Summary

  • Disney is shifting its focus to sequels and franchises.
  • The company plans to reduce the output and volume of movies from Marvel Studios.
  • The changes should address the biggest issues the MCU has been grappling with.

Disney is going to slow down the best MCU movies coming from that period. While Marvel's Multiverse Saga has provided some exciting moments and projects, the MCU has been receiving the most criticism it has ever faced during that time, and things will now change to address that.

During Disney's latest earnings call (via Marvel's movies and shows will come out at a slower pace, with a focus on sequels and franchises like Disney as a whole. Check out the full quote below:

“I’d say we’re leaning a little bit more into sequels and franchises. I think given the environment and given what it takes to get people out of their homes to see a film … leaning on franchises that are familiar is actually a smart thing.

In our zeal to greatly increase volume partially tied to this wanting to chase more global subs for our streaming platform, some of our studios lost a little focus. So the first step that we’ve taken is that we’ve reduced volume, we reduced output, particularly in Marvel."

Related
How To Watch the Marvel Movies In Order (By Release Date & In Order Of MCU Timeline Events)

Want to catch up before the next release, or just revisit the universe for a refresher? Here's the order to watch the entire MCU timeline.

How The MCU's Release Schedule Changes Can Help The Franchise

The MCU Is In Need Of Change

The MCU's Phase 4 was by far its most criticized, and Phase 5 so far has not been the return to form that Marvel was hoping for. However, the MCU has several projects that could take the franchise back to the days when every new movie was expected to reach or get close to the $1 billion mark. Disney's CEO, Iger, was right in his remark that the creation of Disney+ led to Marvel losing focus.

The MCU's Infinity Saga consisted solely of movies, with 23 films over 11 years. For comparison, after the creation of Disney+, the MCU's Phase 4 was made up of 18 projects over a two-year span, almost matching the Infinity Saga's entire output. With Marvel releasing so many movies, series, animated projects, and special presentations in such a short time, the MCU's quality became increasingly uneven. The huge number of projects also put a longer time between new releases in beloved MCU franchises, with the next Avengers movie releasing seven years after Avengers: Endgame.

Iger's promise for the MCU's new release schedule comes at the perfect time for the franchise. Marvel slowing its roll can help the studio give projects a longer development process, working out issues before projects enter production. With a focus on franchises and sequels, the MCU, which has introduced several new characters in the last few years to varying results, can bring heroes like Spider-Man, Daredevil, Thor, and more to the forefront. With the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men coming into play soon, the MCU's new release plans can lead to a great future for the franchise.

Source: Disney (via The Wrap)