Annlyel James 
Annlyel explores the legacy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and looks ahead to the next phase of releases. Is Marvel back?
Is the Marvel Cinematic Universe back?
It’s 2019 and Avengers: Endgame has just premiered worldwide. The movie shatters box-office records, making a billion dollars in the course of a single weekend. The film is touted as one of the greatest superhero movies ever made. And MCU fans get a sense of relief that the story has reached a satisfactory conclusion. But wait, it’s not the end. It may have only just been the beginning.
Fast forward, and the landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has changed quite a bit. Despite a run of films and television series that have been well-received by the fandom, the MCU has become a place of toxicity. Especially for clicks from angry YouTubers. Terms like the M-She-U began to take root as Marvel decided to focus on more female superheroes without oversexualizing them in ways that made certain sects of the fandom upset.
OVER-SEXUALIZATION
Don’t believe me? When The Marvels came out there were some fans who wished the actresses were given suits that made them more flattering sexually. Yes, that includes Iman Vellani who’s supposed to be playing the fifteen-year-old Kamala Khan. And it’s not just these fans either.
Last November, Variety released an article claiming that the MCU had reached its end. And claimed that superhero movies were done for. The article was a massive negativity bomb without acknowledging the successes the MCU has had. Especially with hits like Spider-Man: No Way Home making nearly $2 billion during a pandemic. Then there’s Wakanda Forever, Multiverse of Madness, and Guardians of the Galaxy making nearly a billion.
Additionally, it failed to consider the overall success of the rest of the movies and shows. Sure, there have been some flops along the way such as Secret Invasion, The Marvels, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. All of those installments came out last year which compounded the negative press. But just look at DC and Sony for comparison.
DC DISASTER?
The DCEU had so many underwhelming superhero movies that the entire franchise has been reset and overhauled. James Gunn and Peter Safran have now taken the reins to steer the ship back on a positive course. And Sony can’t seem to make a good live-action superhero movie. Their best movies are the Venom films which have an enjoyable vibe. But those movies still can’t hold a candle to most of the MCU movies. Now Madame Web is in theaters. Having seen a clip of this movie, I’m utterly flabbergasted at why Sony thought it would be a good idea to release it.
RETURN OF THE MCU?
Meanwhile, the MCU seems to be on the verge of another legendary run akin to that Phase 3 era. A time when it seemed that everything they made was either good or outstanding. The second season of What If…? was a very enjoyable ride. In fact, it received a lot more praise than the first season did, and Echo turned out to be a sleeper hit. Now, we’ve got a teaser for Deadpool and Wolverine and an official first look at The Fantastic Four. The buzz is palpable. And that’s not all!
We can’t forget that X-Men ’97 is coming out in March. There’s a Daredevil series filming right now that will be released either at the end of the year or sometime next year. Marvel Zombies will surely be a fun watch. The Agatha series has the potential to be a fantastic show in the same vein as WandaVision. There’s Spider-Man: Freshman Year which will surely be enjoyable, and Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts is also coming out next year.
THE MCU IS BACK!
Some say the MCU is back. I’m here to say that the MCU never left. And now that we’re finally getting the X-Men and the Fantastic Four into the story who just so happen to be some of Marvel’s most iconic characters, there’s so much material left to be told. Kevin Feige has said that he wants the MCU to last until at least 2030. With the way things are going, this franchise isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
I couldn’t be more excited for the future of this franchise, and I can’t wait to see the X-Men/Fantastic Four finally get the incredible storytelling they deserve.
What’s your take on the state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Sound off in the comments below.
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!
