Marvel may adjust the payment of its actors, depending on the future of MCU movies. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to roil the entertainment industry, though Marvel felt its impact early on with delays to the highly-anticipated Black Widow and a frequent reshuffling of its release calendar.

One of the biggest changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic came with the news that Warner Bros. would debut its entire 2021 slate to HBO Max and theaters simultaneously, following in the path of Wonder Woman 1984. As a result of the seismic shift, many A-list performers associated with WB among them Margot Robbie and Will Smith, wondered about whether they would get the bonuses typically linked to a blockbuster’s box office success. Marvel, for its part, is reportedly mulling over a plan to address similar concerns about payment.

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According to The Wrap, Marvel Studios is beginning to consider new contracts that would allow for flexibility in the event that the pandemic or other factors lead to a decision to bypass theaters in favor of a streaming release. Actors, directors, writers, and producers would receive adjusted payments under the new terms, depending on whether an MCU movie opens in theaters or debuts on Disney+. This would reportedly only affect films which have yet to enter production, such as Black Panther 2 which will begin filming in June 2021. It’s unclear if the same terms apply to Black Widow, which is already completed.

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The new deal, which insiders say was being looked into before the Warner Bros/HBO Max announcement, would mark a potentially massive shift for Marvel. The studio has seen record-breaking gains at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing movie franchise with more than $22 billion to its name. Insiders told The Wrap that they would prefer to stick to a theatrical model, but also recognize the need to keep options open in the current climate. Even as vaccines begin arriving in the U.S. and overseas, it could be a decent while before audiences feel comfortable returning to multiplexes. Another thing to consider is that, for some, a trip to the movies is not a necessary and inherently joyful experience. The lockdown period might have clarified how much easier it is to watch the latest blockbuster without having to leave home. For those viewers, who undoubtedly account for a portion of Marvel’s audience, streaming is essential.

Marvel has already shown that they are keenly aware of streaming’s importance. The studio gave updates on 25 projects, as part of Disney’s recent Investor Day, and many of those projects are intended to bolster Disney’s online platform. Still, it’s too early to know definitively what this means for the future. It’s possible that audiences will once again flock to cinemas and the box office of the next few years will see a strong resurgence. A middle ground might also emerge, in which relatively smaller Marvel movies are sent to streaming first in order to increase subscription numbers. Regardless of what ultimately happens, it’s a good thing that Marvel is thinking about how to guarantee the earnings of their talent.

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Source: The Wrap

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