Dunn wasn't sold on Kevin Feige's "Mercenary Heroes Team" idea—he was keeping his cards close to the chest on that one.
But man, did it sound exciting!
Based on Marvel Studios' current slate, Spider-Man 2 would hit in 2002, followed by Daredevil and Ant-Man in 2003, Spider-Man 3 and Ghost Rider in 2004, and Iron Man plus Ant-Man and the Wasp in 2005…
By February 2006, Thor would drop, Daredevil 2 would land in May, and then July would bring the roaring debut of The Avengers!
If the "Mercenary Heroes Team" actually came together, they could assemble for the first time in 2008—think Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Black Widow, the Punisher, and a handful of sidekicks. Even Daredevil could cameo without tarnishing his lofty image.
How epic would that be?
2006: Avengers assemble. 2008: Mercenary Heroes unite. 2010: Avengers again. 2012: Heroes team up once more…
Boom—every two years, a massive crossover!
Marvel Studios would flat-out dominate the superhero movie market. The X-Men series and DC's lineup would be relegated to scraps.
Thanks to Dunn's influence, this Hollywood timeline had no "Spider-Man Universe." So why not let Spider-Man lead a "Mercenary Heroes Team"? It could work!
"Let's not rush it. There's time. We'll see how it plays out," Dunn muttered to himself, stretching as he wrapped up the meeting and headed back to his office.
To his surprise, Kevin Feige trailed after him.
Dunn shot him a curious glance, figuring he was still hung up on the "Mercenary Heroes" pitch. "Kevin," he said with a grin, "honestly, your idea's awesome! But right now, it's risky. Marvel Studios can only have one core universe—the Avengers are the backbone. Throwing another team into the mix could muddy the waters."
"I get it. It'll take time and market testing," Kevin replied, not taking Dunn's gesture to sit. Instead, he stood respectfully in front of the desk like a proper subordinate. "Boss, I actually wanted to talk about something else."
"Oh?" Dunn gave him a deep look, smiling. "Alright, let's hear it."
Kevin spoke slowly, "Marvel's got so many superheroes—tons that just don't fit the big screen. Relying only on movies would waste a huge chunk of Marvel Studios' potential."
Dunn chuckled. "You're thinking… TV shows?"
Kevin straightened up, serious. "The big screen can't handle stuff that's too dark, but TV's got no such limits. And I hear the company's pushing hard to boost Tarz Network lately, with content as the key breakthrough, right?"
"Kevin, I've got to hand it to you—your mind's always buzzing!" Dunn laughed, clearly in a good mood. "So, what's your plan?"
"I want to produce a TV series!" Kevin squared his shoulders, locking eyes with Dunn. "I know I don't have a ton of experience, but working on Spider-Man taught me the whole filmmaking process."
Dunn was young himself—barely 30 this year.
But after years in the industry, he'd started to lose sight of that, picking up the same age biases as his peers. Kevin Feige was undeniably talented, but he wasn't even 28 yet…
In the old timeline, Kevin had been 27 in 2000, assisting on X-Men as a production assistant. By 2002, he'd done the same for Spider-Man. At 30, in 2003, he stepped up as an executive producer, calling shots on X2, Daredevil, and Hulk.
From then on, he was in on every Marvel adaptation, eventually taking the reins of Marvel Studios in 2007 at the "tender" age of 34. He convinced the higher-ups to bet the farm—loans, investors, all-in risk—and delivered Iron Man, a runaway smash.
A true young Hollywood powerhouse!
Right now, though, his resume was thin. He'd only worked on Dunn's Spider-Man, so his experience was a bit green.
Dunn mulled it over, not wanting to rain on his parade. "What's the direction for the show?"
"The Punisher!"
Kevin had clearly thought this through, blurting it out without hesitation. "Technically, the Punisher isn't a superhero. He's a Marine Corps elite who snaps after getting a raw deal. That agent vibe gives us tons of angles and adaptation potential. Plus, he's a New Yorker with two big pals—Spider-Man and Daredevil!"
Dunn saw right through him, shaking his head with a laugh. "Kevin, you're not cooking up some sneaky side plan, are you?"
Kevin scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "Well… it'd be great if the Punisher could cameo in Spider-Man 2 and Daredevil—or at least pop up in an Easter egg to hype him up."
Dunn didn't answer right away. He leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, squinting slightly as his right index finger tapped rhythmically on the desk.
After a long pause, he opened his eyes and said, "You're a Marvel Studios exec, and you're already on the Spider-Man 2 and Daredevil teams. Easter eggs, cameos—whatever you want, work it out with the directors."
Kevin's face lit up. That was as good as a green light! "Boss, thank you! I… I'll make it work, I swear—"
"Hold up!" Dunn cut him off with a wave. "First, you're stepping up as an executive producer. Take on more responsibility, back up Nina, and co-produce Spider-Man 2. When it wraps in September, I'll decide if you can solo-produce The Punisher based on her feedback."
Kevin didn't flinch. "Boss, you can count on me! I'll nail it, help Ridley Scott get Spider-Man 2 done right!"
Seeing his confidence, Dunn sighed. "The Punisher might be a TV show, but we've got to keep it in check—positive values and all. He's a violent killer, sure, but it can't just be a gore fest. Focus on the human side, the flashes of light in him. We've got to protect Marvel Studios' image."
Kevin's eyes welled up at that.
Just moments ago, Dunn had said it'd hinge on Nina Jacobson's review. But this? This was a clear sign—once Spider-Man 2 was done, he'd get his shot to shine.
Running a project solo, even a TV series, was a massive test of skill.
Getting that chance at 28? Once in a lifetime!
Christopher Nolan had landed Daredevil at 30, but he'd already had Memento—a polished, acclaimed hit—under his belt. Plus, Dunn was producing Daredevil himself, with Nina as backup. Double insurance.
Kevin? He'd barely cut his teeth, just a grunt on Spider-Man. Even with Spider-Man 2 experience coming, taking the helm at his age was unheard of.
"Boss, I promise—I won't let you down!"
Who says people are heartless?
Dunn's trust hit Kevin hard. The young guy's eyes sparkled, brimming with emotion.
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