The Marvel Cinematic Universe rules as the most powerful franchise in visual comic history.  Its remarkable introduction of a diverse array of superheroes has not only transformed the entertainment experience but has become an integral part of our lives. The monumental culmination of Avengers: Endgame is marked as an important moment in the franchise, followed by a massive entrance into the epic multiverse with a diverse character arc and complex storyline. Despite its complexity, the franchise struggled to capture its audience as effectively as the Infinity Saga. Apart from Disney’s invasion and pandemic, there were other challenges for the franchise.  While still influential, the MCU is currently recalibrating its once-seamless narrative path.

MCU from its well-destined Infinity Saga to uncertain Multiverse

the Infinity War poster
Avengers Infinity War

One of the most common complaints about the first post-Endgame Saga is that it lacks direction. When the franchise introduces its iconic superhero, Iron Man, through a controversial actor, Robert Downy Jr. the only big promise they made to the Avengers will show up in the franchise. Following the 2012 release of The Avengers, fans were unaware of their impending encounter with the formidable titan Thanos and his quest for the infinity stone. This transition signal heightened the dimension of the franchise. While the way to the Infinity Saga and Endgame was arduous, the franchise knew so well how to start and end, as they gave clear indications to the audience.

It’s no longer like 2008 anymore; the fraternity was quite good at changing stories and making adjustments. Even after the filming, it worked well during the Infinity Saga with 23 projects lasting from 2008 to 2019. The Multiverse Saga had a total of 10 projects within 3 years, pausing in a daunting situation. The Disney CEO decided to cut off some of the projects due to a lack of focus on content quality.

Also Read: Grant Gustin’s First Non-Superhero Outing Gets Shredded to Rips by Critics as Fans Demand Actor to Replace Ezra Miller as The Flash

MCU faces setbacks: Disappointing receptions and underperformance

The universe’s recent installment, Secret Invasion flaws the system. The most anticipated show ultimately became a disaster, scoring the lowest on Rotten Tomatoes. Its weak script and plot, and an even more disappointing cast serve to the series’ tragedy.  While the Dr. Strange Multiverse of Madness is filled with mind-bending visuals and huge action sequences, it didn’t live up to the hype it imposed.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania poster
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

According to a Hollywood reporter, the film had undergone reshoots in some parts, and the main actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, and his team had almost six weeks more to fix the movie. Articles mention that the movie is being described as “very Sam Raimi,” the director who gave us Evil Dead and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man. Doctor Strange, with over 200 reviews, has a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the sixth worst-reviewed movie in the MCU, alongside Thor.

Apart from being a Kickstarter to the  MCU Phase 5, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has ended its theatrical run with a box office haul of around $473 million worldwide. The film marked the second-worst drop for any superhero movie domestically. Similarly, after its release, the movie also went through some changes in the climax part.

Other MCU releases that differ in comparison to their precedents  Black Panther: Wakanda Forever haul of around $850 million against  Black Panther’s $1.3 billion total. Thor: Love and Thunder came out as the worst depiction of the thunder god. Shinagi stood out of the group due to its improved storytelling and more nuanced character portrayal. The Eternals is certified as the MCU’s first film to be “rotten” on Rotten Tomatoes

Also Read: “How do you know that?”: Unaware Chris Pratt Couldn’t Believe The Detail His Guardians of the Galaxy Co-Star Knew About Him

Multiverse complexity challenges Marvel’s coherence and connection

Marvel Multiverse poster Phase 4 and 5
Marvel Multiverse poster

The multiverse concept took away the linear comprehensiveness of the franchise, making it pretty complex to connect and realize. A confusing plot isn’t easy for a typical moviegoer to understand. Besides its multifaceted storyline, the saga also lacked better visual narration, which was evident in its underwhelming visual effects.

The complexity we see in the multiverse doesn’t do well for the franchise. The problem is that the whole idea of a multiverse is vague and not very clear, with alternate timelines and alternate versions of characters in each movie, making it difficult for the fans to understand and connect. This would challenge the audience to engage emotionally in the scenes. And of now what the epic Marvel currently needs is the human touch, which is sadly absent from its cinematic equation.
Source: The Direct

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!
Explore from around the WEB