‘Hawkeye’ Director Admits It Can Be Scary Living Up To ‘Fan Expectations’

And Their Expectations Are Very High Indeed

By Culture SlatePublished 2 years ago • 3 min read

Marvel directors and actors find the expectations of fans very daunting. The director of the Disney+ Hawkeye series explains that the fans are very serious about the Marvel Cinematic Universe and are very excited about the new projects coming out. Marvel Studios President and Marvel Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige have said that even though rumors are fun, sometimes fans set themselves up for disappointment by fabricating more than any one film can deliver. The type of expectations that fans put on the Marvel universe is a lofty duty. It appears that Marvel fans practically come up with their own theories in anticipation of the new movies and series. For some of the actors, writers, and directors, these expectations can be frightening.

Hawkeye director and executive producer Rhys Thomas commented on the fans' theories stating that the fans' reactions and theories are expected and entertaining. However, he does have some reservations about not living up to their fan expectations.

"You know it's terrifying because you see just how aware people are and how much attention to detail they have, but it's also thrilling to know that people take it so seriously."

His perception of fan theory is that it is horrific because fans are reacting with a lot of detail, but that gravity is what makes it so exhilarating. It stimulates and brings out the best in the Marvel directors, writers, and actors. All Marvel directors agree that there is pressure from the fans’ high expectations. Some other examples of these expectations include having new characters and villains as well as returning characters and villains. Fans even wanted more of the fictional podcast Just the Facts with J. Jonah Jameson from the PS4 game Marvel’s Spider-Man. Even if these expectations are from the gaming world, Marvel is expected to meet them too.

Rhys Thomas also acknowledges Trinh Tran for helping him balance out the fans’ wishes. These expectations from fans also have an impact on Kevin Feige. With the new Marvel movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home coming out in late 2021, rumors about the movie started to surface after the Disney+ release of Wandavision back in January. Those rumors put pressure on Marvel to live up to the fans’ expectations. However, Marvel stirred the rumors with hints of a multiversal war in another Disney+ series Loki. Marvel agreed that meeting such high expectations could be a challenge. However, with the new Spider-Man cinematic production and with the help of SONY, any challenges should be mostly quashed.

Actor Vincent D'Onofrio (Kingpin from Netflix Daredevil series) noticed that fans theorized his Marvel character as being pinned to the new Disney+ series Hawkeye and the new movie Spider-Man: No Way Home. The fans wanted to see Daredevil in Hawkeye and Spider-Man: No Way Home. These reactions caused D'Onofrio to actively respond to fans on Twitter with likes, retweets, and creatively written sonnets. D'Onofrio's experience is just one example of how excited the Marvel fans are and gives Marvel Studios a glimpse of what they want to see.

It appears Marvel fans are in for some big surprises in the end of 2021 and into 2022. Many new Disney+ series and cinematic productions are in the works. In this year alone Disney+ has released many exhilarating Marvel series, both animated and live action, the most recent one being What if…? Marvel actors, producers, and Kevin Feige should have no concerns over meeting or even exceeding fans' expectations. The Marvel fan base is enthusiastic and loyal. Marvel has been around since 1939 and its fans have really taken a liking to its superheroes, mutants, and villains because they are flawed and almost human-like. They are not perfect.