Bob Iger's recent comments about making less MCU sequels mask an obvious problem: it's the quality, not the quantity, of Marvel's output that needs to be fixed.
Everyone knows Marvel is going through a rough time at the moment. While the studio’s latest feature, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, made over $120 million in its opening weekend, it received some pretty brutal reviews from critics and audiences alike, and the subsequent weekends saw steep declines in attendance.
Does this mean no more sequels for other popular Marvel characters? Iron Man is dead, sure, but the multiverse can bring anyone back; just look at Loki and his terrific sci-fi Disney+ show.
Wakanda … never? And what about a sequel far more likely, like Black Panther 3, which has already been teased by lead star Letitia Wright? The first, and so far only, sequel to Black Panther, Wakanda Forever, made over $850 million at the worldwide box office and gave Marvel its first-ever acting Oscar nomination for Angela Bassett’s fierce performance as a grieving and fiery Queen Ramonda.
So instead of trying to mimic the original, they decided to expand the reach of Wakanda by introducing Namor and his underwater kingdom as compelling and sympathetic antagonists, giving Ironheart a spotlight to shine, and emphasizing the power and intelligence of Wakanda’s women leaders and warriors. Wakanda Forever did what all sequels should do: expand what was built on in the original and introduce just enough new elements to make things interesting.
Iger is not entirely wrong here; it’s always valuable to add new characters to the mix to keep everything fresh. Yet new characters aren’t the antidote to what’s ailing Marvel; after all, no one wants to see a D-Man movie or a mini-series chronicling the Great Lakes Avengers. [Editor’s note: I’d actually love to see a Great Lakes Avengers series, but I fully realize this is a niche interest that few, if any, share.
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