The superhero juggernaut that is Marvel Studios has hit an unexpected snag with the lackluster performance of its latest installment, 'The Marvels.' What was anticipated to be another triumph in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) turned out to be a moment of reckoning for the production powerhouse. As Marvel takes stock of its strategy in the aftermath of 'The Marvels' meltdown, questions arise about the impact of rapid expansion and a shift in focus on the quality of its cinematic offerings.
Over the weekend of November 10-12, 'The Marvels' made headlines for all the wrong reasons, debuting to a meager $46.1 million in North America. This marked the worst opening in the history of the MCU, a franchise that has consistently dominated the box office since the iconic debut of 'Iron Man' in 2008. The 33rd MCU installment faced harsh criticism with lackluster audience exit scores and a lukewarm B CinemaScore, signaling a departure from the typically stellar performance associated with Marvel's cinematic ventures.
'The Marvels' underperformance wasn't the sole indicator that something was amiss within Marvel Studios. Prior to this, other productions such as 'Eternals' and 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania' received B CinemaScores, prompting concerns about the quality control of Marvel's offerings. Simultaneously, the increasing number of shows on Disney+ became a source of audience frustration, making it challenging for viewers to keep up with the overarching MCU story.
Behind the scenes, Marvel Studios and Disney were already aware of 'The Marvels' troubles before its cinematic release. Disney's former CEO, Bob Iger, acknowledged on an earnings call that the movie empire had 'lost focus' due to an emphasis on quantity over quality in the rush to feed Disney+. This shift in priorities, initiated before the current CEO Bob Chapek's reign, impacted Marvel's movies negatively. In response, Marvel Studios, under the leadership of Kevin Feige, recognized the need to take a strategic pause and reassess their approach to theatrical tentpoles.
On November 9, Marvel and Disney announced a significant adjustment to their film release strategy for 2024. Originally planning to release three superhero films, they scaled back to just one – 'Deadpool 3,' set to open on July 26. This decision was not only influenced by the recent SAG-AFTRA strike but also reflected a broader acknowledgment that the studio needed to recalibrate its production and release schedule.
'Deadpool 3,' starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, is now Marvel and Disney's sole superhero offering for 2024. The high-profile threequel is positioned as a multiverse-spanning feature, setting the stage for Marvel's upcoming Avengers movies. Other titles, such as 'Captain America: New World Order' and 'Thunderbolts,' have faced delays and reshuffling to allow for additional shooting time and script development.
Looking ahead to 2025, 'Blade,' starring Mahershala Ali, and 'Thunderbolts' have both been pushed back nine months. The delay in production, attributed to a lack of ready scripts during the writers' strike in May, underscores the challenges Marvel has faced in maintaining its ambitious production schedule. The changes in release dates also mean that Marvel now has four superhero films slated for 2025, including the 'Fantastic Four' reboot.
'The Marvels,' rather than being a straightforward sequel to the billion-dollar blockbuster 'Captain Marvel,' represents a strategic mashup. Featuring Brie Larson alongside breakout star Iman Vellani and WandaVision's Teyonah Parris, the film mixes and matches characters to create a unique narrative. While Marvel has employed this approach successfully in the past, as seen with 'Captain America: Civil War,' the results with 'The Marvels' have been anything but stellar.