Summary

• MCU is bouncing back from a rough patch with critical and financial missteps in recent years.
• Co-President Louis D'Esposito sees the dip in performance as a lesson in the over-saturation of content.
• Future strategy includes fewer releases per year for quality control and sustained success.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going through a bit of a rough patch, but it seems the cinematic juggernaut is set to do what it takes for a comeback. Though the MCU has enjoyed a number of critical and financial successes after Avengers: Endgame, big-budget projects like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels have failed to perform as expected. Now, pressure is on the MCU release slate to return to the franchise's high bar for success and quality. Fortunately, Marvel Studios leadership seems aware of their predicament.

Speaking to Empire, Co-President of Marvel Studios Louis D’Esposito expressed that he thinks the rough patch has been good for Marvel Studios overall. Read his full comments below:

It’s been a rough time. If we just stayed on top, that would have been the worst thing that could have happened to us. We took a little hit, we’re coming back strong. Maybe when you do too much, you dilute yourself a little bit. We’re not going to do that anymore. We learned our lesson. Maybe two to three films a year and one or two shows, as opposed to doing four films and four shows."

While there's likely a middle ground that could have been preferable for both the studio and audiences, there's hope that D'Esposito is right. Perhaps the cinematic juggernaut needed a few MCU flops to bring some humility, and the result will be a true return to form.

How The MCU Is Getting Back On Track

Deadpool & Wolverine Is The Only 2024 MCU Movie

Restoring the reputation of an entire shared universe is no easy feet, but Disney and Marvel Studios do seem willing to make significant moves to attempt a revival. Earlier today, word broke that the MCU will be limited to 2-3 movies and 2 TV shows per year, which is a slight downturn from recent years before 2023. This was mirrored by D'Esposito and framed as an attempt to focus on quality over quantity. Time will tell if it works.

2024 is pulling far back on releases, as Marvel Studios' only theatrical film is the Deadpoool & Wolverine. Fortunately for the studio, early reactions to the movie's trailers have been extremely positive. If Marvel's only release of the year does well, it could start the process of re-earning audience trust.

From there, the baton will be ed to the four currently scheduled 2025 MCU movies: Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four, and Blade. However, with the new three-movie cap, one could see a delay. Trimming content - particularly on the TV front - will make it easier for audiences to follow what has become a sprawling franchise and perhaps the Multiverse Saga to narrow in its lead-up to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. There's still plenty of goodwill and audience interest for the MCU to latch onto, the franchise just needs to meet audiences halfway.

Source: Empire