Now that the dust has settled, and the snap was reversed, Marvel Studios is gearing up for their next slate of projects with Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Viewers got a little taste of the future, post-Thanos, with Spider-Man: Far From Home, but the MCU will be taking it up a notch with the franchise's inclusion of Disney+ shows. Comparing all of the upcoming titles for both, the Disney+ shows have a lead on the movies in terms of the level of appeal.
Marvel Studios' accomplishments are unmatched when considering how far they've come since the release of Iron Man in 2008. The first three phases of the MCU, better known as the Infinity Saga, comprises 23 films. Over the course of those 11 years, the hype never died down — an impressive feat when taking into account the possibility of genre (superhero) fatigue. When the years of storytelling culminated with Avengers: Endgame, it felt like one of the biggest pop culture events in history. With that, Marvel Studios put themselves in a tricky situation: now, expectations for the studio are high as Marvel shifts its focus towards the future.
Rather than just stick to the big screen, Marvel Studios will explore another medium when it comes to Phase 4 of the MCU. At the moment, Disney+ has eight TV shows in development set to air over the next few years. All of the TV installments will connect to the movie universe, making them legitimate installments of the MCU. The movie universe, in comparison, is less exciting.
Marvel's Phase 4 Movies Are A Little Underwhelming
Even though Spider-Man: Far From Home technically marked the end of Phase 3, Endgame felt like the true end of a decade-long chapter. The MCU is now turning a page, and in doing so, it will refocus on a number of big characters, as well as introduce a number of prominent figures. Marvel Studios is categorizing Phase 4 as the titles set to release in 2020 and 2021. So far, there are six films attached to their Phase 4 slate, but the titles as a whole are a tad underwhelming.
Black Widow will kick off Phase 4 of the MCU on May 1, 2020. The solo film with Natasha Romanoff (played by Scarlett Johansson) has been rumored to be in the works for years. Considering her character is no longer alive in the present timeline, Marvel Studios' delay of the project has come at a cost: the prequel has less overall appeal considering the character's fate is sealed. The Eternals will be the next film to hit theaters, and although it appears to be well-cast, general audiences might not be as interested in this lesser-known title. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings might find itself in the same boat, as mainstream viewers aren't knowledgable of the character. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the untitled Spider-Man sequel, and Thor: Love and Thunder have the potential to be fun movies, but they would have to be better than their previous installments to keep fans interested in the long-term.
Marvel's Disney+ Shows Offer Something Different (& Exciting)
Phase 4 will be the first phase within the Marvel franchise that includes TV shows. The series will air exclusively on Disney+. By focusing on TV shows, it gives Marvel another avenue for its storytelling. Marvel has tried their hand at TV series in the past, like the Netflix original Marvel shows Daredevil and Luke Cage, but it never really worked because the majority of the storytelling was kept separate from the shared universe. Now that the studio can control the content between movies and TV, the opportunities to connect between mediums could be endless.
The fact that Disney is in charge of the TV shows, as opposed to Netflix or Hulu, means bigger budgets. Marvel Studios has a lot more to work with now, and a clearer focus on what they can include, and how the shows will connect to the movies. Most seasons will be capped at six to eight episodes. This format departs from the stretched, slow-paced storylines found in the made-for-cable Arrowverse shows, but still allows the beneficial long-form method of storytelling. They have a chance to avoid all of the mistakes that previously hampered the success of Marvel TV installments, like Agents of SHIELD.
Most importantly, Disney+ shows are offering something different than anything previously seen from the franchise. They will be diving into key events surrounding known characters while also introducing lesser-known faces. Introducing new characters through the comfort of viewers' own homes might be a lot easier than getting seats filled in movie theaters. It also allows more time to delve into the complexities of certain Marvel storylines, and the chance to lay the foundation for bigger events for the future of the entire franchise.
Another positive to Disney+'s presence in Phase 4 of the MCU is the fact that it can develop something that wouldn't work in the realm of movies. For example, Disney+'s upcoming slate includes the animated series, What If...?, a series that will focus on how the MCU would be altered if certain events played out differently. This is an extremely fun concept for Marvel fans and it would only work in a TV show format.
Disney+ Has Better Marvel Characters
Sure, characters like Doctor Strange, Thor, and Spider-Man have a heavy fan following, and most fans will be happy to welcome them back to the big screen. That said, in comparison, Disney+ has more exciting faces at this point in time. Disney+ has announced that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and Loki will be in the early slate of streaming releases.
Viewers loved the dynamic between Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson in the MCU, and their dedicated series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will provide a look into their lives following the events of Endgame. Similarly, WandaVision will give Scarlet Witch the center stage as her journey leads into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Of course, Loki is another fan-favorite Marvel figure, and his upcoming series is sure to be delightful. Phase 4 offers the opportunity to flesh out the development of these characters in long-form storylines.
In addition, Disney+ is set to introduce Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, She-Hulk, and Kate Bishop as Hawkeye. These Marvel characters are very popular at the moment. By giving them ample solo screentime, they can gradually grow into suitable figures to later include in feature films down the line.
