Film producer Kevin Feige (53), president of Marvel Studios, would love to see Adam Driver (42) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But the actor apparently isn't interested. Driver has turned down offers from Marvel Studios so many times that it has almost become a ritual, the studio chief revealed on the podcast "Happy Sad Confused" by Josh Horowitz.
@happysadconfused Kevin Feige says Adam Driver turning down Marvel has become a tradition
♬ original sound - joshuahorowitz
"It's no secret that we'd love to work with Driver", Feige said. "But it's a tradition to talk to him via Zoom, and then he says goodbye. It's a long-standing tradition." The actor is extremely courteous and also speaks openly about his feelings.
Which roles were discussed remains unclear
Feige didn't get specific. He didn't reveal which characters were discussed in the conversations. On social media, there's speculation that Driver might have been in talks for the planned theatrical reboot of "X-Men". Marvel has not confirmed any casting for this project so far.
Driver has never explained why he turns down the offers. It's unlikely due to a general aversion to major studio productions. As Kylo Ren, he was at the center of three blockbusters in the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy: "The Force Awakens" (2015), "The Last Jedi" (2017), and "The Rise of Skywalker" (2019).
Between prestige cinema and independent films
Driver doesn't avoid big cinema otherwise either. His work in recent years includes "House of Gucci" (2021), "Ferrari" (2023), and "Megalopolis" (2024). He also maintains a balanced filmography and regularly shoots in the independent sector, such as "Inside Llewyn Davis" (2013), "Paterson" (2016), and "Marriage Story" (2019). He will soon be seen in "Paper Tiger".
A franchise still appeals to him, just not Feige's. Driver already worked with director Steven Soderbergh on an independent Kylo Ren project. Lucasfilm supported the venture, but Disney stopped it anyway. A Marvel appearance by the actor thus remains what it has been for years: a wish of the studio chief.
