The Marvels, the sequel to Captain Marvel, has been labeled as the biggest failure in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), grossing only 206.1 million dollars worldwide. This figure contrasts sharply with the 1.128 billion dollars that its predecessor achieved upon release, leading analysts to question the current direction of the franchise. Additionally, the reviews were mostly negative, reflecting disappointment from both the audience and critics.
The power of three
Director Nia DaCosta has shared her thoughts on the experience of making The Marvels, noting that the lack of a solid script was a significant obstacle, something she had also experienced in previous works like Candyman. In an interview with THR, she explained: “One of the problems I had with Candyman and The Marvels was the lack of a solid script, which always wreaks havoc throughout the process.”
DaCosta revealed that the final version of The Marvels that hit theaters was very different from what she originally filmed, mentioning that the pressure of deadlines and the production process of the MCU influenced the final result. “The way they make those movies is very different from the way I would ideally make a movie”, she indicated in Deadline, suggesting that this experience, although frustrating, has helped her grow as a filmmaker.
Despite the setbacks of The Marvels, the MCU continues to move forward with new releases, including The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the highly anticipated event Avengers: Doomsday, which will see the return of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. This new phase raises renewed interest and expectations among fans, although the future of the franchise remains uncertain following the reception of its recent installments.