Each Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans are returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after they seemingly took their last bows in Avengers: Endgame, however I am not as excited. To cite Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas, “I do not really feel the best way I am alleged to really feel.” I do know each Downey Jr. and Chris Evans are nice actors, and I liked their earlier forays into the MCU. But I am much less excited on the prospect of Captain America returning than I might be in the event that they introduced who was on the workforce. No, my downside is much less with the actors themselves returning and extra with what it means for the MCU as a complete as a result of it factors to a troubling signal.
I believe again to 2 of the MCU’s most up-to-date initiatives which can be extremely anticipated: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Eternals. Each weren’t solely initially of Part 4, however they gave me the identical pleasure I bear in mind feeling for Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger when the MCU was beginning to discover itself. New characters with daring ideas and mythology unexplored within the franchise may create thrilling potentialities to construct on. There was a degree of surprising, which made it all of the extra thrilling. Now, the Marvel Cinematic Universe just isn’t solely abounding the promising set-up that Avengers: Endgame established for the franchise however can be afraid to develop its new characters in favor of recycling the previous hits. In some ways, they aren’t studying the very lesson that set the franchise up for achievement within the first place.
When the MCU started, they did not have huge names like Spider-Man, the X-Males, or the Implausible 4. As an alternative, they wanted to take lesser beloved characters to most of the people, like Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America, and make them fan favorites. The MCU took probabilities, and their efforts had been rewarded by investing time in growing these characters and the assumption they’d be a success. As an alternative of placing characters like Shang-Chi, She-Hulk, Ms. Marvel, and extra entrance and middle, they need to depend on huge names like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, and The Russo Brothers to “save” them. They now appear to be within the enterprise of giving audiences what they already preferred as an alternative of displaying us what we did not know we needed till we obtained it, which is much much less thrilling.
Why Are Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. Right here?
I do not imply to sound dismissive, however I’m wondering why Marvel Studios is bringing again Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., and Hayley Atwell for Avengers: Doomsday. We all know the actual motive and can get to that momentarily, however from a storytelling perspective, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are the fruits of the Multiverse Saga, much like how The Infinity Saga concluded with Infinity Conflict and Endgame. Nevertheless, there have been additionally two further Avengers films beforehand.
Avengers: Doomsday already has the duty of creating a brand new workforce of heroes, a lot of whom have by no means met earlier than, whereas additionally needing to really feel like an epic fruits of a saga. It must be The Avengers and Avengers: Infinity Conflict directly. As an alternative of specializing in assembling the New Avengers and defining the roster, the precedence appears to be returning actors whose storylines had been completed as an alternative of the actors whose characters nonetheless have tales to inform.
It appears odd to know that Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Hayley Atwell might be in Avengers: Doomsday, however not if Tom Holland, Simu Liu, Brie Larson, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, or any of the opposite numerous MCU actors. Whereas Robert Downey Jr. is not less than enjoying the principle villain, Physician Doom, why are Evans and Atwell again? It looks like prioritizing the incorrect characters for the upcoming Avengers film.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Can Do What the Comics By no means May
One of many distinctive parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, versus the comics, is that the actors who signal on to play these roles have a restricted time. Steve Rogers can stay Captain America within the comics ceaselessly, even passing the mantle on to another person earlier than reclaiming it as a result of he’s a static drawing; he would not age or ask for a better pay improve. Casting specific actors to roles, although, means audiences have restricted time with these characters. But, as an alternative of needing to reboot to recast Tony Stark or Steve Rogers, these characters’ tales can have correct endings and achieve new successors.
Sam Wilson’s Captain America and Riri Williams’s Ironheart will be given the true highlight within the MCU, which the comics can by no means afford as a result of they at all times must return to the established order. As an alternative of at all times needing to depend on names like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor, new heroes like Physician Unusual, Captain Marvel, and Black Panther may take middle stage within the franchise and turn out to be the brand new focal factors.
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It might be a franchise that really grows and evolves with time, one that’s seen in eras. But the return of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans seemingly implies that the MCU is afraid to maneuver on to new characters. Whereas Downey Jr. is enjoying Physician Doom, it looks like a secure likelihood he’ll pull double obligation as an Iron Man variant. Chris Evans’ position is presently unknown, however it feels secure to say he’s enjoying Captain America, seemingly undercutting Sam Wilson, taking up the mantle in Captain America: Courageous New World.
With Marvel Comics’ wealthy historical past of characters to attract from, they might run for many years, placing the highlight on new segments of characters that might rise to reputation. The X-Males alone may seemingly carry their very own MCU Saga. It’s thrilling to see the prospect of the MCU constructing a basis the place, in 15 years, characters like Faiza Hussain’s Excalibur, Brother Voodoo, and Genis-Vell would be the lead characters within the franchise. Earlier than you snicker at that, do not forget that Marvel Studios made the Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man into standard heroes; nothing is unattainable. But it surely will not be capable of try this if it retains trying to its former glory.
Marvel Has Purchased Into the Damaging Hype (And That is Regarding)
Having Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and the Russo Brothers returning to the MCU can not help however really feel somewhat like Marvel Studios licking its wounds. After a decade of being the number-one movie franchise on the earth, the previous few years have seen a number of headlines with a standard sentiment from followers: “The MCU hasn’t been that good since Endgame.” Marvel Studios seemingly has heard that and introduced again all the important thing gamers to recapture the magic of 2019. This determination got here after Marvel Studios had their first true bomb, The Marvels, in November 2023, alongside the disappointing response to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and the disastrous evaluations for Secret Invasion.
But the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s downfall has been significantly exaggerated. Black Panther: Wakanda Ceaselessly, Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity, and Thor: Love and Thunder all made it to the highest 10 of 2022 worldwide, and every got here near $1 billion with out the Chinese language field workplace. Spider-Man: No Means Residence and Deadpool & Wolverine are two of the highest-grossing MCU films ever. Even Eternals, which was seen as a disappointment, nonetheless managed to outgross DC’s Black Adam regardless of that movie having the star energy of Dwayne Johnson and Eternals opening at a time when moviegoers had been extra hesitant to go to theaters following the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers recommend that the MCU continues to be standard, so why not hold transferring ahead?
Plainly, like Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is seemingly listening to the loud contingent of its followers. Motion pictures like Deadpool & Wolverine characteristic jokes like “Welcome to the MCU, you’re getting into at a little bit of a low level” or “The Multiverse has been miss after miss after miss,” jokes that really feel like they might be pulled from any Reddit thread or YouTube remark part. It appears now the MCU is on the defensive, solely listening to the unfavorable criticisms as an alternative of the optimistic response. Clearly, they should not solely take heed to reward, however it looks like the joy new characters have gotten is being drowned out by the sentiment that “no one desires this.” This does not really feel just like the studio that, after the frustration with Thor: The Darkish World, determined to suppose outdoors of the field and let Taika Waititi reinvent the franchise with Thor: Ragnarok. It now looks like they’d ignore Thor completely.
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It additionally is not unrealistic to suppose that the MCU is not on the whim of listening to a vocal minority and taking the incorrect classes, because it appears each side of Disney has been doing that. Lucasfilm continues to be coping with some followers not having gotten over Star Wars: The Final Jedi after seven years, and seemingly has began to cater to these followers by canceling The Acolyte following a focused assessment bombing marketing campaign and likewise failing to talk out and defend its actors from harassment. In the meantime, Disney appears to consider that Lightyear bombed due to a ridiculous controversy over two ladies kissing. They extensively had rewriters and edits carried out on Inside Out 2 to take away any trace of queer subtext (which they failed at) however just lately made the horrible determination to drag an episode of the upcoming collection Win or Lose as a result of it centered on a transgender athlete, in an try and appease the worst kind of viewers members.
Possibly that’s the key. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and the Russo Brothers returning to the MCU are signs of a bigger downside at Disney. The worry of embracing new dangers and falling again on sure issues is an indication they’re listening to unhealthy religion criticisms, that are, in impact, shaping the artwork. They don’t seem to be setting the traits anymore however reacting to them. Marvel Comics was at all times referred to as the “Home of Concepts,” however these current bulletins can not help however really feel like they’re operating out of concepts.
There’s a likelihood I am incorrect, and I certain hope I’m. I like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and am nonetheless excited for every entry. I see a number of nice potential in it, and I am keen to offer them the good thing about the doubt. I would like nothing extra to be confirmed incorrect in just a few years than discovering out Chris Evans returned for a small cameo and Robert Downey Jr. is nice as Physician Doom. Nothing would make me happier, however what would actually make me blissful is for the MCU to not neglect the foundations that constructed this franchise: taking dangers and never counting on what was secure. The MCU franchise is streaming on Disney+.