Marvel Studios is reportedly undergoing a “creative retooling” rather than a reboot.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel Studios is currently looking to shake things up following a number of box-office disappointments and controversies, such as when the studio fired Jonathan Majors after he was found guilty of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment this past December.
Rather than rebooting the franchise (or even doing some sort of soft reboot), however, Marvel executives are now looking at a “creative retooling” for the MCU.
What does Marvel’s “creative retooling” look like?
While it’s not immediately clear what a “creative retooling” might entail, Disney CEO Bob Iger said on an earnings call earlier this month that, to start, Marvel plans to reduce the number of movies and television series it puts out on a yearly basis.
“Some of our studios lost a little focus. So the first step that we’ve taken is that we’ve reduced volume,” Iger said. “We’ve reduced output, particularly at Marvel [to ensure] the films you’re making can be even better.”
On the television side of things, Marvel is also giving showrunners more control of upcoming series. Daredevil: Born Again, for example, went through a major revamp after the studio determined what they’d previously filmed for the show wasn’t working and fired head writers Chris Ord and Matt Corman.
For now, Marvel Studios only has one movie that’s being released in 2024: Deadpool & Wolverine, which hits theaters on July 26, 2024. There are also only two Disney+ MCU series (X-Men ’97 is not part of the MCU) that are currently planning to release this year, Echo (which is currently streaming) and Agatha: Darkhold Diaries.
There are currently four Marvel movies scheduled to release in 2025 — Captain America: Brave New World, The Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts, and Blade. “Iger touted Captain America 4, starring Anthony Mackie, as among the 2025 Disney releases he was most excited for during the earnings call. He did not mention Blade, leading to speculation it will be moved from its November 2025 date; it’s unlikely Marvel will release four films that year given Iger’s mandate to slim down,” The Hollywood Reporter’s article notes.
