Good times are ahead for MCU fans as a complete takeover awaits in the coming year. Marvel Studios looks set to make a bang, with multiple exciting releases scheduled. Gearing up for Phase 5 looks quite optimistic, and we can’t wait for what’s in store. After a tumultuous four years, it seems the franchise is standing on unsteady ground, much like a student might feel when they need to improve their writing by signing up to https://payforessay.net/rewrite-my-essay.
After a go-slow in releases, followed by the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine, Kevin Feige is putting his house in order.
Slow Releases in 2024
2024’s Marvel release schedule looks more noticeably thin. We’ve been accustomed to at least four films per year since 2017. But, it seems a creative decision to ease up on releases finally caught up with the board.
It’s not we don’t like new releases. But there was too much on our plates to fathom. It was to a point where new characters were being unveiled, new allegiances formed, old storylines were fading, and there was no sense of direction.
The anticipation for new releases started dimming. We felt fatigued by the sheer volume of Marvel content. While the franchise was rapidly growing, we needed to maintain the same level of excitement and engagement.
Luckily, this year has been different. Deadpool & Wolverine became a major hit at the Box Office, claiming the No.1 spot for five past six weekends while ranking as the year’s second highest-grossing movie.
This is a major milestone in the franchise’s history, as only five MCU movies crossed this hallmark. Also, it marked the first time Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s characters crossed paths in the franchise.
It proves that more doesn’t always mean quality. Focusing on a single project allows substantial storytelling while creating more anticipation and buzz. Also, it gives us ample time to digest each release.
Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Doom
Another masterstroke unveiled this year was Tony Stark’s appointment as the next Dr. Doom at Comic-Con in San Diego. The move elicited different emotions from the fanbase, with some (us) viewing it as a wise chess move, while others (clueless fans) viewed it as a cheap ploy to recapture people’s nostalgia.
There’s no doubt Marvel took an easy way out with this. You get a larger reaction re-casting a highly valued character (Iron Man) – who fits the villain role as a cocky billionaire villain. Other than casting something different,
We feel like the Jonathan Majors saga, and all the money they’d invested in the character was a lesson in sticking with what works and has worked.
Doom is a dark reflection of Tony Stark. He is a genius-level intellect with super-powered armor and an unsurmountable ego who believes only his tech can save the world. Does it ring a bell?
The character’s name is insignificant in our case scenario. It’s about building a story behind a Stark variant. Something so evil and sinister that it pains RDJ in new lights. Forget the life-sacrificing hero who sacrificed himself for the sake of the world. But, a more self-indulging brute force who will stop at nothing until Reed Richards and his team fall.
Chris Evans Returns?
Way before The Avengers assembled, we met Jonny Storm, a captivating and fiery (literally) persona played by Chris Evans in the Fantastic Four franchise. Given MCU’s expanding horizons, could we see a Chris Evans reprisal in his role as the Human Torch in a delightful twist of fate?
In previous interviews, Evans wasn’t shy of alluding that a reprisal for the role sounded like a lively prospect to consider. Add this to his surprising cameo on Deadpool & Wolverine, not as Captain America but as Johnny Storm.
However, it seems quite far-fetched that this idea would materialize, especially with the multiverse saga in MCU and the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars.
Different plotlines could manifest in the upcoming film. Could we see Captain Rogers’ youthful rejuvenation through time travel? Or a multi-versal variant? Recent chatter from fans and conspiracy theorists, such as at a payforessay review, suggests he is taking up the role of Captain Hydra to bring out the double stunt we saw in Knives Out and the ‘Gray Man.’
MCU’s 2025 Release Schedule
Our fingers remain crossed over a comeback season for Marvel and to undo all the mistakes from the past three years. The release schedule looks set with a couple of heavyweights underway to justify our stance, including:
Captain America: Brave New World
Anthony Mackie finally gets a response to Tom Holland’s diss at Comic-Con with a big-screen appearance as Sam Wilson. It appears he’s taking on the vibranium shield and putting on his big-boy pants to fill the void left by Captain America.
Thunderbolts
Next on the schedule is Thunderbolts, directed by Jake Schreier. Many view it as MCU’s response to DC Comics, Suicide Squad. It revolves around an assembled team of superheroes and antiheroes deployed on a secret mission by the government.
Fantastic Four
Following the failure of its predecessor in 2015, MCU takes a different toll on next year’s release. As of now, very little is known about the storyline or plot. The only known fact is that Tony Stark will play the role of Dr. Doom.
Blade
Millennials understand how Blade is a major throwback, given its massive success in the early 2000s under Wesley Snipes. Through the years, the main star fell from grace in Hollywood but appears to make a comeback. The film reboots the infamous Blade series with Wesley Snipes as the sword-yielding vampire slayer.
After some directors joined and left the project unceremoniously, a storm was brewing back with the creative direction. But everything is back on track to meet the release date slated for late 2025.
Final Takeaway
It’s quite motivating to see MCU taking significant strides to revamp their franchise while considering fans’ concerns. The decrease in the volume of releases is working out greatly, given the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine at the Box Office. Our bets remain on a comeback for the franchise in 2025.
