While speaking at an industry luncheon, Marvel Studios' executive VP physical production Victoria Alonso spoke to the "conscious change" Marvel is trying to make while addressing Hollywood's gender inequality problem. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the comments were made during the Women in Technology luncheon put on by the Hollywood Professional Association's Women in Post and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers

“We have had gender inequality for some time," said Alonso. "It wasn't always talked about... In the past year, it bubbled up and it's no longer acceptable to women and some men. Change is needed and hopefully we can make a balanced Hollywood for the next generation."

According to Alonso, Marvel's efforts are being "led by [president of production] Kevin Feige and [co-president] Louis D’Esposito" and that Marvel is "determined to make change."

Alonso added that she doesn't "want to be the only [woman] in the room" anymore, and that all parts of the industry "should be 50/50." "If any of you -- men or women -- can lift [women] up," Alonso said, "we’ll all be better for it." The Marvel VP then spoke specifically to men in the industry, saying "when you wonderful men say 'balance is necessary'... you open that door and the product is going to be better [with varied perspectives]."

Marvel will welcome their first lead female hero to the big screen when Evangeline Lilly's Wasp shares title credit with Paul Rudd's Ant-Man. "Ant-Man and the Wasp" arrives in theaters on July 6, 2018. Marvel's first solo female superhero film, "Captain Marvel," will star Brie Larson in the title role and feature a script by Nicole Perlman and Meg LeFauve. "Captain Marvel" has a release date of March 8, 2019. Marvel Studios is reportedly seeking a female director, their first, to helm "Captain Marvel."