When entertainment becomes a chore: the MCU struggle
It’s 2012, and the very first “Avengers” franchise film just released in theaters. Marvel fans have finally received the film they’ve been wanting for decades. The critics’ reception of the film was excellent, and the general public knew that a sequel was the natural next step in the world of Marvel superhero films. However, it’s safe to say that no Marvel fan knew just how hugely oversaturated the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) would become in the ensuing years.
Before the world of streaming took a tight grip on our media consumption, Marvel films were a huge entertainment event that stopped the industry in its tracks for the days leading up to and after its release. There were commercials, promotions, premiere parties and reviews posted to social media – everything was going right for the creators of the fantastical, adventurous Marvel world that was striking our screens. Disney knew exactly what they had in their hands when they purchased the rights to many major characters for Marvel Comics films in 2009, and there was no way they would let that gold be taken from them.
Fast forward to 2019, when Disney launches their very own streaming service, a place to house all of its iconic, culturally impactful films and a way to distribute new ones. Disney found a way to produce more content to break up the wait between major Marvel cinematic events with the order for dozens of new Marvel television shows and specials.
This strategy led to the modern Marvel period of oversaturation that started with 2021’s “WandaVision” and continues to this day. Since early 2021, eight new shows have been introduced into the MCU, with six more projected to premiere in 2023. When it comes to producing content, when do we cross the line of oversaturation?
It’s safe to say that it’s been difficult to be an MCU fan in recent years, let alone become a new one without any experience in its many franchises. When you have show after show and movie after movie to watch, there is little time left to sit with the media you just consumed. It’s hard to decipher if one even liked the piece of media they just watched because there hasn’t been enough time to process the prequel.
There’s a constant flow of content flooding into multiple outlets of media, and even for non-Marvel fans, there’s nowhere to hide. It’s mind-boggling to think how one would begin to dive into the massive amount of content that the MCU has to offer when they have 37 movies staring them in the face, all which have connections and references to each other.
In its effort to please fans and make money, the MCU is actually turning new fans away. There’s no incentive for somebody to watch a new program produced by Disney and Marvel because there’s the inevitable time consumption that comes with it. Entertainment in the world of Marvel superhero films has become less about being engaged and invested in the stories of these characters, but rather a never-ending game of catch-up that will not end with a feeling of satisfaction or accomplishment.
Simply put, decreased production of Marvel-centric content would allow for a gateway of new fans to enter the MCU without such an overwhelming feeling clouding over them. Less content may be what’s best, but less content is also equal to less money, which is impossible to put into the minds of executives at Disney. The solution? Like with most cases of media consumption, consume what you like (and deal with the confusion of the overlapping references from other franchises every once in a while).
One thing is for sure: as long as Disney has any say, Marvel fans won’t be starved for content for a very long time.
