“The evil has been defeated”: Upcoming Avengers Movies Get a Major Update That’s Welcome News for Fans Who Hated Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange 2
- 'Doctor Strange 2' writer Michael Waldron has been removed from 'Avengers 5' after backlash from fans who criticized his previous work.
- The departure has delighted fans who criticized 'Multiverse of Madness' and sparked speculation about the direction of 'Avengers 5'.
- 'Avengers 5' might include over 60 Marvel characters, and Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman's Deadpool and Wolverine may be two of them.
Big things are about to come for Marvel fans. The next major crossover event everyone has been dreaming of is about to get into pre-production, and it seems like the studio has taken the backlash of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness quite seriously.
Multiverse of Madness was written by Michael Waldron, who got mixed reactions for his contribution. He has worked on some of the most popular Marvel projects, including Loki. But as the countdown for Avengers 5 begins, Marvel looks for a major change of plans.
Michael Waldron’s Departure from Avengers 5 Delights Multiverse of Madness Critics
Michael Waldron, who was earlier hired to be the screenwriter for Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars, is no longer writing Avengers 5. This is a pretty big deal, considering he was the guy behind Sami Raimi‘s MCU debut Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Loki. But why are some fans celebrating this change?
Multiverse of Madness was not exactly a hit with everyone. For some viewers, it failed to live up to their expectations, considering the cast and the two most powerful beings in the MCU. They thought the movie played it too safe, only really exploring a handful of universes. Plus, there were some big issues with the story arc of Wanda Maximoff and America Chavez.
It is not easy to show someone as a villain after making the audience sympathize with the character, and this happened with Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch. In the movie, it was not shown how she came to know about America Chavez, who was going to be her source to travel the multiverse.
Moreover, the way Chavez gained control over her power after Zombie Strange convinced her was kind of childish. The musical fight sequence between Sinister Strange and Earth-616’s Doctor Strange was also disheartening, especially after knowing that Sinister Strange was the most powerful of them all.
Recalling such drawbacks and continuity errors, some critics of Multiverse of Madness expressed their joy online after knowing the departure of Waldron from the upcoming Avengers 5.
The evil has been defeated
— ROAR (@RoarandClank) July 13, 2024
every wanda, loki, and strange fan right now pic.twitter.com/XzElRIKRlt
— IT WILL BE THE SCARLET WITCH (@artsy_udorji) July 13, 2024
the way everyone is happy this is happening after the mess he made
— ~armando torres~ (@buildingtowers_) July 13, 2024
thank the Lord!! 😠pic.twitter.com/XbRXgqEZMS
— echo 🩶 (@stephenshandss) July 14, 2024
My prayers have been heard pic.twitter.com/gKMZuNyEIR
— ‎۞DÊ‹Ôƒ SÆšÉ¾Î±É³É Ò½â€Ž (@dvdstrnge) July 13, 2024
In an earlier interview with The Playlist, Waldron acknowledged the backlash from fans. However, it seems like it didn’t make much difference to them or to the studio. Avengers 5 is now without a writer, director, or even an official title.
The movie was earlier called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and after Jonathan Majors’ legal issues, that title got dropped as the future of Kang is uncertain. However, one positive thing that is certain is that Benedict Cumberbatch is returning for Avengers 5 for sure (according to Netflix).
Will Deadpool and Wolverine Be in Avengers 5?
As the MCU is looking to rework Avengers 5, Deadpool and Wolverine are teaming up for their debut with Deadpool & Wolverine, and speculations have already begun about these characters showing up in Avengers 5 or Secret Wars.
In a recent interview with Variety, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were asked about the possibility of their appearance in future Avengers movies. Reynolds played it cool, saying, “I don’t know. Yeah, we’ll see. Yeah,” while Jackman said, “Clearly, this is our first major interview of this press tour. I’m not sure how to answer.”
While they didn’t confirm anything, they also didn’t deny it. This kind of mysterious answer is not new for Marvel. But it does give fans some hope, as Deadpool and Wolverine had important roles in Secret Wars as well as other crossovers in comics.
According to Deadline, their director Shawn Levy is also speculated to direct Avengers 5 and it might depend on the success of Deadpool 3. Moreover, it is also reported that more than 60 Marvel characters will appear in Avengers 5 and it is hard to imagine Deadpool and Wolverine not being two of them.
The changes happening behind the scenes hint at various possibilities, and the next Avengers movie might look very different from expectations.
Avengers 5 is scheduled to release in theaters on May 1, 2026.
Deadpool & Wolverine will be released in theaters on July 26, 2024.
