Surprisingly, Marvel Studios is apparently putting on hold sequels for “Eternals,” “Ant-Man,” and “Captain Marvel.”
Key Takeaways
- Marvel Studios hits pause on “Eternals,” “Ant-Man,” and “Captain Marvel” sequels to focus on sure hits after box office letdowns.
- Disney, under Bob Iger’s guidance, trims Marvel’s lineup, betting on fan favorites over expanding the MCU without clear financial wins.
- Mixed reviews and weak earnings lead to a rethink, spotlighting a shift towards more profitable and audience-aligned projects in the film industry.
Disney aims to cut costs and focus on projects that are sure money. This shift comes after some recent box office disappointments, especially “The Marvels,” which earned just $206 million globally on a budget of $275 million, marking it as the MCU’s biggest money flop so far.
Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, has talked about the plan to cut down on Marvel productions, choosing titles that are already well-liked. This move is a big change from Disney’s previous strategy of growing the MCU big, even when some movies flopped money-wise.
The films in question have gotten mixed reviews, with “Captain Marvel” criticized for being too much “woke,” and “Eternals” and “Ant-Man 3” getting mixed feelings for their stories and fun factor.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “The Marvels,” in particular, couldn’t pull in audiences, pushing Disney to rethink its franchise strategy.
Even though “Eternals” was looked forward to for introducing a diverse set of new heroes to the MCU, it fell short with critics and audiences, raising questions about the future of these characters.
Similarly, despite plans for more “Ant-Man” and “Captain Marvel” films, their box office results have made people doubt their future success.
These developments are still guesswork, with no official word from Marvel Studios yet. The studio’s future projects, like the highly anticipated “Deadpool & Wolverine,” show a strategic adjustment towards surefire hits. However, looking back at these franchises could still happen, depending on how the MCU changes and what audiences want.
The reported cancellations reflect a broader industry trend of thinking it over again as film studios navigate recovery after the pandemic, changing preferences, and the unpredictable nature of big movie hits.
Marvel Studios is cutting costs, as noted by industry insider Daniel Richtman. The future projects are likely to focus on safer bets, reflecting doubts from Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, about the potential success and box office performance of these sequels.
Marvel Studios seems to be adjusting, focusing on safer, more reliably profitable films, considering the critique of movies deemed too “woke” or lacking in fun.
As Marvel Studios goes through Phase 5, canceling these movies suggests a cautious approach to expanding the MCU, highlighting the balance between creativity and financial sense in the blockbuster film industry.
