Why the MCU Needs to Bring Back Romance

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  • Love and Romance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
  • Romance Is Both Smart Storytelling and a Good Business Decision
  • Some of Marvel’s Biggest Multiverse Saga Hits Have Had Strong Romance
  • Romance Stories Could Help Marvel Regain Audiences Back

As a devotee of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s a point I find myself pondering increasingly: the lack of romance. This thought particularly surfaced during my viewing of the latest MCU film, “Captain America: Brave New World”. Interestingly, one of the fresh characters in this movie, Leila Taylor, played by Xosha Roquemore, is a romantic interest for Sam Wilson in Marvel Comics lore. However, in the film, their relationship is portrayed as nothing more than friendship, with no hints of romantic tension whatsoever.

Initially, Rosa Salazar was set to portray Diamondback in the film, a character who historically has had romantic connections with Captain America. However, her role was ultimately removed from the movie. This could suggest that Marvel Studios might have intended for Diamondback to be a love interest for Sam Wilson, mirroring the Batman/Catwoman dynamic, but it remains uncertain. In any case, the film did not explore these potential romantic connections for Captain America.

It’s unfortunate to add that the upcoming series “Daredevil: Born Again” appears to disregard the events of “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” a project where Matt Murdock, played by Charlie Cox, previously appeared. Although we didn’t anticipate She-Hulk appearing in the show or many direct references, the creators’ comments suggest a potential issue with the romantic connection between Daredevil and She-Hulk. In contrast to the early MCU films like “Iron Man” that featured Tony Stark and Christine Everhart sharing a bedroom scene, or the strong romantic subplot between Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter in “Avengers: Endgame,” which was even the final shot of the film, it seems that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has generally shied away from portraying romance and sexual relationships, leaving this as a notable gap.

Love and Romance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Initially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), numerous characters’ backstories were shaped by romantic relationships. For instance, Iron Man is linked to Pepper Potts, The Incredible Hulk shares a bond with Betty Ross, Thor interacts with Jane Foster, and Captain America: The First Avenger introduces Steve Rogers alongside Peggy Carter.

Patty Jenkins chose to leave Thor: The Dark World as she wanted to emphasize the romantic relationship between Thor and Jane Foster, a focus that Marvel Studios didn’t share. Consequently, Jane is absent in Thor: Ragnarok, and the film shows no interest in romance. In Thor: Love and Thunder, Jane returns, but their love story seems like an added element rather than a main focus.

Quantumania,” mostly keeps them apart for most of the storyline. The climactic scene where they team up against Kang and seemingly get trapped in the Quantum Realm to save the world is somewhat undermined by a last-minute change in the ending.

It’s worth noting that while the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t shied away from romances altogether, they could have handled them more effectively. A case in point is “Eternals,” which boasted the supposed first MCU love scene between Sersi and Ikarus, yet their connection seemed underdeveloped. Contrastingly, the unexpected pairing of Druig and Mikkari, a development not initially planned, resonated with viewers due to the strong on-set chemistry between the actors.

Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, the lack of romantic subplots may be diminishing the emotional impact or stakes for some viewers.

Romance Is Both Smart Storytelling and a Good Business Decision

It’s undeniable that a compelling romance has immense draw at the box office. Take “Titanic,” for instance, which held the title of highest-grossing film for twelve consecutive years. This movie was more than just a historical epic; it was a love story that touched hearts and compelled audiences, even those who might not have initially considered watching a three-hour drama. Although “Titanic” is often associated with its dramatic visuals and catastrophic events, at its core, it is a heartfelt love story that continues to strike a chord with viewers today. Hearing Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” shift keys to A-flat during the final part of the chorus is as exhilarating as watching Captain America wielding Mjolnir.

One reason Sam Raimi’s 2002 Spider-Man movie became the global phenomenon it was, breaking box office records worldwide, was its emphasis on more than just action. It also deeply explored the heartfelt romance between Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, a relationship that culminated in the iconic kiss scene upside down, an image now synonymous with Spider-Man in film history.

The blockbuster hit film Twilight demonstrated its box office success by appealing to both romance and love triangle genres. Disregarding personal opinions about the movie’s quality, it’s clear that it had a profound cultural impact, breaking yearly box office records. A significant portion of this popularity stemmed from viewers becoming engrossed in the love triangle involving Bella Swan and her two supernatural suitors, Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. Essentially, Marvel Studios could capitalize on this aspect by exploring similar romantic triangles in their future productions.

Disregarding romantic elements would undoubtedly appear unusual for a studio that swiftly recognized that appealing to a vast audience was crucial for achieving success. In 2011, films like Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger introduced the now-famous Marvel hero shirtless scene, which wasn’t present in earlier movies such as Iron Man or The Incredible Hulk. Catering to the female perspective evidently proved profitable. A significant portion of the MCU’s popularity during the Infinity Saga can be attributed to enthusiastic fans on platforms like Tumblr and various fan-fiction communities who shipped their favorite Marvel characters in romantic pairings. Some of these pairings, such as Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, suggest a yearning for queer representation, a facet that the MCU has been relatively devoid of throughout its history.

It appears that some Marvel fans have expressed criticism towards the series “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” with some labeling it as one of the worst MCU projects. This seems to stem from the depiction of Jennifer Walters’ sexual desires and agency, which has been a point of contention for some viewers. Interestingly, characters like Iron Man and Daredevil are frequently applauded for their promiscuity, yet this portrayal seems to have sparked disapproval in this case.

The series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has been criticized for being similar to a 2015 SNL sketch about a Black Widow movie as a Nora Ephron-style romantic comedy, which is seen as an unappealing concept by many. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is known for its creativity and fan appreciation, having placed their superheroes in diverse genres like ’70s conspiracy thrillers (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), teenage dramas (Spider-Man: Homecoming), or heist movies (Ant-Man). However, the idea of a superhero romance seems to be the boundary that is too far beyond what fans are willing to accept.

Some of Marvel’s Biggest Multiverse Saga Hits Have Had Strong Romance

Four notable Marvel productions post-Endgame that received positive critical and audience feedback include “WandaVision” and its spin-off series “Agatha All Along”, as well as “Loki” and “X-Men ’97”. The romantic elements were central in these shows, particularly the love story between Scarlet Witch and Vision, a classic tale in Marvel Comics. Their relationship had been subtly developed in the MCU since their introduction in “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, with films like “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War” further exploring it.

In a groundbreaking move for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the series Agatha All Along finally delivered the long-anticipated queer romance. The electrifying connection between Kathryn Hahn’s character Agatha Harkness and Aubrey Plaza’s Rio Vadal/Death captivated viewers, sparking a flurry of conversations on social media. The series finale’s shocking climax – a heartfelt kiss between the two women – was an inspired decision. Additionally, the show introduced William Kaplan/Billy Maximoff as a young gay character who is in a loving relationship with another man named Eddie. While this may seem minimal compared to the broader MCU landscape, it offers a solid foundation for future representation and fan engagement.

Loki’s romantic relationship with Sylvie, his counterpart, sparked numerous debates about the moral implications of self-love within the character Loki. Given Hiddleston’s widespread popularity and the proliferation of romantic fan fiction featuring his portrayal of Loki, it was a shrewd decision on Marvel’s part to introduce a love interest for Loki. This aspect could be one reason why the series has gained such high praise and popularity among fans within the Multiverse Saga. However, even the creators opted to minimize the romance in Season 2.

What these shows – WandaVision, Agatha All Along, Loki, and the popular series X-Men ’97 – share is that they are all streaming on Disney+. This allows them to take creative risks in areas like romance, sensuality, and adult themes since they aren’t bound by box office performance like traditional movies with budgets over $200 million. While films like Deadpool and Wolverine, which had an R-rating and enjoyed greater creative freedom than other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) titles, chose to emphasize the frienemy relationship between Deadpool and Wolverine over their romantic connection, despite the latter being a significant factor in the success of 2016’s Deadpool.

Romance Stories Could Help Marvel Regain Audiences Back

Discussing whether or not the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) failed in terms of popularity post-“Avengers: Endgame” might be a matter of perspective (Isn’t it impressive for a franchise to have 35 straight number one openings at the box office?). However, some people have expressed that there seems to be less buzz surrounding each new release. Criticisms include a perceived decrease in interconnections between projects and an increased focus on action-packed sequences, which may appear repetitive.

Highlighting romantic relationships within the Marvel Cinematic Universe could address several issues by providing a thread of connection across various films and series. This interwoven narrative structure would allow characters who meet in one movie like the Avengers, to continue their interactions in their individual films or even make cameos. This could establish deep emotional ties between seemingly unrelated stories, ensuring continuity and allowing us to follow the development of relationships, whether they remain together or witness new romances unfold on screen.

Is there a payoff required for Hercules’ tease at the end of “Thor: Love and Thunder”? Instead, how about having him interact with She-Hulk, developing a playful romantic dynamic similar to their comic book counterparts? Given that Yelena Belova is taking over as the new Black Widow in the MCU and she’ll be teaming up with Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in “Thunderbolts”, the MCU could introduce a romance between Yelena and Bucky, mirroring their comic book relationship where Natasha Romanoff is Black Widow.

Introducing romantic entanglements among superheroes could add an exciting twist to future superhero movies. For instance, imagine Sam Wilson (The Falcon) struggling between his feelings for Leilia Taylor and Diamondback, or both Joaquin Torres and Shang-Chi developing a bond on the Avengers team, only to find themselves vying for the same love interest, such as Thena from the Eternals or Okoye from the Dora Milaje. This would introduce new layers to their relationships and generate fresh storylines, keeping viewers engaged across various movie installments. It doesn’t have to be the main focus, but it should serve as a subplot that audiences can become invested in and see develop over time, much like Captain America being able to wield Thor’s hammer.

Ways the MCU Can Correct This

It appears that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) may be planning to delve deeper into the relationships among its superheroes, as evidenced by the upcoming movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” This film is set to introduce Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic and Susan Storm / The Invisible Woman, who are a married couple in Marvel Comics. Their entry into the MCU may seem unexpected given their long-standing relationship and lack of onscreen romantic chemistry. However, there’s talk of a pregnancy plotline involving their son Franklin Richards, suggesting that things could get emotionally charged. Matters might become even more intricate when the Fantastic Four encounter the MCU’s portrayal of Namor, potentially bringing one of comics’ most renowned love triangles to life on the big screen.

The X-Men are expected to play a significant role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe post-“Avengers: Secret Wars”. Given the strong fan reaction to the passionate, tangled romances seen in “X-Men ’97”, Marvel Studios is unlikely to overlook this element in their films. From the intricate love quadrangle involving Wolverine, Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Emma Frost, to the romantic entanglements of Gambit, Rogue, Angel, and Psylocke, the X-Men’s relationships, breakups, and marriages could form a whole saga within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans are eager for Wolverine to battle the Hulk or for the X-Men to confront Mister Sinister, but they also want these characters’ love lives to be as complex as the drama-loving X-Men themselves.

Simultaneously, there are numerous heroes from their ranks yet to be fully explored. With The Young Avengers potentially arriving soon, Marvel may introduce Hulkling, a key love interest for him, into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This couple is one of Marvel’s most significant queer romances and features a love story that revolves around them leading an intergalactic empire. Rainbow Rowell recently concluded a remarkable run on the She-Hulk comic that highlighted a romance between her and Jack of Hearts, a character who often goes unnoticed among the Avengers. This was a tender, mature adult romance about two individuals dealing with their personal issues while seeking to deepen their relationship from friendship to something more. This could make an excellent foundation for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Season 2 and provide Marvel with an opportunity to introduce Jack of Hearts into the franchise (Marvel, if you’re reading this, think about Mike Faist).

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2025-02-24 03:33