Is the MCU Getting a Soft Reboot? Why Marvel Shouldn’t Reset the Franchise

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Brave New World,” seems to suggest a consensus in favor of a reboot. It seems that the cumulative weight of the cinematic universe is causing mixed reviews from critics and viewers. A reboot could potentially return the MCU to its past box-office successes.

Refreshing the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) might hold some logic, considering that when Avengers: Secret Wars premieres, it would mark 19 years since Iron Man initially launched the shared universe. By this point, there will be 41 films and numerous Disney+ series, amounting to a significant amount of continuity. This can make the franchise appear overwhelming for audiences trying to keep up or join in at a later stage. A high school student from 2008 is now in their mid-30s and may have a family. There’s an entire demographic who were born after the MCU began, with a younger audience emerging towards the end of the Infinity Saga, who might not be interested in the franchise their parents or older siblings are fond of. Instead, they might prefer series that started during their lifetime. By starting fresh with a clean slate, we can attract these new audiences back.

While some enthusiasts might see a reboot as an opportunity to reunite characters like Iron Man (Tony Stark) and Captain America (Steve Rogers), allowing them to engage with groups such as The Fantastic Four and The X-Men. However, the introduction of Phases 4 and 5 by Marvel Studios seems more about restarting the character development of Hulk and Thor, potentially at the cost of the fresh, diverse lineup of heroes. Marvel producer Brad Winderbaum has voiced concerns over rebooting the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and we wholeheartedly concur with his sentiments. A reboot of the MCU would be ill-advised for numerous reasons.

‘Secret Wars’ Didn’t Actually Reboot the Marvel Universe

A prevalent misunderstanding among fans is that the 2015 “Secret Wars” comic book series served as a complete overhaul of the Marvel Universe. However, this isn’t entirely accurate. The “reboot” at the end of “Secret Wars” was intended to restore the original Marvel Universe (Marvel 616) following its destruction at the beginning of the event and the creation of Battleworld.

In essence, the “reboot” is more about restoring the Marvel Comics Universe as it once was, albeit with some alterations such as the introduction of Miles Morales and The Maker into reality. Unlike the DC reboot in “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, which significantly revised the history and origins of DC heroes, the Marvel reboot did not rewrite the past in a similar manner.

Secret Wars”, The Fantastic Four were initially from the MCU but got stranded in the reality depicted in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” when they gained their powers.

Marvel Comics’ endeavor to restart their comics series, titled “Heroes Reborn“, was met with disapproval from both fans and critics. The reboot was quickly reversed within a year. Despite Franklin Richards being confirmed as a key figure in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and him being the character behind the “Heroes Reborn-” type reboot, it’s unlikely that Marvel Studios will take up that storyline.

Rebooting a Long-Running Franchise Is a Short-Term Gain for a Long-Term Loss

Refreshing an established franchise could yield short-term success, but it may cause issues in the long run, much like how the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) resembles Star Trek. In 2005, after Enterprise had finished its run, there was likely a sense of Star Trek burnout due to numerous TV series and movies that created complex continuity, making it challenging for a broad audience to engage. The franchise had lost much of the popularity it enjoyed in the 1980s, with live-action films featuring the original cast and The Next Generation crew being widely successful.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I must say that J.J. Abrams’s 2009 Star Trek was a breath of fresh air for the franchise, offering a compelling revamp that truly resonated with fans. However, it seems that Paramount missed an opportunity to capitalize on this revitalization, leading to delays in subsequent films and a mixed reception both critically (Star Trek Into Darkness) and financially (Star Trek Beyond)). Now, the film division of the franchise finds itself in a bit of a standstill, waiting for Star Trek 4, while the television side is venturing back into the original continuity that the reboot had left behind years ago.

2006 saw the refreshing revamp that Bond fans needed with “Casino Royale”, but unfortunately, the momentum was halted with its immediate successor, “Quantum of Solace”. The franchise then experienced a rollercoaster ride, oscillating between brilliant (“Skyfall”), dismal (“Spectre”), and finally settling on a mediocre finish with “No Time to Die”. Now it seems that the series is preparing for yet another reboot, this time under Amazon MGM’s control. However, the outlook isn’t particularly promising.

In the 2000s, the revamped Marvel universe known as Ultimate, intended to draw in new readers with less continuity, experienced a significant surge in popularity that surpassed the traditional Marvel Comics universe (616). However, by the beginning of the 2010s, the Ultimate Universe started dwindling and losing fans. Conversely, the original Marvel Comics universe persisted, thanks to its rich shared history. This continuity provided the foundation for iconic stories such as “Civil War,” “Planet Hulk,” “Secret Invasion,” along with character-defining tales like Matt Fraction’s “Hawkeye,” Tom King’s “Vision,” and James Robinson’s “Scarlet Witch.” Many of these narratives served as the blueprint for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

A Reboot Tosses Out the Countless Interesting Stories the MCU Can Now Offer

The main concern about restarting the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is that it might discard the intriguing advancements the series has accumulated throughout its history. Some enthusiasts advocate for a reboot to allow the movies to be more comic-book accurate, creating a universe where Iron Man and Captain America could mingle with the Avengers and X-Men. However, this change comes at the expense of forsaking the distinctive narrative possibilities that the MCU’s specific circumstances have provided.

The reality that the MCU employs actors who will eventually grow too old for their roles, leading them to depart, not only provides these characters with a conclusive journey that the comics can’t, but it compels Marvel to shine the limelight on fresh characters. Instead of having Sam Wilson co-hold the title of Captain America alongside Steve Rogers, as in the comics, the MCU enables Sam Wilson to be Captain America for his era of tales. Furthermore, the MCU has scarcely begun to explore intriguing new heroes such as Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night, and Namor, who can now establish their unique presence within the franchise, a space that would otherwise have been filled by more established characters. Why risk throwing all that away by replicating what’s already been done?

It’s intriguing to envision the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) shifting its focus towards thrilling collaborations between far-flung heroes such as Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, The Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and so on. This sounds much more enticing than resurrecting the original Avengers. Instead of being tied to a single era, the MCU could be characterized by distinct eras. The Infinity Saga was the period dominated by Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Thor. The Multiverse Saga is currently seeking its new central figures, but looking ahead, there’s no reason why characters like Daredevil, Shang-Chi, The Fantastic Four, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Sam Wilson, and Doctor Strange couldn’t take the lead. As time passes, the MCU might have a new set of primary heroes, like the X-Men, Excalibur, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Luna Snow, Squirrel Girl, and many others.

The MCU achieved its success by transforming relatively unknown characters such as Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, and Ant-Man into household names. Contrary to the common criticism that “no one wants this,” it is worth noting that even dedicated comic book fans were unaware of who the Guardians of the Galaxy were when their film was first announced in 2012. However, today they rank among Marvel’s most popular franchises.

The MCU should move forward, not regress to old triumphs; it requires reinvesting in characters such as Shang-Chi, She-Hulk, Moon Knight, and others for longevity. The key is to innovate while respecting the essence that initially propelled it to success. Marvel Studios should cease reacting to trends and revisit the strategies that brought them acclaim in the first place, by trusting their characters and providing opportunities for audiences to connect with them.

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2025-04-12 22:37