Marvel: Just a Phase they’re in?

 While nothing is ever fixed in the entertainment universe, no one can deny the exponential growth of the Marvel Extended Universe has been a massive cinematic drawcard in recent years. Bigger than any character or title alone, it’s become a massive undertaking. With Phases 5 and 6 newly announced at ComicCon this year, there’s plenty to dissect. Brandon Blake, the entertainment lawyer with Blake & Wang P.A, looks at the Marvel phenomenon, and where to from here.

                                                                  Brandon Blake


Thanos, the Raging Commercial Success

Up until Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, the MCU consisted of massive, near-operatic spectaculars, delivering both staggering commercial success and a fully satisfactory build-up to a star-studded conclusion. 


The problem with such wide-ranging appeal and success, of course, is how hard it is to beat. We slid into Phase 4 expecting a ‘palate cleanser’ of sorts, but with the meticulously crafted timeline came both the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman, and the global health crisis. With the launch of ever-hungry streaming service, Disney+, the landscape shifted. Expanding a host of for-streaming TV series into the MCU may look great for business, but we can only imagine the logistical nightmare of maintaining good storytelling through it. And losing the staggering potential of the Black Panther movies right as their star potential became noticeable did not help. The result? A very mixed, and often bland, Phase 4. All the same, the Marvel Magic has continued to pull audiences.

Can Marvel Releases Remain an Event

While the comic books can dish out world-changing events on the regular, a great blockbuster needs years to create, and a plot to sustain it. To date, the interconnectedness of all-things-Marvel has kept fans interested, but we’ve seen some backlash on poor integration, too much focus on intrinsic issues instead of storytelling, and the impossibility of every entrant in a complex, extended universe hitting all the marks. Still, Marvel releases remain an ‘event’ for keen fans, something that has kept spirits buoyant until now.


But one thing is becoming ever more clear- Phase 5, in particular, needs to deliver some highly satisfying movies, and allow a more organic, less forced, evolution of the tie-ins to the rest of the IP. Magic is great, but it can’t sustain the MCU forever. As we look forward to new ideas, let’s hope we see a return to the tightness and cohesion of Phase 3, or it’s a slippery slope into madness for the cherished IP.


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