The MCU Has A Bigger Problem Than Marvel"s Sequel Obsession
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is focused on sequels more than ever before, but this obsession is not Marvel Studios' biggest problem with the Multiverse Saga slate. The release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania helped kick off Phase 5 of the MCU. The highly anticipated MCU sequel's box office and critical disappointment come on the heels of Marvel Studios struggling on a more regular basis to find the level of success that helped propel Phase 3. There are plenty of problems that the popular franchise is facing as the Multiverse Saga continues, ranging from VFX issues to an overabundance of content.
One of the rising discussion points about the state of the MCU is the franchise's sequel obsession. Marvel Studios has always incorporated sequels into its slate of movies, but there has been an increase in them in recent years. All three 2022 MCU movies were sequels, for instance. The rise in sequels came as Disney+ became the go-to place for Marvel Studios to tell stories featuring new characters. However, the MCU's many sequels are only part of the problem Marvel is facing with its slate, as there is a growing issue with giving characters audiences have never seen before solo franchises.