Kevin Feige says Adam Driver has rejected so many Marvel roles it has become a 'tradition'

Marvel Studios has repeatedly tried to recruit Adam Driver — only for the "Star Wars" actor to politely turn down each opportunity.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed the studio's long-running pursuit during an appearance on Josh Horowitz's "Happy Sad Confused" podcast. When Horowitz noted that Marvel had discussed "a number of characters" with Driver, Feige emphasized just how often those conversations had occurred.

"Many. Many, many, many," Feige said.

"It's no secret we'd like to get Driver for a project," he continued. "But it's a tradition to Zoom with him, and then he passes. That's a long-lived tradition."

Despite the repeated rejections, Feige made clear that there is no tension between Marvel and the actor.

"He couldn't be more cordial," Feige said. "He is usually upfront about how he's feeling."

Feige did not reveal which characters or projects Marvel offered Driver. The actor has been the subject of online speculation surrounding Marvel's planned "X-Men" reboot, including fan casting for Magneto and Mister Sinister, but neither Marvel nor Driver has confirmed that any of those roles were formally discussed.

Driver remains one of Hollywood's most prominent actors who has yet to appear in a Marvel or DC superhero film. He is already familiar with major franchises after playing Kylo Ren in the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy, beginning with 2015's "The Force Awakens."

Outside the galaxy far, far away, Driver has built a varied filmography that includes "Marriage Story," "House of Gucci," "Ferrari," "Megalopolis" and "Paterson." His performance opposite Scarlett Johansson in "Marriage Story" earned him an Academy Award nomination for best actor.

Feige's admission offers a rare glimpse at the casting conversations that take place behind the scenes at Marvel. While the studio has successfully recruited established stars including Robert Redford, Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale and Harrison Ford, not every conversation ends with an agreement.

For now, there is no indication that Driver has changed his mind. Marvel has not announced him for any upcoming project, and the actor has not publicly responded to Feige's comments.

Still, Feige's description of their conversations as a "long-lived tradition" suggests Marvel may not have given up on eventually getting a yes.

Sources: People, Variety