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In 2023, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) faced a significant downturn despite its promising start with the success of “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” The year took a nosedive with consecutive disappointments, including the mixed reception of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and the outright failure of “Secret Invasion” and “The Marvels.”
Despite initial positive reviews and box office success for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” the MCU’s fortunes took a hit with the back-to-back failures of “Secret Invasion” and “The Marvels.” “The Marvels,” in particular, marked the first outright bomb in the franchise, receiving mixed reviews and contributing to the rocky state of the MCU. “Secret Invasion” was widely criticized, with many considering it the worst offering in the MCU’s history.
The challenges extended beyond the on-screen performances, as real behind-the-scenes problems impacted the overall slate of projects. These issues compounded the struggles, leaving the MCU on shaky ground in 2023. The article has been updated to reflect the release of “The Marvels” and the firing of Jonathan Majors, further contributing to the narrative of 2023 as the worst year for the MCU.
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Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
The Ant-Man films have traditionally served as light-hearted breaks in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) between major crossover events. The first Ant-Man movie arrived after Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Ant-Man and the Wasp followed the intense Avengers: Infinity War. Director Peyton Reed acknowledged that the Ant-Man films were perceived as “fun palate cleansers” with lower stakes compared to other MCU projects. However, for the third installment, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Reed aimed to elevate the stakes and be a major player in the MCU.
Despite heightened ambition, Quantumania received notably worse reviews than its predecessors, with a 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a CinemaScore of B. Despite a strong opening weekend, it faced a decline due to negative word of mouth and ended up with lower global earnings than the previous two films. Criticisms included subpar CGI and a departure from the tone that audiences loved in the previous Ant-Man movie. While the introduction of Kang the Conqueror intrigued fans, the execution of those plans did not live up to expectations.
What Will Happen With Kang?
Upon the release of Quantumania, Jonathan Majors received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Kang the Conqueror. However, the positive reception took a drastic turn when Majors faced domestic abuse allegations a month later, leading to his arrest. Subsequently, he was found guilty of reckless assault and harassment, resulting in Marvel dropping him from future projects.
Majors was set to play a pivotal role in the next Avengers movie titled The Kang Dynasty, but with his removal, the MCU’s future is uncertain. Marvel has not commented on whether they will recast the character or alter the storyline. Despite Majors’ legal troubles, he had already filmed scenes for Loki Season 2, creating a challenge for Marvel in promoting the series while downplaying the actor’s presence. The fate of The Kang Dynasty and the overall impact on the MCU remains unclear.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Marked the End of James Gunn’s Time With Marvel
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 received widespread acclaim as one of the most celebrated MCU films, contrasting with the mixed reception of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Despite its success, the film marked the conclusion of James Gunn’s collaboration with Marvel, creating a bittersweet moment for fans. Some actors, including Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista, hinted at not returning to the franchise after Gunn’s departure. However, Gunn and Marvel parted ways amicably, and the director expressed trust in Kevin to choose the right people for the next Guardians installment.
James Gunn has since become co-CEO of DC Studios, actively contributing to the new DC Universe. Although Vol. 3 provided a satisfying conclusion to the current Guardians, fans face uncertainty as Gunn’s signature style is now absent from the MCU. This situation raises challenges for Marvel, especially since Gunn is now leading their major competitor. The triumph of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2023 might be overshadowed, leaving many non-MCU fans potentially disengaged, with the future of the franchise in question.
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Secret Invasion And The Marvels’ Failure
In contrast to the success of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Marvel faced setbacks with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Secret Invasion, and The Marvels. The latter received criticism for its low Rotten Tomatoes score and poor box office performance, marking a departure from the studio’s usual success. Secret Invasion, marketed as a mature political thriller, disappointed viewers with a poorly executed finale that included questionable VFX and a confusing plot. The Marvels, released in November, further contributed to Marvel’s challenges, receiving criticism for subpar special effects, a rushed ending, and the omission of a character introduced in Secret Invasion. Despite external factors like a strike affecting actor promotion and online negativity towards Brie Larson, The Marvels became the lowest-grossing MCU movie, failing to reach the $100 million mark domestically and denting Marvel Studios’ previously impeccable track record.
The Delays Due To The Strikes
Throughout the year, writers and actors united to advocate for improved compensation and to voice concerns about the use of artificial intelligence. The Writers Guild of America initiated a strike, later joined by the American actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, causing widespread repercussions in the entertainment industry. Marvel, too, felt the impact, with multiple projects slated for production in 2023 facing delays.
One such project affected is “Captain America: Brave New World,” marking the return of the Captain America franchise since 2016’s “Civil War” and featuring Anthony Mackie as the lead. Originally scheduled for release in July 2024, it has been rescheduled to February 2025. Similarly, “Blade,” set for an early 2025 release, has been pushed to November. The highly anticipated “Thunderbolts” also faced delays and is now slated for 2025. Consequently, the yet-to-be-titled third Deadpool movie stands as Marvel’s sole theatrical release for 2024.
The Future of the MCU
In 2023, the Marvel Cinematic Universe faced challenges with box office struggles for “The Marvels,” critical disappointments with “Secret Invasion” and “Quantumania,” and significant changes due to the departures of Jonathan Majors and James Gunn. Despite these setbacks, upcoming projects, delayed in 2023, show promise. The focus on smaller characters in 2024, such as Echo and Agatha Harkness in Disney+ series, along with “Deadpool 3” as the sole major MCU movie, might create anticipation and nostalgia during the year off.
Looking ahead to 2025, fan-favorite characters like Fantastic Four and Blade will finally join the MCU, alongside a new Captain America movie and the debut of Thunderbolts. The losses and break will provide the studio with the opportunity to reassess its material and determine the best direction for the future. It’s important to acknowledge that continuous success in a cinematic universe is challenging, and experiencing a low point was inevitable. Despite the difficulties, there are still many talented individuals involved, and the MCU holds the potential for exciting storylines ahead.
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