Overview
- Disney cut about 1,000 jobs across the company, and multiple outlets report Marvel Studios’ visual development team was largely eliminated.
- The group of roughly 13 to 15 artists created early character designs, costumes, and key scenes that kept the Marvel Cinematic Universe visually consistent.
- Former team members say Disney plans to bring artists back on a project basis, replacing full-time roles with freelance work.
- Ex-employees report some outside art and costume teams on Marvel projects were already using generative AI, while the in-house vis-dev group did not.
- Artists warn the breakup risks slower development and a less cohesive look, with any on-screen effects likely to surface years from now.