Marvel’s New Release Plan Makes Two Upcoming MCU Movies Even More Important

The box office numbers for a few upcoming MCU movies might just have become much more important following reports of Disney’s plans to slow down their release schedule. Disney’s plans come off the back of CEO Bob Iger’s comments that Disney will be focusing less on new characters and putting more emphasis on existing properties. This will mean less obscure projects like Guardians of the Galaxy, which have proven successful for Disney in the past. According to Iger:

“I’d say we’re leaning a little bit more into sequels and franchises. I think given the environment and given what it takes to get people out of their homes to see a film … leaning on franchises that are familiar is actually a smart thing.”

Based on Iger’s comments, it would seem as though the MCU timeline won’t be making as many projects helmed by new characters. This new mandate could also put pressure on any upcoming films featuring new heroes to perform especially well at the box office. After all, if new upcoming MCU movies like The Fantastic Four don’t do well, Disney will likely double down on the idea of sticking to previously established characters.

The MCU Only Has Two Announced Movies Featuring New Marvel Heroes

As of now, the only upcoming MCU movies that are being led by new characters are Marvel’s Fantastic Four and Blade. Blade briefly made a voice cameo in Eternals, and an alternate version of Mister Fantastic showed up in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but these movies will actually introduce their lead characters to the MCU. If Bob Iger’s plan goes through, then it seems like these will be the last two movies for a little while introducing new characters, aside from known quantities like the X-Men.

Though these characters are new to the MCU, they aren’t as obscure as characters like the Guardians of the Galaxy were before debuting in the shared universe. Blade was previously played by Wesley Snipes in a trilogy of films, and The Fantastic Four has been adapted twice in live action. Though, this won’t necessarily guarantee their success in the MCU. The most recent Fantastic Four movie from 2015 was not well-received, and may still make some viewers cautious about the new version.

Disney’s New MCU Release Philosophy Means Fantastic Four And Blade Need To Do Well To Get Sequels

Mavel’s Fantastic Four and Blade may be in an uncomfortable position given Iger’s comments about focusing on sequels and well-established properties. As the only two announced films featuring new characters, Fantastic Four and Blade will need to be profitable enough to earn sequels if they want to stay in the MCU rotation. This may seem like standard practice, but it is somewhat of a new mentality for the MCU.

Previously, the MCU would allow franchises to find their footing, even if the first movie wasn’t a major hit. While not a flop, Captain America: The First Avenger wasn’t as financially successful as other Phase One movies like Iron Man or Thor. However, Marvel gave Cap a chance at a sequel regardless, and each subsequent movie in the series performed better than the last. This is a luxury that might not be afforded to Fantastic Four or Blade if either movie has a disappointing release.

Fantastic Four And Blade Are Already Off To Rocky Pre-Production Starts

This added pressure for Fantastic Four and Blade to succeed only makes news surrounding each film’s production all the more concerning. There have been multiple rounds of rumored casts for Fantastic Four, leading to speculation that Marvel might be having a tough time locking down a main cast. This has been pointed to as a potential warning sign, given the movie will likely have to start production soon to meet its 2025 release date.

Reports of Blade‘s production aren’t any more promising at the moment. Blade’s release has been pushed back a few times, and there has been some turmoil trying to settle on a writing staff. The film also changed directors from Bassam Tariq to Yann Demange during pre-production. Both films will need to iron out their issues and deliver a strong finished product, otherwise the MCU futures of both Blade and The Fantastic Four may be in trouble.

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