Victoria Alonso: Who is the top executive who would have left Marvel Studios?

victoria alonso, the executive behind most of Marvel Studios’ hits, has just hung up her cape, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter. Considered the third most powerful woman within one of the largest production houses in Hollywood, Alonso spent 17 years contributing to these superhero films and is probably one of the people who depended on the Marvel Cinematic Universe becoming the franchise. most important movie.

Historically, the world of superheroes has been dominated by men. That Superman put his underpants on top of his pants could be interpreted as a somewhat absurd sign of endorsing masculinities. The same as Batman and his suit with nipples, a paradoxical gesture in a society that is terrified of nipples.

For some time, however, women have begun to take a greater role among layers and superpowers. Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman on the side of DC Comics, and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) or Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) from the ranks of Marvel Studios have made their strength and attitude felt, in line with a wave of female claims to global level.

But behind the screens there are minds responsible for it. One is that of Victoria Alonso, vice president of Marvel Studios and considered by various media as “the most powerful woman in Hollywood.” Alonso is Argentinian, lesbian, is 57 years old, and is currently the third in command of that monstrous factory that has turned Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, The Avengers and other comics into movies that blow up the world box office.

“The truth is that my work is constant: 12 or 13 hours of Zoom, 10,000 decisions a day… and it’s only when I go to an ‘avant premiere’ and see people fascinated with the final product that I realize what we’ve created. . I never would have thought that we would have the highest grossing movie in history.”, says Victoria Alonso in conversation with Trade and other Latin American media.

expansion and inclusion

Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) closed with “Avengers: Endgame” and, coincidentally, with a pandemic that has momentarily slowed down its production schedule. On the other hand, however, the Disney+ platform has already entered the battle, which will shelter Marvel in the field of streaming and was preparing the premiere of the series “WandaVision” for January 2021, for example. Proof that there is a franchise for a while.

And while new characters are added to the complex Marvelian superstructure, the diversity in their representation is also greater: not only women, but African-Americans, Muslims, and other groups. “In these 15 years I have worked tirelessly so that we all feel represented“, says. A trend that has generated applause, but also resistance from some comic book purists, something Victoria Alonso is fully aware of.

“Part of evolution is resistance. People are afraid of what is going to be different, what they don’t know. You think you won’t like it. But we are constant with our stories. Just as there is part of the audience that resists inclusion, there are many people who ask us for more diversity”, affirms the producer about some claims that there are no Latin American or homosexual characters, to mention only two cases. “But ours is not political –he clarifies–. If we wanted to do politics, we would be doing it”.

heroine without superpowers

Alonso was born in Buenos Aires and grew up in La Plata. She studied psychology and theater, but then turned to film and specialized in special effects, until her fate led her to Marvel Studios. She today makes up the highest trident of the company, next to president Kevin Feige and co-president Louis D’Esposito. She is married to actress Imelda Corcoran, with whom she adopted her little daughter Olivia. “I am going to die at 108 years old. I am halfway through my career, ”she says, tirelessly.

“The pandemic has forced us to live with limitations and frustrations, but we never think of stopping. Today we work harder so that when the world opens its doors, we can leave with everything we have prepared here. We do not let this moment cloud our desire”, he assures.

Beyond the audience successes, is it pending that Marvel movies win more favors with critics and awards? “Well, we don’t make a movie to win an award. Alonso answers. For us the important thing is to make a film with the best possible story. The Oscars have recognized us from the beginning with nominations for visual effects and sound. When ‘Black Panther’ was nominated for best film we thought it was a wonderful gift, but it is not on our daily agenda to think about those things”.

For now, she confesses that seeing the heroines appear on the screen is one of her greatest satisfactions. “I recognize that it is a moment that makes me smile constantly. See them in all their glory, their capacity and their power“, it states. And although without superpowers, a good part of that feat is his. The real Captain Marvel is her.