With the growing demand for gender equality in Hollywood and the increasing interest in female-driven films or films led by powerful female roles, pressure is mounting on the Marvel Cinematic Universe to commit to giving as much exposure to its female characters as they do to its male characters. The studio has particularly come under fire for the lack of merchandise for female characters. This year, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige assured fans that he and his team will be committed to bringing more female merchandise available to fans.

When asked to address the seeming disparity between male and female merchandise for Marvel, Feige explained that they've always put in the effort to represent female Marvel characters in the same extent as the male characters. However, the problems arise when it comes to distribution, which results in having minimal availability for toy lines for characters such as Black Widow and Gamora.

"That was very frustrating for us because we see it from the other side," Feige told Screen Rant. "When I say we, I mean the filmmakers, because we're presented with the stuff that's being made, and I don't know if there's an absolutely equal sampling, but Black Widow was all over that."

Feige added that the studio cannot monitor how much of the products and which ones actual make it in retail stores. "We can't have sway over what a retail store, how many items of what they want to stock on a shelf," Feige explained.

The MCU has a growing number of female characters, both heroes and villains, and some are clamoring for a Marvel movie that is led by a woman. DC Comics is already right up in this alley with "Wonder Woman" and the upcoming "Gotham City Sirens." The "Star Wars" franchise was also applauded for putting a strong female character at the center of "The Force Awakens." Outside the sci-fi world, "Ocean's Eleven" will be the all-female counterpart of George' Clooney's "Ocean's Eight."

When asked why there still isn't a Marvel movie with a female lead, Feige said that the studio is still waiting for the perfect timing and story. "It comes down to us being able to tell the right story. I very much believe in doing it," Feige told CBR. "It can certainly be done. I hope we do it sooner rather than later."

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Topics Marvel