Marvel’s plan for theatrical and television releases for the next few years was revealed July 20, 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con. The next film to be released is “Black Widow.”
Janine shuman
campus editor
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has drastically evolved across the decade, and so has its fanbase with 6.5 million people tuning in to watch the universe transition into phase four with the latest hit show “WandaVision”, according to Forbes.
The post-“Avengers: Endgame” universe is different from the one fans have been accustomed to for the last 13 years. Despite this change, TR Film Club president Devin Jones commends Marvel’s execution of the transition.
“Honestly, it’s impressive how they’ve managed to continue to make us feel even after ripping out our hearts a few years ago,” Jones said.
Associate English Professor Johansen Quijano attributes Marvel’s success to various constituents.
“As far as the storytelling, when taken as a franchise the MCU has done some of the most sophisticated storytelling in film,” Quijano said. “While each movie works as a superhero film, they also work as something else, which is why people don’t get bored of them.”
As the first installment of phase four comes to an end, fans are left questioning the future of the franchise.
“Is the series setting up Wanda to be the next Big Bad? What happened to Real Vision after Fake Vision unlocked its memories?” Quijano said. “All these questions are left unanswered so that the fanbase can follow the narrative through into the other movies. It’s a technique called Transmedia Storytelling, and Marvel has pulled it off spectacularly.”
While NW student Dylan Remington enjoyed the hit series, he feels some elements could have made it better.
“WandaVision was great and I loved the mind-bending segments,” Remington said. “Although, I feel like they ruined Agatha’s character by making her too openly villainous and just pure evil.”
Agatha Harkness is a character who made her initial debut in the 1970s. In WandaVision, she’s portrayed by Kathryn Hahn.
“WandaVision seems to have been created in a way that catches the attention even of viewers who don’t know anything about the MCU,” Quijano said.
Fans look forward to a year of Marvel content after the pandemic hindered the release of some of its planned films last year.
“I’m looking forward to the Loki show because it opens the doors to an alternate universe,” Remington said.
Despite its long run, the franchise has no end in sight and dedicated fans continue expressing their support.
“Sometimes it gets hate, but these movies and shows simply are an art of their own,” Jones said. “I look forward to a day where I can take my future kids to see Marvel movies.”
