As a long-time Marvel fan who grew up with these characters, I can confidently say that the current direction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is nothing short of inspiring. The decision to diversify the hero roster and create projects centered around a diverse cast of characters has not only enriched the stories but also expanded the universe’s global appeal.
2025 promises a significant milestone for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), following the conclusion of the Infinity Saga with films like “Avengers: Endgame” and “Spider-Man: Far From Home”. The new Multiverse Saga has had its highs and lows, including a pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the MCU made a strong comeback with praised series such as “WandaVision” and “Loki”, along with films like “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. Yet, by 2023, signs of strain within the MCU began to emerge.
2023 was a challenging year for Marvel Studios, as the combined Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike impacted production. As a result, the studio opted to focus on just two live-action Disney+ series in 2024: Echo and Agatha All Along. In terms of feature films, Deadpool & Wolverine were the only titles released that year, with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Secret Invasion, and The Marvels experiencing less-than-optimal critical and box office reception earlier in the franchise.
For the past two years, Marvel Studios has been restructuring their franchise to address certain issues. Some might question whether these adjustments were necessary given that all three of their 2022 films made it into the top ten highest-grossing movies globally. However, Marvel has acknowledged what works and what doesn’t in their universe. Lately, at D23 Brazil, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige discussed how these adjustments have influenced their 2025 lineup.
Instead of requiring Marvel to continuously churn out content for Disney+, Bob Chapek has changed his approach.
5 Slowing Down on Announcing Projects
After the debut of Iron Man in 2008, Marvel has become known for revealing their lineup of movies well in advance. Following the success of The Avengers in 2012 at San Diego Comic-Con, they confirmed their plans for Phase Two, including Guardians of the Galaxy. In 2014, they unveiled their entire slate for Phase Three during a special press presentation. Not only did Marvel often announce large slates of films, but most of the movies on those lists eventually came to fruition. The exceptions were The Runaways and Inhumans, but even these were later developed into television series that aired during the Infinity Saga.
Marvel Studios continued to build on their successful streak as they revealed their lineup of films and Disney+ shows in 2019, which included additional projects announced during the Disney Investor Day Call in 2020. As production resumed post-COVID-19 pandemic, they unveiled even more movies and TV series at both Comic-Con and D23 in 2022, revealing plans for Phase Five and offering glimpses of what’s to come in Phase Six, including two new Avengers films and The Fantastic Four.
Despite delays in productions like Blade and The Fantastic Four, as well as the lack of realization of Armor Wars, it’s important to note that these situations arose due to former Disney CEO Bob Chapek pushing for continuous releases on Disney+ to inflate the worth of their streaming services. This has resulted in numerous announcements but minimal progress. However, following Chapek’s departure from the company, signs of Bob Iger’s return have emerged with his focus shifting towards prioritizing theatrical releases over quantity and emphasizing quality.
Keeping Attention on Phase Five
It appears Marvel Studios has taken note of their past experiences, now choosing to keep viewers engaged by highlighting forthcoming projects. At the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 event, the Marvel Studios panel primarily showcased the three MCU films scheduled for release in 2025. Moreover, they made changes, renaming “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” to “Avengers: Secret Wars,” and revealed that Robert Downey Jr. would be portraying Doctor Doom.
Beyond “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, the pair of “Avengers” films, and the upcoming “Spider-Man 4”, details about Phase Six are scant. However, that’s alright since 2025 is brimming with titles to wrap up Phase 5. In total, there will be three live-action movies, while Disney+ will premiere three live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe series and three animated projects.
It appears that Marvel has faced numerous obstacles, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, writer’s and actors’ strikes, which caused the Multiverse Saga to experience several halts and setbacks. As a result, they seem to be concentrating on completing Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, wrapping up this phase of their franchise, and preparing for what’s next. Some fans may feel disappointed by the lack of updates about Shang-Chi 2, Doctor Strange 3, or The Young Avengers, but Marvel Studios is keeping everyone focused on current projects before moving on to future ones when they’re ready.
4 Not Afraid to Rework Projects in Development
In the past, Marvel Studios faced challenges due to announcing titles too early, leading to a rush to release them, even when quality might have suffered. The series Secret Invasion, for instance, was a notable example of this pressure. Following the lukewarm reception to Secret Invasion in 2023 and the SAG-AFTRA Strike that halted production on all projects for nearly four months, Marvel Studios used this time productively. They decided to revise certain productions by delaying releases, conducting extensive reshoots on Captain America: Brave New World, and reworking Daredevil: Born Again to more closely emulate the style of the Netflix series.
Rather than hastily releasing the projects since the work had been completed, they chose to spend the money on refining them instead. This wise investment pays off in the long run, as a series of unpopular titles can have a more damaging impact on the brand over time.
Don’t Rush Blade
“Of all Marvel Studios’ projects, Blade stands out as one that hasn’t been hurriedly released. Announced in 2019, this movie featuring Mahershala Ali has experienced numerous production delays over the past five years. Several screenwriters have worked on the script, and two directors have stepped down from the project.
Fans have expressed dissatisfaction over the production timeline, yet Marvel Studios is prioritizing crafting a top-notch “Blade” film rather than forcing it into “Avengers: Doomsday.” They value quality over meeting deadlines, which is commendable as making a great movie for Blade, as demonstrated by the lukewarm reception to “Blade: Trinity,” is no easy feat. If delaying and refining the film ensures a better end product, Marvel Studios is willing to do so. This approach should be appreciated, as it’s the final movie that will be remembered, not just its release date.
3 Shifting From Kang to Doctor Doom
A significant shift in direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s grand narrative has been moving Doctor Doom from being the primary antagonist of the Multiverse Saga to Kang the Conqueror, a character that Marvel Studios had previously dedicated resources to, with actor Jonathan Majors and publicly confirming their plans as early as 2022 when they revealed that the fifth Avengers film would be titled “The Kang Dynasty.
2023 promised to be a significant year for actor Kang, as not only did the movie “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” present him as the primary antagonist, but also hinted at the next Avengers adventure with the catchphrase “behold the inception of a fresh reign.” Furthermore, a council of Kangs was subtly introduced in the film’s post-credits scene.
Following the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, actor Jonathan Majors faced charges for physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend in just a month’s time. In December of the same year, he was convicted of two misdemeanor counts of assault and harassment. As a result, Marvel Studios dismissed him from his role as Kang the Conqueror on the very day of the verdict. Instead of recasting the character, Marvel opted for a change in plans. At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, they not only revealed that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty would be renamed Avengers: Doomsday, but also announced that Robert Downey Jr. would portray Doctor Doom in the film.
Doctor Doom s a Better Villain
“Doctor Doom is a superior choice as the final adversary for the climactic Avengers movie compared to Kang, for a couple of key reasons. Firstly, Doctor Doom is better recognized by the public as a character, so his inclusion in the story would carry greater impact. Kang the Conqueror, without doubt, is an influential Marvel villain and a threat that matches the Avengers’ caliber. Introducing him in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ and setting ‘The Kang Dynasty’ as another Avengers movie, much like how Loki transitioned from Thor to the Avengers, would have been effective. However, attempting to make him a replacement for Thanos was always a questionable decision.
Secret Wars, is based on the 2015 comic Secret Wars, which is well-known for its strong association with Doctor Doom. Therefore, it seems more appropriate to introduce Doctor Doom rather than assigning his most recognized tale to Kang the Conqueror. If Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are not just ordinary Avengers movies but grand, epic conclusions, then the decision to shift focus from Kang to Doctor Doom appears to be a wise one.
2 Emphasizing the Interconnected Universe While Providing a New Entry Point for New Viewers
Four major Marvel Cinmatic Universe (MCU) productions slated for 2025, namely “Captain America: Brave New World“, “Daredevil: Born Again“, “Thunderbolts“, and “Ironheart“, will all continue and expand on storylines and connections throughout the MCU. Key plot points from previous movies such as the fate of the Celestial head (introduced in Eternals) and the current status of The Leader, will be resolved in “Captain America: Brave New World“. Meanwhile, “Thunderbolts” is set to answer questions like who purchased Avengers Tower (last seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming) and what exactly Val Allegra de Fontaine has been doing since her appearance in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier“.
In the coming times, “Daredevil: Born Again” will pick up where the Netflix “Daredevil” series left off and connect with storylines established in “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law”, “Hawkeye”, and “Echo”. Furthermore, “Ironheart” is set to focus on Riri Williams following her debut in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”. This way, the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems to be growing more interconnected as it develops and ties up storylines that were initially introduced.
Feeling More Interconnected
Fundamentally, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has maintained its intricate web of connections, as demonstrated by Doctor Strange’s appearance in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. Meanwhile, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” continues the narrative thread from “WandaVision”, while “The Marvels” serves as a follow-up to both “Captain Marvel” and “Ms. Marvel”, and also ties into “WandaVision”.
Although each standalone film in the 2021-2024 Marvel Cinematic Universe didn’t seem to follow directly from one another, as in Phases Two and Three where “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” led into “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, which then ignited “Captain America: Civil War”, branching off into “Black Panther”, “Spider-Man: Homecoming”, and “Ant-Man and the Wasp”, eventually leading to “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame”. The 2025 slate of MCU projects aims to recreate that sense of continuity, resolving ongoing storylines and bringing characters together in interwoven narratives.
For those who might share some apprehension about having to explore numerous fresh stories, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” offers a chance to jump into the series without being bogged down by complex continuity, much like how “Guardians of the Galaxy” did during Phase Two.
1 Know When to Listen to the Fans and When Not To
One way to rephrase this in a natural and easy-to-read manner could be:
Marvel has introduced several new characters such as Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night, Ironheart, America Chavez, Maya Lopez, Kate Bishop, and others to cater to their expanding worldwide fanbase. However, this diversity has led some segments of the audience to launch targeted hate campaigns, dubbing it the “M-She-U” as a derogatory term, implying that the franchise was struggling due to its increased variety. Marvel, to their merit, are ignoring these criticisms and continue to dedicate themselves to creating an inclusive universe in both the stories they tell and behind the scenes.
The MCU Is For Everyone
In 2024, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) demonstrated its dedication to inclusivity through the series Agatha All Along. This show attracted a whole new audience to the MCU, as Marvel’s decision to invest in Kathryn Hahn’s beloved character from WandaVision proved fruitful. The series catered to viewers who may not be deeply invested in the MCU’s intricate narrative but enjoyed a light-hearted witch story.
Marvel Studios continues to affirm that Sam Wilson is indeed Captain America, taking over as the main figure for this franchise. He’s proven himself worthy to hold one of Marvel’s most prestigious titles. The character Ironheart will make her debut on Disney+, though there’s been a nearly two-year wait until its release in June 2025. Despite the disappointing box office performance of The Marvels, Marvel Studios appears dedicated to further developing Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel and Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel as crucial elements within the franchise.
Marvel Studios is skilled at discerning when fan input should be heeded and when it shouldn’t, as well as identifying constructive criticism. Fans seem apprehensive about the potential death of Foggy Nelson and Karen Page in “Daredevil: Born Again”. It could be wise to reconsider this plot point. However, if fans are criticizing “The Marvels” for being “woke”, it may not be worth addressing that perspective.
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2024-11-13 05:03