marvel cinematic universe is more focused on sequels than ever, but that obsession isn’t Marvel Studios’ biggest problem with the multiverse saga slate. the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantummania Helped kick off Phase 5 of the MCU. The box office and critical disappointment of the highly anticipated MCU sequel comes on the heels of Marvel Studios struggling more regularly to find the level of success that helped propel Phase 3 forward. There are a lot of problems that the popular franchise is facing as the multiverse saga continues, from VFX issues to an abundance of content.
One of the growing points of discussion regarding the state of the MCU has been the obsession with a sequel to the franchise. Marvel Studios has always included sequels in its films, but they have increased in recent years. For example, all three 2022 MCU movies were sequels. The rise in sequels came as Disney+ became a go-to place for Marvel Studios to tell stories for new characters. However, multiple MCU sequels are only part of the problem Marvel is facing with its slate, as there is a growing problem with giving audiences characters they’ve never seen before from solo franchises.
Most upcoming MCU movies are sequels
A quick glance at the slate of upcoming MCU movies makes it clear how many of them are sequels. The rest of 2023 are Marvel Studios movies Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 And Miracle, which marks the conclusion of a trilogy and a sequel to the massive Phase 3 new franchise starter. More sequels due in 2024 Captain America: New World Order technically serving as the fourth installment of captain America franchise and deadpool 3 Continuing the franchise Ryan Reynolds started at Fox. Marvel Studios has already announced two more plans the avengers Sequel: avengers: kong dynasty And avengers: secret wars,
There are several MCU sequels on the horizon as Marvel Studios is in the midst of an unprecedented run of sequel releases. Spider-Man: No Way HomeThe December 2021 release of Marvel Studios began a series of seven straight sequels. It was followed by a third film starring Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, thor: love and thunderAnd Black Panther: Wakanda Forever In 2022. Phase 5 began with another sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantummaniaand keep the streak alive as Guardians of the Galaxy 3, MiracleAnd captain america 4 Hit theaters sometime in the next year or so.
Marvel Studios hasn’t released a new potential franchise starter since eternal In November 2021. The next film that isn’t technically a direct sequel to an existing property and could potentially start a new franchise by lightning, which will release in July 2024. This means that audiences will have to wait almost three years to see an MCU film that isn’t a sequel. This poses a problem for Marvel Studios as it attempts to entice new audiences by focusing on characters that starred in previous films. It also highlights a bigger issue with the MCU slate.
Even Marvel’s “New” Phase 5 and 6 Franchises Feel Familiar Now
Marvel Studios has a number of “new” franchise debuts planned for Phases 5 and 6, but these upcoming films are also really sequels or reboots focused on the audience most likely to see new characters from the MCU or other Marvel franchises. Know instead of bringing forward. by lightning Prime example of the problem. Instead of introducing several new characters associated with the team in the comics, Marvel is retooling the concept to introduce a team of anti-heroes and villains like Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), and others. Already happened. , and the Red Guardian (David Harbour). by lightning is “new” but its main characters are not.
blade And fantastic 4 There are other non-MCU sequels that are part of the Phase 5 or Phase 6 slate. The films will introduce new characters to the MCU through Eric Brooks (Mahershala Ali), Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing. While these heroes may be new to Marvel Studios’ use, they are not new characters to moviegoers. Blade was the main character for the entire trilogy of films starring Wesley Snipes. There have also been two live-action movie franchise attempts at the Fantastic Four. This means that even as the MCU launches new franchises, it is also beginning to reuse characters that audiences have seen elsewhere before.
This Marvel movie problem is only going to get worse with the development of certain movies either rumored or confirmed. armor war Technically a new potential franchise starter, but it also features Don Cheadle’s War Machine and is effectively the fourth iron Man The film considering the story plan to incorporate Tony Stark’s technology and legacy. rumors of a world war hulk The film falls into similar territory, as it will have a founding Avenger and will feature mostly familiar characters. The eventual X-Men reboot would exacerbate this issue, as Marvel Studios would want to use many of the same characters as Fox. X Men Focused on franchisees.
Phase 5 movies prove Marvel learned the wrong lessons from 2021
Marvel’s combination of sequels, reboots and “new” franchises with familiar characters in Phase 5 proves Marvel Studios learned the wrong lessons from 2021. This year was jam-packed with MCU movies and shows being delayed largely due to COVID-19. meant to release black mother, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, eternalAnd Spider-Man: No Way Home over a period of five months. The three new franchise starters struggled at the box office compared to Marvel’s usual standards, while no way home Became a box office sensation.
While the non-MCU sequels underperformed financially to various degrees, Disney+ became a very popular medium for Marvel Studios to tell long-form stories. This prompted Marvel to double down on their plans for MCU shows and essentially replaced them with the idea of solo movies with new characters. Ms. Marvel, Moon KnightAnd She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Bringing all-new heroes to the forefront, shows are coming starring Wonder Man, Nova and more. This indicates that Marvel Studios has chosen to invest more in sequels and existing characters when it comes to its massive blockbuster films and is using Disney+ to build up new heroes ahead of movie roles.
The MCU needs a new solo movie franchise to succeed
With the debate about Marvel fatigue setting in on the rise of the MCU sequel problem, Marvel Studios must return to making solo film franchises with new characters if it’s going to be successful. The studio worked with an informal rule where at least one new franchise was launched every year. This effort introduced Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel and Shang-Chi as heroes who have or will lead separate franchises. These solo movie franchise starters have been an important part of the MCU machine, as they give a new entry point to viewers who haven’t been following the franchise.
Releasing so many MCU movie sequels makes it more difficult for new fans to emerge, as they’re less likely to jump into their shared universe thor: love and thunder Or Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantummania Which is based on the previous entries in their franchise. There are plenty of Marvel characters the MCU could use to start rebuilding its roster of new franchise-leading heroes. Nova, Captain Britain, Squirrel Girl, and Quasar are just some of the great heroes that could headline solo movies that start new franchises. each can help break it down mcu Sequel problem and give the audience new characters to admire.
