Summary
TheMarvel Cinematic Universeis currently going through a transitional period, after a string of flops that culminated in the MCU’s biggest box office disaster withThe Marvelsin 2023.Deadpool & Wolverinewill be the only MCU project to be released in 2024, and the head of Disney, Bob Iger, recently announced the plans for the output of content in the Marvel CInematic Universe, with the planned focus on quality over quantity.
There is an argument that this hasn’t been the case over the past few years, with a slew of Marvel content being pushed out each year. Does the current slate of new titles being released each year actually make the line-up look worse? And isDisneyshowing a lack of faith in the future of the MCU with this plan?
How many Marvel movies and shows will be released each year?
Marvel’s line-up of movies and television shows is decreasing as it completes phase five, and heads into the crucial phase six stages, with the plan to release three movies a year at the most, and two television series, as Disney tries to scale back on big releases after recent box office disasters likeThe Marvels and Indiana Jonesandthe Dial of Destiny.
Disney boss,Bob Igertold Wall Street analysts:
I’ve been working hard with the studio to reduce output and focus more on quality. That’s particularly true with Marvel. We’re slowly going to decrease volume and go to probably about two TV series a year instead of what had become four, and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two or at the maximum three
Marvel’s 2025 Movie and Television Slate
The slate for 2025 has decreased significantly compared to previous years, with 2024 being the exception, due to the strikes. But the quality of content is strong, withCaptain America: Brave NewWorldkicking things off in February of next year. The focus seems to be on integrating characters into the universe who have been absent thus far, like Blade,Daredeviland The Fantastic Four.
Bob Iger came out of retirement to steer Disney back in the right direction, and it may be a case of the quantity of the slate looking worse until things pick up again.It’s important that things don’t become too convoluted in the lead up to the next Avengers movies, in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Focusing on stronger characters could be key in achieving this goal, especially with the issues surroundingJonathan Majors' sacking in the lead up to the next Avengers movie, with his character, Kang, set to be recast.
Was Marvel just mass-producing content rather than focusing on telling good stories?
There is an argument about Disney’s expansion of the Marvel universe leading to a reduction in the quality of telling good stories. However, the cut back on content from 2024 onwards shows an intent to move away from the mass production of movies and television shows, in favor of the famous old Hollywood saying ‘less is more.’
When the Marvel Cinematic Universe was launched in 2008, with the start of phase one,they began slowly with the release ofIron ManandThe Incredible Hulkbeing the only releases of that year, and this was followed by no releases in 2009.Iron Man 2was the solitary release in 2010, as the universe gradually formed, with 2011 being a big year, with Captain America and Thor entering the story. 2012 saw the culmination of this arc with The Avengers.
Phase two followed a similar pattern with six movies, including The Avengers outing, and Marvel was reaping the benefits of solid storytelling, with strong box office results. This is where the strategy appeared to change, and things became a lot more convoluted with phase three.
2016
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
2017
2018
Ant Man and The Wasp
2019
Spider-Man: Far From Home
While still posting strong box office numbers, things were starting to take a dive in quality in phase three, but it wasn’t until phase four that superhero fatigue really kicked in, and this coincided with Marvel expanding the universe to include television shows, which launched on Disney+.
In many ways, the line-up of movies and television shows on Marvel’s slate being decreased does make it look worse on the surface, and like Disney doesn’t have faith in the project anymore.However, if they can get back to the standard of the early movies in the franchise, this could be a very good thing moving forward. The fans want quality stories rather than too much content.
