Are The Original ‘Avengers’ Making a Comeback?
Marvel, the powerhouse behind some of the highest-grossing movies in Hollywood, is currently navigating stormy waters in the film industry. The studio is facing an uphill battle due to a series of challenges, including a significant dip in box office projections for their upcoming release, ‘The Marvels,’ directed by Nia DaCosta.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been a money-making machine for the better part of the last decade. Films like ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home,’ ‘Captain America’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ have collectively raked in billions of dollars. However, recent developments have cast a shadow of uncertainty over Marvel’s future success.
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‘The Marvels,’ scheduled to hit UK cinemas on 10th November, is facing a daunting box office estimate. It’s expected to open with a modest $75-80 million against a staggering $250 million budget. This is a far cry from the monumental success Marvel enjoyed with ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ which grossed a jaw-dropping $1.2 billion worldwide in its debut weekend. The struggles faced by ‘The Marvels’ began with its production, as its director, Nia DaCosta, started working on another project before its completion, leading to multiple release date delays.
Then there’s the legal trouble faced by Jonathan Majors, known for his role as Kang The Conqueror in the MCU. Majors was set to play a significant part in Marvel’s future plans, but his domestic violence charges have forced the studio to rethink their strategies.
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Rumours have emerged that Marvel is considering bringing back the original ‘Avengers’ cast for a new film. The first ‘Avengers’ movie, released in 2012, was a massive hit, earning over $1.5 billion at the box office and receiving numerous accolades. Fans have speculated that this revival might involve actors like Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo, and could even see the return of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow. While this idea is intriguing, Marvel has not committed to it yet.
Discussions within Marvel Studios have revolved around the possibility of reuniting some of the iconic characters for a new Avengers saga. However, there’s no certainty about this plan as of now. Reviving characters is a common trope in comic books, but in Hollywood, it comes with substantial financial implications. For instance, Robert Downey Jr. was paid a hefty $25 million for his role in ‘Iron Man 3’ in 2013.
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Some of the films and TV shows in Phase Four, such as ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ and ‘Secret Invasion,’ have received mixed reviews. With Phase Five faltering, it’s clear that Marvel is exploring options to regain its previous momentum.
The success of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ was partly attributed to its conclusive ending, which served as a culmination of years of character development and storytelling. Reviving characters abruptly may disrupt the established canon and appear as a desperate attempt to recapture past glory. The superhero fatigue in the audience is more apparent than ever, and the MCU is striving to deliver a fitting conclusion to the Multiverse Saga.
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Another factor affecting the quality of Marvel’s recent releases has been subpar CGI. Visual effects artists have pointed out that the studio diverted its resources towards other projects, leaving insufficient time for quality CGI in some productions. This issue led to the unionization of VFX artists in September, with some attributing the problems to Victoria Alonso, the former head of VFX at Marvel Studios.
‘The Marvels,’ with a budget of $250 million, faced additional challenges with reshoots and the director’s absence during post-production. Nia DaCosta’s decision to work on another project while overseeing a massive production raised eyebrows in the industry.
Marvel is also reworking the long-anticipated ‘Blade’ reboot, starring Mahershala Ali. The film has undergone several script and director changes, with Ali nearly leaving the project due to script issues. However, Marvel has hired Michael Green, the writer of “Logan,” to craft a new narrative for the film. We’re interested in seeing how Marvel flips their situation for the better.
-Britney Jones
