10 MCU Movies That Were Almost Canceled By Marvel

By the summer of 2025, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will have an astounding total of 37 movies under its belt, with more planned. This is quite remarkable considering that the studio only released its debut film in 2008. Back then, it was hard to imagine how enormous the MCU would grow or how cinematic universes would revolutionize Hollywood. Marvel was the pioneer in dividing its movie lineup into “phases,” creating intricate release plans that built anticipation among fans. Additionally, the MCU was the first time multiple franchises were intentionally interconnected, a feat that has yet to be matched by any other studio, despite many attempting and falling short.

Throughout the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), not every project initially conceived has made it to the big screen. For instance, “Blade” has been in development for years, with multiple directors attached but never seeing the light of day. The “Inhumans,” originally planned as a major film, ended up as a disappointing television show instead. Furthermore, the previously announced “Armor Wars” remains in limbo. Despite the MCU’s overall success, there have been several movies that almost didn’t make it past the planning stages and were close to being dropped before production began.

It could be due to changes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) direction, studio executive shifts, or creative disagreements that caused directors and filmmakers to depart. Yet, it’s surprising to learn that some of the MCU’s highest-grossing and critically acclaimed movies almost didn’t materialize. Here’s a list of 10 such films, but stay tuned as we might add more in the future.

The Incredible Hulk

Reframing the sentence in a more conversational and accessible manner: It was only natural for “The Incredible Hulk” to be a crucial start for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), given the character’s immense popularity due to a successful 1970s TV series, numerous cartoon adaptations, and a big-budget film in 2003. However, it was close call as the 2003 movie, produced by Universal Studios who acquired the rights from Marvel before the MCU even existed, nearly prevented “The Incredible Hulk” from being made.

By the end of the 2000s, Universal Studios was still keeping some rights for the Hulk character on the big screen. Although Marvel gained production rights to create its own Hulk film, Universal could distribute any Hulk movie that was made. This meant that Marvel had to negotiate with Universal in order to produce “The Incredible Hulk”. However, this wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed because Paramount Pictures had previously agreed to distribute the initial Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films such as “Iron Man,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Thor,” and “The Avengers.

Fortunately, the production companies reached an agreement enabling “The Incredible Hulk” to be distributed by Universal, guaranteeing its premiere. Interestingly, when Disney later acquired Marvel, they also took over a portion of Paramount’s deal, thus managing “The Avengers” and “Iron Man 3.” However, Universal continues to hold the rights for another Hulk film, which is why he hasn’t yet had his standalone sequel.

Thor: The Dark World

In the initial stage of the MCU, origin tales reigned supreme, and though “Thor” wasn’t the biggest box office smash, it managed to pique audience curiosity about Marvel’s Norse deity, paving the way for collaborations and future installments. After the triumph of “The Avengers,” its follow-up, “Thor: The Dark World,” premiered in 2013. However, the movie nearly didn’t see the light of day due to several significant hurdles it encountered during production.

Initially, Patty Jenkins was chosen to direct the movie, with rumors suggesting her involvement played a significant role in Natalie Portman’s decision to reprise her role as Thor’s love interest, Jane Foster. However, creative differences between Marvel and Jenkins led to disputes, eventually resulting in Jenkins leaving the project. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only challenge the film faced.

As a disgruntled gamer, when Jenkins decided to leave the project, I found myself at a crossroads with Portman, fuming over the studio’s inability to keep our preferred director on board for the film. This disagreement turned out to be a significant controversy within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Portman seemed to have distanced herself from the “Thor” series, despite her contractual obligations for “The Dark World.” However, fate had other plans: the sequel was a box office hit, Jenkins found success with “Wonder Woman,” and eventually, I managed to persuade Portman to rejoin the franchise for “Thor: Love and Thunder,” thanks to the creative vision of director Taika Waititi.

Ant-Man

Only a few films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) history have been entirely scrapped post-announcement, with “Inhumans” being the only one. Interestingly, “Ant-Man” was on the verge of becoming the first film to be dropped, due to prolonged development issues, arising from disagreements between Marvel Studios and the original director, Edgar Wright.

2006 saw Edgar Wright signing on to direct Ant-Man, a significant win for the studio at a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) didn’t yet exist. However, with his reputation as an auteur, director of hits like Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, Wright grew apprehensive about Ant-Man once it was revealed that Marvel sought more control over the creative process. Delays due to Wright’s schedule and the growing interconnectedness of the MCU led Marvel to propose alterations to Wright’s script to fit within the broader universe. This creative tension resulted in Wright leaving the project, putting the entire film at risk just before production began.

In a surprising turn of events, I stepped in at the last moment to make the desired changes for Marvel, and the rest, as they say, is movie history. I ended up directing two more “Ant-Man” movies, but it’s clear that Wright’s unique touch on the franchise remains palpable, evident in the character’s quick-witted dialogue and action-packed scripts. Remarkably, Edgar Wright admits he hasn’t managed to watch the film yet.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Initially, when Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debuted in 2008, fans lamented the absence of popular characters like X-Men, Fantastic Four, and most notably Spider-Man. These characters were under Fox’s control for movies, while Sony had exclusive rights to produce Spider-Man films and revamped the series in 2012. The most distressing aspect was that Spider-Man, Marvel’s most popular superhero, couldn’t join forces with Iron Man, Captain America, and Hulk. However, following the underwhelming performance of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” rumors swirled about negotiations between Disney and Sony to incorporate Spider-Man into the MCU.

If it transpired, Spider-Man would debut initially in a separate team-up film, specifically “Captain America: Civil War.” Subsequently, he’d star in his own movie titled “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” This unique agreement between Disney and Sony was unparalleled in Hollywood. Typically, major studios don’t cooperate over intellectual properties due to their rivalry; however, this time they temporarily set aside their differences to share a character IP. The deal necessitated intricate legal negotiations that weren’t guaranteed to succeed. Both studios aimed to optimize their investments and earnings, but eventually, they reached an understanding.

Essentially, if a deal isn’t reached, Marvel wouldn’t be able to produce “Spider-Man” films for Sony. However, Sony would still maintain control over Spider-Man and his related characters. This means that movies like “The Avengers” may not include Spider-Man, or at least not in the same capacity as we’ve seen in films such as “Avengers: Infinity War.” If this deal doesn’t materialize, the “Spider-Man: Homecoming” movie wouldn’t have been made, and other Marvel movies might have taken a different direction.

Captain America: Civil War

The inclusion of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was essential to make “Spider-Man: Homecoming” possible, but not so for “Captain America: Civil War.” Although Peter Parker played a significant role in the plot, it was disclosed later that there were several drafts of the “Civil War” script – some featuring Spider-Man and some without. Interestingly, “Civil War” almost didn’t materialize due to a separate reason: the intricate storyline necessitated a large cast, which caused apprehension among certain executives at Disney and Marvel over its scale.

In essence, there were some, such as Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter at the time, who weren’t comfortable with Tony Stark serving as the main adversary in the movie. This wasn’t due to a dislike of Captain America and Iron Man clashing, but because Robert Downey Jr., justifiably, demanded a substantial salary for his part—a sum so large that it caused unease. Initially, Downey’s role was intended to be merely a significant guest appearance; however, Stark’s character was expanded into almost a co-lead alongside Chris Evans. In the end, Downey received more than $40 million, and also earned a share of the profits if the film’s earnings surpassed those of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Although money was involved, the Russo brothers had to persuade Robert Downey Jr. strongly to participate in “Civil War.” It seems that the Iron Man actor initially didn’t feel comfortable playing a villain in another director’s film. However, with a persistent effort by the directors and generous compensation, they eventually convinced RDJ to sign on, leading to one of Marvel’s most successful and acclaimed blockbusters.

Captain Marvel

In 2019, I found myself utterly captivated by a Marvel Studios film that surpassed the billion-dollar mark at the box office – a milestone previously untouched by films like “Iron Man,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The groundbreaking movie was none other than “Captain Marvel,” starring Academy Award winner Brie Larson and directed by the dynamic duo, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. What made this film a delightful surprise was its lead character, who was relatively unknown to most mainstream viewers, and the widespread skepticism in Hollywood that a female-led superhero movie would succeed, especially after previous misfires such as “Catwoman” and “Elektra.

As a die-hard Marvel fan, it wasn’t just us who were taken aback by the phenomenal success of “Captain Marvel.” Even some bigwigs at Marvel and Disney might have raised an eyebrow or two, given that not everyone was convinced about the film’s potential. In fact, the movie almost didn’t materialize due to strong opposition from certain high-ranking executives. It took a directive from Disney CEO Bob Iger himself to give the project the green light, as the internal strife at Marvel, particularly between Kevin Feige, the architect of Marvel Studios, and CEO Ike Perlmutter, was so intense that it’s whispered Feige considered resigning in protest.

It’s good that Iger intervened and officially divided Perlmutter from Marvel Studios, assigning him the role of managing Marvel TV instead, much like an adult stepping in to resolve a dispute between two children on the playground during recess. Consequently, the movie was a huge success with the audience, effortlessly silencing the critics who bombarded Rotten Tomatoes with negative reviews.

Black Widow

Among the early blockbusters postponed by COVID-19 and eventually debuting in 2021 was the movie “Black Widow,” which, like its predecessor “Captain Marvel,” faced skepticism about its potential success due to past failures of films like “Supergirl” and “Catwoman.” In fact, as far back as 2015, a leaked memo from CEO Ike Perlmutter revealed his reluctance to produce “female-led movies” based on such disappointing performances in the past.

It’s been rumored that “Black Widow” might have been planned as early as 2010, potentially even before “The Avengers,” given her introduction in “Iron Man 2.” However, with an emphasis on male characters like Thor, Captain America, and Ant-Man, the project didn’t gain traction until 2014. Marvel chose to prioritize franchises such as “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Doctor Strange,” while postponing “Widow” for years. But after Perlmutter’s departure from Marvel Studios and the massive success of “Captain Marvel” (over a billion dollars in earnings), doubts about the potential success of a female-led superhero film began to fade significantly.

Indeed, those initial issues were merely the start of a series of challenges for “Black Widow”. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, it added to the complications, and Marvel decided to offer the film for paid download simultaneously with its theatrical release. This move sparked a disagreement between Marvel and actress Scarlett Johansson, but fortunately, after some temporary tension, they managed to resolve their differences following a brief period of legal maneuvering.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

The unexpected partnership between Sony and Disney, granting Marvel access to Spider-Man, resulted in a series of box office juggernauts for Marvel Studios. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” raked in close to $900 million, making “Avengers: Infinity War” one of the top 10 highest-grossing films ever, and “Spider-Man: Far from Home” surpassed a billion dollars – a first for any Spider-Man film. However, it’s surprising to learn that the third installment almost didn’t happen.

After the hit movie “Far From Home,” Sony and Disney’s agreement on sharing Spider-Man was due to expire, requiring renegotiation for further productions. Despite the partnership’s remarkable success, both studios appeared eager to demand more financial compensation from one another during negotiations. This disagreement led to a stalemate, prompting Sony to discuss creating another Spider-Man film without Marvel’s participation, leaving Marvel unable to feature Spider-Man in future “Avengers” productions.

The situation between the parties became so tense that at one point, the agreement was announced as being terminated. However, due to the fervor of the lead actor from the franchise, Tom Holland, and a rather inebriated phone conversation with Disney CEO Bob Iger, they returned to negotiations and reached an agreement. The subsequent third installment wasn’t just about a collaboration between Spider-Man and the longstanding MCU character Doctor Strange, but it also reintroduced both past Spider-Men and their most memorable villains in a multiverse narrative that generated an astonishing $1.9 billion. Interestingly enough, Doctor Strange’s next escapade almost faced cancellation as well.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

After spending numerous years in development, Dr. Stephen Strange made his cinematic debut in 2016 with Benedict Cumberbatch delivering a remarkable portrayal as the Master of the Mystic Arts. The film proved successful at the box office, yet it took another five years for a sequel to be approved, not solely due to Marvel’s preoccupation with concluding the Infinity Saga.

At the San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, it was announced that “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” would have Scott Derrickson returning as director. This movie was said to be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) first real horror film. Interestingly, Elizabeth Olsen signed on to play the Scarlet Witch, picking up from where her character’s story left off in the Disney+ series “WandaVision.” There were also many rumors that the movie’s antagonist would be Nightmare, one of Doctor Strange’s major comic book foes. However, things came to a standstill as Derrickson eventually left the project due to creative differences. This happened only a few months before production was set to start, leaving the film in a state of uncertainty while Marvel rushed to find a new director to take over.

In the final weeks before filming was due to start, Marvel announced that Sam Raimi, known for his “Spider-Man” films which kick-started the comic book movie trend in the early 2000s, would be taking over as director. Given his background in horror, he seems well-suited for the role, and there are whispers that he may direct a sequel too.

Deadpool and Wolverine

Marvel Studios had a longstanding complex relationship with the “X-Men” comics franchise: mutants were a prized asset in their comic book collection, yet due to the rights being held by Fox, Marvel lacked control over them and couldn’t integrate them into the MCU (except for a few characters such as Quicksilver). However, when Disney acquired Fox in 2019, it became simpler to terminate the X-Men film series at Fox since its last movies didn’t perform well financially. The question then was, what about Deadpool?

2016 saw the debut of Ryan Reynolds’ “Deadpool,” which along with its 2018 sequel, became huge successes, both in terms of critical acclaim and box office sales. However, incorporating the character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe was not a certainty, despite the high demand for a third installment. The question of whether Disney would permit an R-rated superhero film within the MCU was valid, and it remained to be seen how Kevin Feige and his team would handle Ryan Reynolds’ creative input, which was crucial to the success of these films.

The fact that Hugh Jackman would reprise his role as Wolverine in the third installment of the movie series was a definitive answer to all previous speculations. However, this wasn’t a certainty since Jackman had previously declared his retirement from the character. Back then, he had expressed satisfaction with his work and agreed with the ending he provided the character in the 2017 film “Logan.” Therefore, it becomes apparent how many precise factors needed to align for the collaboration between Deadpool and Wolverine to materialize, eventually impressing audiences and earning a billion dollars at the box office.

2025-07-26 22:31