On the eve of Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine releasing in theaters around the world, stars from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe—including Emma Corrin, Chris Evans, David Harbour, Kathryn Hahn, Hugh Jackman, Brie Larson, Simu Liu, Ke Huy Quan, Ryan Reynolds, Sebastian Stan, and Chris Pratt—assembled to celebrate producer and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige receiving the 2,785th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Usually, we think it’s a place for movie stars,” Feige said, “and I’m not a movie star.”
Indeed, the sidewalks on Hollywood Blvd. are lined with names of stars that span motion pictures, radio, television, and beyond—and Feige has been admiring them since childhood visits to Los Angeles. “These are people who made an impact. These are people who literally have become a part of the foundation of Hollywood history,” he said. “There were names I recognized that I would take pictures of, and there were names I didn’t recognize that I then wanted to learn about. I feel proud that maybe I’ll be of those names people walk across and don’t recognize but look up and see our part in the history of Hollywood.”
One of few producers to receive a star, Feige added, “It really does mean a lot to me. It goes back to things you didn’t even dare dream about—and yet, there it is for all to see.”
Feige is the driving creative force behind dozens of blockbuster feature films and series, from Iron Man (2008) to Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). As the chief architect of the MCU—the highest-grossing film franchise of all time—he has overseen all of Marvel Studios’ feature film productions. All 33 films have opened No. 1 at the domestic box office, collectively grossing nearly $30 billion, with 10 of the films grossing more than $1 billion worldwide, and two of those films, Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), earned more than $2 billion—with the latter being the fastest film to ever do so.
During Thursday’s ceremony in front of Disney’s El Capitan Theatre, Reynolds praised Feige’s creativity and leadership, saying, “He is quite literally an anchor being in real life, and he keeps the Marvel Universe alive and well and vital. Without him, none of this works. In his wake, I think people will remark on his career achievements over his character. And if you ask me, you genuinely can’t have one without the other. His character is the reason he makes magic—and his character is the reason many of us have stars on the Walk of Fame.”
Louis D’Esposito, Co-President of Marvel Studios, has worked with Feige since the MCU began with Iron Man. “Since then, Kevin and I spend approximately 95 percent of our working day together. We go from meeting to meeting, morning ’til night, day in and day out. This has been going on for the past 18 years. And after all this time, I can honestly say… we don’t have very much in common,” D’Esposito said, eliciting a big laugh from Feige and the crowd. “…Even though I’ve been with him a very long time, he impresses me every day.”
Following a touching speech by Jackman—who befriended Feige while making 2000’s X-Men and reprises his role as the mutant Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine—it was time for Feige to address the audience. “Producing is all I’ve ever really wanted to do, ever since I knew it was a thing that a person could do,” he said. “And to be able to do it [with] the most talented actors and storytellers in the business is more than I could’ve ever asked for.”
After sharing fond memories of film premieres and shoots that took place on Hollywood Blvd. throughout the years, he took a moment to celebrate his collaborators’ contributions.
“Obviously, I’m not up here because of anything I did by myself… I had all this help along the way,” Feige said. “I really think that is why filmmaking is the greatest art form, because it is a collaboration, each and every day. It’s why we put tags at the end of our movies. I like them because it encourages people to sit and watch all of the names of the people who made the movie, and learn what the positions are, and learn who the people were—much like walking on this boulevard encouraged me to learn, and to grow, and to enter this business that I love so much and I look forward to being a part of for the rest of my life.”
“Getting a star on the Walk of Fame seemed about as likely as Disney releasing an R-rated film with Marvel characters in it, but here we are today,” he added. “Both are happening.”