New MCU Phase 5 Show Release Plan Corrects Phase 4 Mistakes

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a new release plan for Phase 5 shows, and it shows one way Marvel is correcting Phase 4's mistakes. The launch of Disney+ in 2019 gave Marvel Studios a new avenue to bring stories to audiences, and there was little time wasted in turning Disney's streaming service into an essential part of the overall plan. MCU shows quickly became the dominant form of entertainment from Marvel Studios during Phase 4 as the combination of live-action and animated shows, shorts, and specials easily outnumbered the number of movies released during the same time frame.

However, the increase in projects released per year coincided with growing criticisms of Marvel Studios. This included claims that MCU Phase 4 was the worst. Debates about the quality of the MCU projects' visuals, characters, and stories became much more frequent. However, the most concerning part of Phase 4 was the growing feeling that Marvel fatigue was beginning to set in thanks to the abundance of projects to keep up on. This is why Kevin Feige revealed a new MCU Phase 5 show plan (via EW) that will slow down the frequency at which the shows are released, proving how Marvel Studios is looking to avoid these criticisms from continuing.

Marvel Released Too Many MCU Shows In Phase 4

Marvel fatigue began to set in during MCU Phase 4 because the company released too many shows in a short amount of time. Those who were committed to watching everything Marvel Studios released were tasked with watching WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki season 1, What If...? season 1, and Hawkeye during 2021. The pace of MCU shows releasing slowed in 2022 with Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, but that came with the introduction of Special Presentations: Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Audiences needed to watch seven live-action shows, one animated show, and two specials within two years.

Releasing 10 MCU Disney+ shows and specials in less than two years proved to be somewhat overwhelming. This was not entirely Marvel's fault, as some of these were originally planned to release in 2020 and were then delayed due to COVID. However, the combination of these streaming projects and Marvel Studios' standard of releasing at least three movies each year meant a sudden shift in how much MCU content audiences needed to stay up to date. It meant many of the shows and movies arrived without much anticipation and felt more like homework than something to enjoy, creating the Marvel fatigue sense.

Fewer MCU Shows Per Year Can Help Prevent Marvel Fatigue

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The decision to release fewer MCU shows per year starting in Phase 5 is a piece of the equation to help prevent Marvel fatigue. Marvel Studios' usual release cycle meant audiences could see the latest MCU release and take time to discuss it and then get excited for what would come next. The gap between MCU projects has continued to close over the years as demand for more has increased. Still, even the most dedicated MCU fans will understandably feel some fatigue when there is rarely a time when there is not something new out. That is what happens when four or five shows are released per year, though.

The new MCU Phase 5 show release plan fixes this mistake by scaling down the number of "required viewings" released each year. This can help avoid each MCU show feeling like a filler part of the Marvel machine or homework. Leaving some time between releases means that once the next MCU show is released, audiences will actually be eager to see what it has to offer. That will help make them each feel more special and like event television, allowing Marvel to capture the public's attention more so like WandaVision or Loki as opposed to the lower-viewed or less-well-received Phase 4 shows.

Marvel Releasing Fewer Shows Can Improve Quality Too

If Marvel Studios commits to the MCU Phase 5 show plan to release fewer shows each year, this could also be a way to help improve their quality. There were plenty of issues with the Phase 4 shows that stemmed from them feeling rushed in some capacity, contributing to certain reveals not working, stories feeling unresolved, or CGI being worse. Marvel can now take its time developing each show and making sure the scripts are complete and major plot points naturally have time to develop. It will also hopefully lessen the burden on VFX houses so future CGI-heavy shows do not have problems like some of the Phase 4 shows.

The potentially improved quality of the MCU shows will naturally help the shared universe. The more audiences are enjoying the MCU Phase 5 shows, the less likely it is that fatigue will begin to set in too. This could then also feed into viewers having an increased desire to see what comes next. Marvel Studios largely hit home runs in Phase 3 and built even more anticipation in the lead-up to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. With Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars coming, the Phase 5 shows quality improving can play a part in repeating this success.

Phase 5's MCU Show Release Plan Means More Delays Are Coming

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While there could be some relief about Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige deciding to release fewer shows per year, the new MCU Phase 5 show plan does mean more delays are happening. Marvel Studios already announced a mostly complete Phase 5 and partial Phase 6 slate at San Diego Comic-Con 2022. This included announcing that Secret Invasion, Echo, Ironheart, Loki season 2, and Agatha: Coven of Chaos are releasing in 2023. It was also announced that What If...? season 2 and X-Men '97 season 1 are expected this year. That would mean seven MCU Phase 5 shows released in a single year, which would be an increase.

Now that the new plan has been teased, audiences should not be surprised when some of these shows are delayed. Marvel has already begun marketing Secret Invasion and Loki season 2 for spring/summer 2023 releases, but no official dates have been set. It has already been confirmed by those involved with Echo that the show received a big delay after its summer 2023 release announcement. The Hawkeye spinoff is now not expected to release until late 2023. That will likely result in Agatha: Coven of Chaos being delayed until 2024, while Ironheart could be delayed too potentially.

How animated shows fit into the MCU Phase 5 show release plans remains to be seen, but they might not factor into Feige's equation that heavily. That could leave the MCU Phase 5 release slate for Disney+ shows looking something like: Secret Invasion, Loki season 2, and Echo in 2023, Ironheart, Agatha: Coven of Chaos, and Daredevil: Born Again in 2024, and Wonder Man, Vision Quest, and Okoye in 2025. Meanwhile, one Special Presentation will also likely continue to release each year, giving Disney+ slightly more MCU programming.

More: Marvel Fatigue Proves Kevin Feige’s Phase 4 Approach Was Wrong