While Jonathan Majors' Marvel Cinematic Universe debut commanded the Loki season finale headlines, the episode's opening scene wasn't far behind in generating buzz.
The fan-favorite Marvel Studios fanfare was traded for the oh-so-familiar "It's Been a Long, Long Time." The tune for Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter's dance came underneath a compilation of Infinity Saga quotes. Everyone from Chris Pratt's Star-Lord to Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther echoes some of their signature lines at the Marvel Studios logo sequence plays out.
The titular tribute to the Infinity Saga quickly became a hit amongst fans, and the show's director says there is one man to thank for the concept.
KEVIN FEIGE'S FINALE INVOLVEMENT
The Marvel Studios President had his fingerprints all over Loki's season finale.
Speaking with BuzzFeed, Loki director Kate Herron discussed her initial plans for Episode 6's opening sequence.
"I had this weird idea where I remember saying to my editor, Emma McCleave, I was like, 'Oh, can we add a baby crying or the sounds of the city? And it's like we just hear life.' So her, me, and Kevin Wright got really into that. So we were adding all of these different sounds into the timeline. We also had quotes from just life, not Marvel. Then, we showed that cut to Kevin Feige and the rest of the team."
The team was a fan of Herron's idea, but it was Marvel President Kevin Feige who offered the unique concept of layering the Marvel Studios open with quotes from the MCU's past.
"They all thought it was cool, and then Kevin Feige was like, 'Oh, do you know what? We've never done quotes on the Marvel logo before.' So, we thought that was cool, and we added the quotes to the Marvel logo intro."
From there, Herron and her squad ran with the quotes concept.
"Then, me, Kevin Wright, Emma, and Sarah Bennett, Emma's assistant, decided to just put the MCU quotes across the whole thing."
A HANDS-ON LEADER
Kevin Feige might be the busiest man on the planet, but the head of Marvel Studios wastes no time in improving the MCU's various projects.
It may seem small, but suggestions like these only emphasize how much Feige cares about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the grand scheme of things, the finale's cold open is a one-minute scene from a six-episode series within a 20+ project Phase 4. Going the easier route wouldn't have made the Loki finale any less enjoyable, but it's this kind of attention to detail that primes the MCU to flourish for years to come.
Beyond that, this 'checks and balances' way of running things sets Phase 4 up for success. Rather than micro-manage all aspects of developing projects, Feige's collaborative efforts allow for creativity to thrive within his writers' rooms.
Aside from the concept itself, Feige's emphasis on "we've never done" stresses that Marvel Studios is focused on staying fresh going forward. Even with 27 projects across 13 years in their back pocket, Feige and company still have plenty of first-time tricks up their sleeves for fans in Phase 4.
The unique cold open can be seen in Loki's season finale, which is streaming now exclusively on Disney+.
MCU Writer, Editor, Podcaster
