“I’m never coming back”: VFX Artist Refuses to Work for Marvel Because They Pay 20% Less Than Industry Average, Still Work Them to Death

Marvel Studios has produced several blockbuster movies over the past decade and are continuing to make first-class superhero movies. Behind the scene, behind all this fame, fan following, and money are the visual artists who work day and night to make such extraordinary visual effects.

While Marvel is known for their superhero movies and extraordinary plot designs supported by the best VFX artists, recently rumors have been coming that wages for these VFX artists are paid less than the industry standard.

The Studio pay VFX workers 20% less than other companies

Also read: ‘I’ve had co-workers break down and start crying’: VFX Artist Claims Marvel Studios Underpaid and Overworked Artists, Internet Hits Back Saying People Work For Longer Hours So Stop Whining

VFX Artists Reveal Marvel’s Cheap Side

The VFX artists in the industry are said to be paid 20 percent less than the normal industry standard. There were also talks that the artists were overworked and understaffed to complete their tasks within the given time. Well, this is not the first time Marvel Studios has come under speculation for their treatment of their artists.

Back in July 2022, a VFX artist who has worked on two MCU movies previously said that he suffered under the company’s pressure. He tweeted at that time saying,

“Working on Marvel shows is what pushed me to leave the VFX industry, they’re a horrible client, and I’ve seen way too many colleagues break down after being overworked, while Marvel tightens the purse strings”.

So due to these multiple allegations, Marvel Studios are now creating its own VFX Studio house. But Marvel has officially not confirmed this decision nor have they denied anything about this. Marvel has also refused to comment on these claims when were reached by Vulture.

Now Phase 5 is recently starting and the VFX houses will play the biggest role in these movies becoming top-grossing, record-breaking movies. So it comes without a doubt that for the artists to work properly and make the best visual effects, they have to work in a suitable work environment.

Another VFX artist working for Marvel also supported these rumors, when in an interview with Gizmodo he shared,

“The worst was when Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame were coming out. They actually bumped up that release by a month but they hadn’t told us. I remember being on the floor with my team and one of my artists comes to me and says, ‘Hey, you see this?’ and he shows me the article saying Marvel bumped the release date up a month.”

Also read: “It was ready to be written off”: Robert Downey Jr. Reveals Studios Nearly Treated Iron Man Like Batgirl For Tax Write-Off if Film Failed

The Studios claimed that they forgot to mention to their VFX team that they had moved up the release date by a whole month. Since the next movies will heavily rely on the artists, they will need to treat their artists right. They are not a team of 4 or 5 but rather dozens of them work on the same project. So Unity among the company and the VFX team is a must.