Summary
- The MCU has become too complicated to enjoy at this point.
- It's almost pointless to watch new Marvel movies if you haven't seen any of the other films and shows in the MCU.
- Shawn Levy says that everyone will be able to enjoy Deadpool & Wolverine.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Marvel hasn't been doing well lately. In 2023, the studio struggled with several multi-million dollar releases, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantimania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and The Marvels, only one of which was successful at the box office. Needless to say, there are major problems with the MCU.
There are probably many factors behind Marvel's recent failures. But it seems that the Cinematic Universe itself is the biggest problem. On the one hand, the connections between the studio's many films and TV shows make each movie part of a fascinating larger story. On the other hand, these interconnections make the overall narrative too complicated.
And it seems that Shawn Levy's upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine will avoid such complications.
A Curse in Disguise
When the Marvel Cinematic Universe was just getting started with the release of Iron Man in 2008, each subsequent film was extremely interesting to watch. Iron Man, Thor, Captain America – their film series were huge hits that could be seen on their own and still be enjoyed.
When the beloved superheroes were first grouped into the Avengers, it was exciting to see them together. But soon, Marvel turned its stories into one giant narrative, explored in dozens of different movies and TV shows.
This may have been interesting at first, but it proved problematic with audiences, as it became almost impossible to watch a new Marvel movie if you hadn't seen an episode of a show or another movie that seemed only tangentially related to the movie in question. You really have to do your homework before going to see a new flick from the studio. And that's what Shawn Levy assures us Deadpool & Wolverine won't require.
A Source of Entertainment First and Foremost
'I was a good student in school. I'll do my homework as an adult. But I am definitely not looking to do homework when I go to the movies,' Shawn Levy said in a recent interview.
Though the third Deadpool movie (and the first under the Disney banner) will have some features of the MCU – in the trailer, we see the Time Variance Authority established on Disney+'s Loki – it won't be heavily packed with Cinematic Universe stuff that requires you to research all the previous Marvel films and TV shows.
'I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world. But I didn't want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research,' the director elaborated.
Hopefully, Deadpool & Wolverine will not be a disappointment and will successfully reinvigorate the MCU, which, sorry for tautology, simply needs more simplicity.
Shawn Levy's movie will premiere on July 26.
Source: Associated Press.