Iman Vellani on The Marvels' box office performance: ‘That’s not even in my control, that’s for Bob Iger’

Iman Vellani spoke to Yahoo Entertainment about the recent release in an interview published online. During the conversation, Vellani referenced Disney CEO Bob Iger when asked about the financial return for the movie that debuted last weekend to $46.1 million in North America, marking the worst opening in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

She said, “I don’t want to focus on something that’s not even in my control, because what’s the point?” said Vellani, who plays Kamala Khan in the feature. “That’s for Bob Iger.”

Vellani further added, “The box office has nothing to do with me. I am happy with the finished product, and the people that I care about enjoyed the film. It’s genuinely a good time watching this movie, and that’s all we can ask for with these films. It has superheroes, it takes place in space, it’s not that deep and it’s about teamwork and sisterhood. It’s a fun movie, and I’m just so happy that I can share it with people.”

“The Marvels,” which added $63.3 million in overseas ticket sales, may go down as a turning point in the MCU. Over the years, the franchise has collected $33 billion globally — a point Disney noted in reporting its grosses Sunday.

But with movie screens and streaming platforms increasingly crowded with superhero films and series, some analysts have detected a new fatigue setting in for audiences. Disney chief executive Bob Iger himself has spoken about possible oversaturation for Marvel.

“Over the last three and a half years, the growth of the genre has stopped,” Gross wrote in a newsletter Sunday.

Either way, something is shifting for superheroes. The box-office crown this year appears assured to go to “Barbie,” the year’s biggest smash with more than $1.4 billion worldwide for Warner Bros.

Marvel has still produced recent hits. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” launched this summer with $118 million before ultimately raking in $845.6 million worldwide. Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” earned $690.5 million globally and, after rave reviews, is widely expected to be an Oscar contender.

(With inputs from The Associated Press)