The Marvel Cinematic Universe could be running for several more generations. At least, that's what Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige wants: a sprawling cinematic universe that rivals the continuity of comic books.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is on its 31st release, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Beginning with Robery Downey Jr's Iron Man in 2008, Marvel Studios has steadily released films for 15 years. Since "Phase Four" of the universe began, it has expanded considerably, spreading into television, and the franchise shows no signs of slowing down.
While being interviewed by Entertainment Weekly, Feige was asked about keeping the Marvel Cinematic universe fresh. He explained that the MCU is an experimental franchise but said he intends to keep it running for decades. "It's like when people go to the comic shops," Feige explained. "There's Spider-Man and the Avengers and the big title ones. And sometimes you pick up a one-off or an experiment from an artist or writer that you're a fan of. That's why the comics have been around for 80-plus years, and I want Marvel Studios to be around that long, if not longer. So, we have to continue to do different types of things."
When discussing fresh ideas for the universe, Feige also revealed that he and his team always try to make new entries stand apart from anything that came before. He pointed out that the She-Hulk television series was a fun idea team was eager to explore. Comparing it to the '90s legal drama Ally McBeal, Feige explained that setting a comedic superhero show inside the world of legal representation was the sort of idea Marvel Studios thrives on: it keeps things fresh.
There are certain obstacles in the way of the MCU's longevity. Firstly, there's the issue of the MCU's saturation. Feige specifically notes that Marvel Studios intends to release eight projects a year. Unfortunately, the response to the writing of the MCU's Phase Four films has been lukewarm. Films such as Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania have faced criticism for their writing. Until Eternals, the MCU had never had a "rotten" film on Rotten Tomatoes. Thor: Love and Thunder came close to being considered rotten, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is currently hovering around Eternals' score.
The films have also faced criticism for the Disneyfication of the comics. While many comic storylines have some mature themes, the MCU has toned these stories down to fit a more family-friendly mould. For instance, Gorr (Christian Bale) was a formidable force in the comics, while his film variant seemed lacking in threat. "Demon in a Bottle," a story about Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and his struggles with alcoholism, was turned into a subplot for Iron Man 2, and Tony Stark never seems to struggle with addiction again. If the MCU is to stick around for 80 more years, Marvel Studios needs to up the ante and focus on tighter writing.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is currently in theaters.
Source: Entertainment Weekly