After the success of 2008's Iron Man, Marvel Studios became a juggernaut in terms of producing content to cement its interconnected narrative. The studio produced several solo films centered around Captain America, Thor, and the Hulk before eventually putting them together in an ensemble flick in 2012's The Avengers.
The success of the Joss Whedon-directed blockbuster led to more projects that expanded the franchise's roster of heroes and villains. The interconnected phases of movies were later dubbed as the Infinity Saga, ultimately culminating with the release of 2019's Avengers: Endgame.
In addition to the growing list of MCU characters, Marvel Studios also gave the spotlight to its behind-the-scenes crew, starting with Kevin Feige's promotion to studio's Chief Creative Officer. The major shift didn't stop there, as Marvel also transitioned to the small screen with the introduction of new content on Disney+.
Aside from the continued existence of films and TV shows, Marvel Studios is also leaning towards animation as What If...? takes center stage on the streaming service. This is on top of the promotion for What If...? executive producer Brad Winderbaum as the head of streaming for both television and animation.
Now, another Marvel Studios veteran has progressed into a new role.
Marvel Studios Promotes Veteran Executive
The Hollywood Reporter shared that Marvel Studios veteran Victoria Alonso has been promoted to president, physical and post-production, visual effects, and animation production for the studio, which is a newly formed title for the MCU studio.
The outlet shared that she will work across Marvel’s entire slate of films and series and will continue to report to co-president Louis D’Esposito. Alonso previously held the title of executive VP of physical production.
As part of the announcement, Marvel Studios president and chief creative officer Kevin Feige and co-president Louis D'Esposito shared the following statement, noting Alonso as "an incredible partner:"
“Victoria has been an incredible partner and part of our team since the very first Iron Man. She is one of the most dynamic, candid and accessible executives in the industry and we’re thrilled that she’ll continue to be by our side in this elevated role as we lead Marvel Studios into the future.”
Alonso expressed her excitement about her new role in an official statement:
“When Louis first suggested I come to work with the team on Iron Man, I never could have imagined the adventure ahead, and as far as I’m concerned, it has only just begun! We have an absolutely incredible group of people who are bringing their many talents to the exciting slate of films and series we have on the horizon, and I’m especially thrilled about ramping up our studio’s animation efforts, which is a personal passion of mine. Look forward to more singing!”
Alonso joined Marvel Studios in 2006 as chief of visual effects and post-production and served as co-producer on 2008's Iron Man, 2010's Iron Man 2, 2011's Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger.
Alonso also served as the executive producer of all Avengers films from The Avengers all the way to Avengers: Endgame.
Marvel Studios' Latest Structural Shift
Many would agree that this latest behind-the-scenes update is a promising one for Marvel Studios, especially after Victoria Alonso's statement saying "it has only just begun." The executive's remark could simply mean that the MCU is here to stay, and there will be a slew of content coming to fans' way in the next few years.
In the past months, Alonso has been active in providing updates about Marvel Studios' present and future slate. For starters, the executive was the one who promised that future MCU projects "will be representative of the world of today," promising fans that the studio would do their best to "consistently try to represent."
Now that Alonso has a much larger role moving forward, it's reasonable to assume that there will be a consistent push for more on-screen representation while keeping the top-notch quality of storytelling that Marvel Studios is known for.
As Marvel embraces a new chapter, executives like Alonso will be given the chance to showcase more relatable stories and create more opportunities for the MCU to venture into new territories.
