Sorry, But Not A Single Film In The Current MCU Slate Excites Me

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is in rough shape right now, and it’s been like that for quite some time. Following Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, our beloved heroes have either left or are on their way out, and so far we haven’t seen many exciting new faces stepping up to replace them. This has resulted in an underwhelming Phase Four that lacked focus or any meaningful connections that got us hooked before. What worries me the most though is that I’m not sure if it’s going to bounce back anytime soon.

We already know what’s coming from Marvel and Disney until at least 2027 (and maybe even beyond, with all the writers’ strike drama going on). Taking a closer look at the upcoming slate, as someone who used to be a huge fan of this superhero universe, I’m feeling nothing but apathy. They’ve got a whole lineup of movies and TV shows in the works, but nothing gets me excited anymore, the magic has faded.

This fall, Phase Five continues with The Marvels, Loki Season Two and Echo. And it doesn’t stop there. 2024 is already shaping up to be jam-packed as well. Deadpool 3, Thunderbolts, and Captain America: Brave New World are all set to storm the cinemas, and we have Ironheart, Agatha: Coven of Chaos, and Daredevil: Born Again on streaming. Let’s not forget Blade, Fantastic Four, and Armor Wars, which are all still pretty far-off.

For me, the problem is the lack of compelling characters that I’m excited to see further explored. Take Captain America: Brave New World, for example. The movies about Steve Rogers have always been among the most intriguing in the MCU, delving into politics, unveiling a larger narrative, and featuring not just Cap himself, but a host of other captivating characters. After Chris Evans passed his shield to the incomparably more boring Sam Wilson (The Falcon), I just didn’t see Anthony Mackie as capable of anchoring a big story around him like his predecessor. He’s probably a better fit for something niche like a Twisted Metal show.

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How about The Marvels, which is sort of a Captain Marvel sequel? Although I really liked Kamala Khan (voiced by Sandra Saad) in the Marvel’s Avengers game, I decided to skip Disney’s series starring Iman Vellani that focused on her origin story. There are just too many origin stories, and I grow tired of them. I’m not a fan of the overpowered Carol Denvers (Brie Larson) either, so I don’t really care for that movie.

The announced remake-like projects such as Blade and Fantastic Four, which we have essentially seen before, bring nothing but mixed feelings. With a multitude of untold stories waiting to be explored within the MCU, it feels somewhat disappointing to see the focus returning to recycled material, unless Marvel has a solid plan to put an unexpected twist on it (like the Mandarin in Iron Man 3).

It is also uncertain what will happen to the planned Avengers movies centered around Kang, given the recent abuse case involving Jonathan Majors. The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars were initially slated to arrive in 2026 and 2027 respectively, but I doubt that they will stick to those dates now. I would expect significant delays, if not complete reworking, due to what’s been going on.

It’s not like the MCU used to churn out hit after hit in the past (remember Thor: The Dark World?), but each new movie had a more distinct identity. With the shift towards streaming, it seems like there’s been an increase in quantity at the expense of quality. Since Endgame, there have been only a few movies that truly resonated with me (two of them being Spider-Man!). While some people rave about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, I found it to be just okay at best, lacking the same level of energy as the first two. For me, the criminally underrated 2021 game by Eidos Montréal captures that very essence and delves into Rocket’s past in a much more genuine and less manipulative way.

These problems appear to extend beyond just the MCU though, with some talk of so-called ‘superhero fatigue’ among viewers (unless we’re talking about Across the Spider-Verse, it seems), which is one of the reasons behind the DC Extended Universe’s current messy reboot. Perhaps it’s too early for the MCU to follow, but there’s no denying that it could benefit from some course correction. After all, superhero movies aren’t a separate genre that has to stick to a single formula with the repetitive tropes, but rather a central theme.

It’s long overdue to allow more creative freedom to filmmakers inside the MCU, exploring a wide range of genres and tones. There’s no need for the tiresome pursuit of fitting into a single overarching narrative that can only be fully grasped by watching countless other bland shows like Secret Invasion, which is only talked about due to the controversial nature of its AI-generated opening.

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Another popular practice that turns me off is bringing back characters from older Marvel movies, whether in small cameos (such as Patrick Stewart in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) or in significant roles (like Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man: No Way Home). It just feels so bland and superficial, prioritizing pleasing the audience through nostalgia-inducing recognizable characters, rather than focusing on telling compelling stories. The recent news of Deadpool 3 potentially including Elektra (Jennifer Garner) from the less-than-stellar 2005 film left me scratching my head. Like, how desperate must Marvel be to rely on these older, poorly received characters from forgotten movies to add value to their anticipated projects?

It’s unclear when Marvel will turn things around, and looking at its schedule it’s unlikely to happen within the next three to four years. Moreover, it’s not just one or two hits that can save the day for the MCU—it needs a bold new direction that takes risks and explores uncharted territories. Unfortunately, recent movies have teased glimpses of untapped potential only to go nowhere (like the Celestial seeds from Eternals), and it’s hard for me to feel any joy when seeing that shiny Marvel Studios logo these days.

But there’s still something to be positive about: the world of gaming. In the past few years, the range of Marvel games has expanded more than ever before. From Spider-Man, Marvel’s Avengers, and Guardians of the Galaxy, to Marvel Snap and Midnight Suns, there’s something for almost every taste and free from the restrictive constraints of shared rules.

Several intriguing far-off projects also include Insomniac’s Wolverine, Motive’s Iron Man, recently revealed Cliffhanger’s Black Panther, and Skydance’s unnamed Captain America and Black Panther game. Even if the MCU fails to adjust its course anytime soon, there’s always an exciting alternative to keep your favorite characters close.

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