The MCU has become a behemoth in the filmmaking industry. As it moves ahead with MCU Phase 5, we believe it is time for Marvel to stop there. MCU Phase 5 should be Marvel Studios’ final phase for the MCU. Here’s why.
Storywise, It Makes Sense To End The Universe
The naysayers will disagree that you cannot just put a fullstop on a cinematic universe that spans two decades. But there’s reason to believe that ending the MCU while it still can makes sense. The Thanos Snap has happened and the heroes have gone through hell to undo his actions. After Infinity War and Endgame, the story arc of the MCU seems complete. Introducing new heroes and new story lines just feels like stretching it too thin. The original founding members are all either dead, retired, or too tired to go on another adventure again. The new generation should carry the torch for the final stretch of the race and let the MCU breathe its last.
Standalone Movies Will Be The Norm
It gets real tough to keep the continuity intact when you have so many things happening simultaneously. When the MCU was starting, those plot holes and continuity errors did not look as big. Only the seasoned and most eagle-eyed fans could even spot them. but as more and more movies and shows are released, MCU Phase 5 has to take extra care so that the universe’s events remain chronological. That is a Herculean task which is easier said than done. The DCEU knew it beforehand and hence it allowed directors like Todd Phillips and Matt Reeves to make standalone movies like Joker and The Batman.
The Story Leaks & The Controversies Are Becoming Harder To Contain
Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo may have spilled the beans more times than we could count. But they are not the only ones who have done it. Story leaks are not just the actors’ domain. Many times, even seasoned studio execs and filmmakers associated with the MCU do it inadvertently. The same goes for the amount of controversies surrounding some of the talent the MCU regularly employs. The MCU fired James Gunn for his insensitive tweets in the past. Brie Larson is one of the most hated actors under MCU’s payroll. A big enough controversy (like Joss Whedon’s actions during 2017’s Justice League re-shoots) erupts in the MCU and it will be toast.
Fan Burnout & Fatigue Are All Too Real
Like it or not, the shoe will drop at some point. No way a single genre will dominate Hollywood for so long. At one point of time, the audience will get bored and switch to other genres. There’s a reason why there were so many gangster themed movies in the past but we find literally a handful now. Superhero movies and shows keep popping up too many times in a year now. As the global pandemic subsides, the movie hashrate will only go back to its default settings. MCU, which is the leader in the genre, is pushing fans over the edge. Audience fatigue is going to kill the industry and the MCU with it.
It Is Now Harder To Find New Fans
As the MCU grows more and more, the task of attracting new fans becomes even more daunting. Remember a fan that is new to Marvel will have to watch 27 movies and a couple of shows spanning multiple episodes to catch up. With the MCU releasing more movies this decade, new fans will find that it is not worth the trouble to cling to the MCU. They may just give up on Marvel Studios because what was supposed to be sheer entertainment has been reduced to homework.
The MCU Is Eating Up A Large Portion Of Disney’s Resources
Suppose the MCU does not stop at MCU Phase 5. So what’s next? When does the Studio call it quits? Or is it just supposed to go on for all eternity?!?! That is not feasible because CGI heavy movies like what the MCU churns out cost a lot of time, money, and resources. After a certain point of time, even the might Mouse House may start considering pulling the plug. And they will do so by starting to decrease the budget for each subsequent Marvel film.
