Marvel is cutting its output to "two, maximum three films" a year to combat superhero fatigue

2024-05-07

EntertainmentMoviesSuperhero MoviesMCUMarvel is cutting its output to “two, maximum three films” a year to combat superhero fatigueWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Brie Larson as Captain Marvel in The Marvels

DisneyCEO Bob Iger has vowed thatMarvel Studioswill release no more than three films and two series a year going forward, as it commits to focusing more on quality than quantity.

During the House of Mouse’s fiscal Q2 earnings call, Iger said that he’s been “working hard” with Kevin Feige and the like on how to combat superhero fatigue. Describing the studio’s past model as “a vestige”, he admitted that it, in the past, it ran predominantly on “a desire to increase volume.”

“We’re slowly going to decrease volume and go to probably about two TV series a year instead of what had become four, and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two or at the maximum three,” he explained (viaThe Hollywood Reporter). “And we’re working hard on what that path is, we’ve got a couple of good films in ‘25 and then we’re heading to more Avengers, which we’re extremely excited about,” he went on, referencing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (whichmay not be called that when it comes out in 2026).

“Overall I feel great about the slate, it’s something that I’ve committed to spending more and more time on, the team is one that I have tremendous confidence in and the IP that we’re mining, including all the sequels that we’re doing is second to none."

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne and Paul Rudd as Scott Lang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

SinceAvengers: Endgameracked up $2.79 billion at the global box office, MCU titles have struggled to even come close to the gargantuan figure.Spider-Man: No Way Homeearned $1.9 billion, but its follow-ups have been less than impressive.Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessandThor: Love and Thunderpulled in $955 million and $760.9 million, respectively, whileBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverbagged $859 million andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3pocketed $845 million.

Despite largely positive reviews from critics,Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniabagged $476 million, withThe Marvelsearning just $206 million on an almost $300 million budget. So it’s no wonder Marvel and Disney are looking to shake things up a little.

That said, theInternetstill thinks two or three movies and two shows a year is too many…

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

“That doesn’t sound like a reduction at all. As much as I love the MCU, I think two movies and one show in between would be the sweet spot,“said one fan on Twitter, asanother wrote: “This honestly still sounds like too much. THREE movies was all I was seeing at the height of Marvel popularity and that was what was burning me out, man. Bring that s*** down to 1-2 films significantly spaced out. It ain’t like theatres wont bloat their rooms with it anyway.”

“BOB, THAT’S THE SAME OUTPUT AS BEFORE, BOB. THAT’S NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING BOB. BOBBBBBBBBB,“joked a third.

Next up for Marvel is the release ofDeadpool and Wolverineon July 25, which’ll see the titular hero finally make his way over to the MCU. For more, check out all theupcoming Marvel movies and showson the way, as well as our guide tohow to watch the Marvel movies in order.

CATEGORIESDisney PlusStreaming Services

Most Popular

Elder Scrolls modders have released a playable part of the ambitious Project Tamriel, which aims to recreate all of the beloved RPG’s regions in Morrowind

Disney Plus' new Spider-Man show is no longer canon in the MCU because it was “not fun” to put limitations on its story

Master Chief’s absence from Halo Wars wasn’t Bungie’s fault, it was a move to make players “care about everybody else” in the RTS

One of Sonic 3’s writers threatens us with a good time in a future movie: “We gotta get Big the Cat in there in some capacity”

This nifty gadget turns any M.2 SSD into a portable drive, but it’s great for when you’re upgrading your PC too

League of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in reality we sell skins to make things like Arcane”

After hours of number-crunching, one Marvel Rivals player has laid out the true meta – and Iron Fist’s ranking feels alarming

James Gunn says his DC shows will likely stick to the “one episode a week” schedule moving forward: “It affords a quality show an opportunity to be discussed”

Just two weeks after its theatrical release, Lord of the Ring: The War of Rohirrim is heading to digital

Escape the horrors of family time this holiday with Slitterhead’s first ever discount

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Contents