Annlyel James 
How does Marvel Studios stay ahead of the curve and avoid MCU fatigue?
When Iron Man came out 13 years ago I was only ten-years-old. But I remember seeing bits and pieces of the film and immediately understanding the magical brilliance of these superhero movies. Iron Man was my instant favorite superhero. And I loved every chance I got to see the character flying through the sky in his amazing red-and-gold armor.
Now, I’m an adult and I’m getting pumped for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier thirteen years, 23 movies, and a Disney+ series later. It’s absolutely stunning what Marvel Studios has been able to do. I remember a time when the production company could only crank out two movies a year. And then that transcended to three movies a year. And now we’re potentially getting three movies this year plus 3 or more Disney+ MCU series. It seems unfathomable and so, so very tiring but Marvel Studios has perfected balancing their content. And while it seems overwhelming to think about all of the content it’s so rewarding to watch.
SECRETS OF SUCCESS
What’s their secret? It’s simple. They have different stories with different tones and themes. Each movie has superheroes, yes, and large climactic end sequences that ultimately end in the same fashion (with the villain losing). But it doesn’t make these movies and series any more similar because each story feels so drastically different there’s never a chance to get bored.
Our first Disney+ MCU movie was WandaVision, a wildly eclectic series that paid homage to classic sitcoms while also playing like a mystery show. It had viewers riveted for roughly two months as it took us on a fascinating journey that featured the power of grief and how to overcome it, resulting in a series that fans will be talking about for years to come.
FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER
Now we’re getting The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. A series that is said to be much more similar to what we have come to expect in an MCU movie and yet is brand-new to us with its buddy-cop theme. It’s surely going to be fun, it’s going to have plenty of surprises, and by the end, we’re going to love the characters of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes.
And the list goes on and on but what is very clear between each of these stories is that Marvel will always find a way to think outside of the box and give us something different just when we were expecting the same story over again.
P.S. I cannot wait for Loki, Hawkeye, and Ms. Marvel. These shows seem so, so very interesting, particularly Loki.
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier is streaming exclusively on Disney+ from tomorrow.
The Future of the Force. The future of pop culture writing.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
