VFX Artists Refusing to Work With Marvel Due to Stress and Overwork: 'They're a Horrible Client'

VFX artists are fed up with Marvel, with many complaining of overwork and unmanageable deadlines.

Dhruv Govil, who has worked in visual effects for a number of Marvel projects, including Spider-Man: Homecoming and Guardians of the Galaxy, wrote on Twitter that he left the industry due to the conflict with Marvel. "They're a horrible client, and I've seen way too many colleagues break down after being overworked, while Marvel tightens the purse strings," he wrote in a Tweet that has since gone viral.

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. https://t.co/FacGBfnYmG

— Dhruv Govil (@DhruvGovil) July 10, 2022

"This has been the case since the earliest days of the MCU," Govil continued. "It didn't start recently, and it's not because of [Disney CEO Bob] Chapek. The issue is Marvel is too big, and can demand whatever they want. It's a toxic relationship."

VFX artists echoed Govil's sentiment on the r/VFX subreddit. Writing anonymously, many requested to never be put on a Marvel project again.

"Marvel has probably the worst methodology of production and VFX management out there," reads one post. "The artists working on Marvel shows are definitely not paid equivalent to the amount of work they put in."

Most Redditors in the thread agreed, and few had anything positive to say about Marvel.

"I request to not work on them, movies and TV shows," wrote one user. "Unfortunately they're becoming our biggest client. They expect a smorgasbord of options so they can change their mind 3 more times."

Added another, "After 6 years of working in VFX on non-marvel shows, I got a taste of one last year. Absolutely the worst show I’ve ever worked on…. I didn’t know how much worse it could get until that project came along."

This isn't the first time VFX artists have expressed their dissatisfaction with Marvel. In another Reddit thread from three months ago, one user wrote, "I am on my third Marvel project in a row and literally just woke up 5:30 am on a Saturday with stress going 'I don't want to do this anymore.' ... All you get from Marvel movies is stress and nothing else."

"It took me over 6 months to recover from WandaVision's crunch," said a different user. "It's not worth it. Not when there's better run projects that look just as good out there."

Primetimer has reached out to Marvel for comment, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

Deena ElGenaidi's writing has been featured in Nylon, MTV News, Insider, The AV Club, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @deenaelg.