won't audiences grow tired of watching the same story over and over again? Some of these movies will follow a familiar formula.

Perhaps if Marvel keeps making different films, that won't happen, but now with DC and Warner Bros. in the game, if a few of those pictures disappoint, superhero fatigue is a strong possibility. There's a ton of these movies coming out, and for the genre to survive, they need to be distinct, not stories that check boxes. Marvel and Warner Bros. are making all kinds of superhero movies, so maybe Spielberg's prediction won't happen anytime soon.