The Marvels Has Become The MCU's Least Financially Successful Film To Date.

The Marvels has officially become the least successful film in the history of the MCU, with a modest box office performance of $80 million USD in North America and $197 million USD globally after just four weeks in theaters.

Despite the usual anticipation for a potential boost during the busy holiday season, Disney seems to lack confidence in a turnaround. In a recent statement to the press, the studio declared, "With The Marvels' box office now winding down, we will stop weekend reporting of international/global grosses on this title." While the film is set to remain in theaters until New Year's, the memo suggests that Disney isn't optimistic about its future success. The movie has currently dropped to 11th place at the box office, earning a mere $2.4 million USD in its fourth week.

 

The Marvels initially opened on November 10 with a domestic revenue of $46 million USD, marking the worst debut in MCU history. From the beginning, the film faced challenges, experiencing the largest second-weekend drop in the series. Helmed by Nia DaCosta, the movie features Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel. Notably, it is the first Marvel film to fall short of the $100 million USD mark. Explaining the underwhelming performance, Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged, "The Marvels' was shot during COVID. There wasn't as much supervision on the set, so to speak, where we have executives [that are] really looking over what's being done day after day after day." He also emphasized the need for a more realistic outlook, recognizing the previously set high standard of a billion dollars in global box office as unsustainable.

 

Trivia

• Debut of Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel): The Marvels comics marked the first appearance of Kamala Khan, who later becomes the superhero Ms. Marvel. Kamala made her debut in "Captain Marvel" #14 in 2013 and quickly gained popularity for being a relatable and groundbreaking character as a Muslim-American teenager.

• Legacy of Captain Marvel: The title "The Marvels" pays homage to the Marvel Comics legacy, especially Captain Marvel's role in it. Captain Marvel has been a mantle taken up by various characters over the years, including Mar-Vell, Monica Rambeau, and Carol Danvers. "The Marvels" explores this legacy, showcasing the interconnectedness of different characters who have carried the Captain Marvel title.

• Nia DaCosta's Influence: The film director Nia DaCosta, known for her work on "Candyman" and "Little Woods," directed "The Marvels." DaCosta's unique storytelling style and visual flair bring a fresh perspective to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making "The Marvels" stand out as a film that merges superhero action with innovative filmmaking.

• Brie Larson's Return: Brie Larson reprises her role as Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, in "The Marvels." This film continues Carol's journey in the MCU after her debut in "Captain Marvel." Larson's portrayal of the character has been praised for its strength and complexity, contributing to the broader narrative of female empowerment within the superhero genre.

• Exploration of Multiverse: "The Marvels" delves into the concept of the multiverse, a theme that has become increasingly prominent in Marvel Comics. The multiverse opens up possibilities for encountering alternate versions of well-known characters and exploring different realities. This narrative element adds layers of complexity and excitement to the overarching Marvel storytelling.

Marvel's Moon Knight Season 2 Is Coming

Following a major cliffhanger at the end of the first season of Marvel's Moon Knight series, it seemed like a lock for Marc Spector/Stephen Grant (Oscar Isaac) to return to television screens. The introduction of a new alter for the lead opened the door for a lot of possibilities to continue this story and potentially connect it to the wider MCU. Thankfully, for fans of the series, it seems there will be a second outing for the character. Although not officially confirmed, Isaac appeared on a TikTok from Mohammed Diab in which they heavily imply a second season is in the works over at Disney+.

The TikTok features the pair pondering the question of whether or not Moon Knight will get a second season to which Isaac responds with "Why else would we be in Cairo?" Diab also shared the TikTok over on Twitter, seemingly doubling down on the notion. If it's true that the show is returning, it flies in the face of everything implied so far outside the universe of the show itself. For one, an article by Variety noted that Isaac was not under a long-term contract to continue appearing in the MCU, meaning a new deal would be required, likely with a pay raise following the rave reviews since the show debuted. It never guaranteed Isaac couldn't return, but it heavily implied that he was not meant to be a regular within the MCU. Furthermore, the series never received the same attention from Disney that previous shows like WandaVision and Loki did. Everything indicated so far within Marvel's timeline for the future seems focused on series revolving specifically around characters appearing in the MCU. It's entirely possible that a new season could fit somewhere in one of the blank spaces in the MCU's upcoming Phase 6 timeline, putting Moon Knight on track to join the larger MCU. Moon Knight concluded back in May and followed Marc Spector/Stephen Grant, two very different alters drawn into a wider mystery involving the gods of Egypt. The series also stars May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly aka the Scarlet Scarab. Despite featuring a previously established superhero on-screen, the series as a whole was well received, earning a 91% audience score. In contrast to much of Marvel's other properties, it added a level of intrigue and grittiness to Disney+'s catalog of superhero shows, all buoyed by a powerful performance by Isaac that captured the various differences between Marc and Stephen.

Sony Offers an Update on Spider-Man 4 and Spinoffs

Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman recently spoke with Deadline, giving fans an update on what to expect next from the Spider-Man and Spider-Verse franchise. Rothman spoke about Spider-Man’s place in Sony’s various franchises stating, “Uncharted, Jumanji, Spider-Man. We have our Marvel business, which breaks into three tranches.” He reveals that Sony is “currently at work on two Spider-Verse sequels to our Oscar-winning animated movie, with Lord and Miller.” Besides plans for growing the animation franchise, Rothman also revealed that he hopes to continue the Spider-Man franchise for a fourth installment.

The Sony executive said, “We hope to get working on the next Spider-Man movie.” Rothman is referring to the next MCU Spider-Man film helmed by Sony and Marvel Studios together. When asked if the fourth film will see the return of director Jon Watts and mainstay stars like Tom Holland and Zendaya, Rothman responds, “That whole group, we hope.” Watts, Holland and Zendaya have worked with one another for all three films so far. Sony and Marvel have yet to officially confirm the fourth Spider-Man film, however, Kevin Feige has once stated that Spidey’s future is still being mapped out. At any rate, while Sony and Marvel have yet to officially green-light a fourth Spider-Man solo film, Marvel boss Kevin Feige and Spider-Man franchise producer Amy Pascal previously stated that they are mapping out Spidey's future within the MCU. "Amy and I and Disney and Sony are talking about yes, we're actively beginning to develop where the story heads next, which I only say outright because I don't want fans to go through any separation trauma like what happened after [Spider-Man:] Far From Home," Feige said. "That will not be occurring this time." Going back to the Deadline interview, Rothman also discussed the Sony projects he describes as being "adjunct to the Spider-Man universe," namely the upcoming live-action spinoff films Kraven the Hunter and Madame Web. "That's Kraven, which we’re shooting now, and Madame Web, which we’ll start in the spring with S.J. Clarkson directing," he said. "And then there are many Marvel characters that are standalone." Rothman's comments confirm that cameras are still rolling on Kraven after the film began shooting earlier this year. They also suggest that Madame Web will itself enter production very soon, as spring is nearing its end and the film is currently slated for a summer 2023 release.

Witches and Wizards Team Up In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

With little more than two weeks before the premiere of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Marvel Studios keeps releasing new teasers for fans hungry for new frames to dissect in search of clues about the Multiverse. The latest teaser for the highly-anticipated sequel focus on the alliance formed by Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), as the two former Avengers get ready to save every possible dimension. The new teaser opens with Stephen underlining how the Multiverse is dangerous. Unfortunately, that never prevented the Master of Mystic Arts from messing around with multiple dimensions, which will lead to time-space breaking down in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

 

That’s why Stephen decides to enlist the help of Wanda, who goes by the moniker Scarlet Witch after the events of WandaVision. The new teaser features plenty of psychedelic images to illustrate how things can get crazy inside the Multiverse. However, a few frames might hide some of the sequel’s secrets. For instance, we see Stephen looking appalled at a brilliant mystic book. Since WandaVision introduced the Darkhold, a powerful piece of literature, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness could be adding new magical artifacts to the MCU. The new teaser also has a scene where Wanda is trapped in what seems to be the mirror dimension. That could mean she’s under attack by Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who’s still determined to free the world from wizards. It could also be a nod to the possible conflict between Stephen and Wanda, as previous trailers and posters suggested that the Scarlet Witch might be a villain in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. To prevent the whole reality from collapsing, Stephen will have to find some powerful reinforcements in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Besides counting on Wanda and his brother-in-arms Wong (Benedict Wong), the wizard will also find a new ally in Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez, a heroine capable of jumping through dimensions. All this backup might not be enough, though, as Stephen will need to deal with several menaces besides Mordo, including extradimensional squid monsters, zombies, and even an evil version of himself. Sam Raimi directs Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness from a script by Jade Bartlett and Michael Waldron. Raimi is also known for helming the Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire as the Web-Slinger.

Harry Styles is confirmed role in MCU Eternals

Harry Styles has been rumored to have a role in Eternals for a while, and it’d be a genius move since Styles’ immense fandom nearly rivals the MCU’s fervent fanbase. Now, those who fall within the middle of the Venn diagram between stanning the “Sign Of The Times” singer and stanning Marvel Studios can fully freak out over the confirmation that Styles does indeed appear in the upcoming flick. As much as Marvel Studios tries to intimidate people into not spoiling anything, of course having Styles joining the MCU would inevitably be revealed before the movie is widely released.

After attending the Eternals premiere, Variety writer Matt Donnelly confirmed on Twitter that Styles pops up playing Eros, a.k.a. Starfox, who is Thanos’ brother. Other outlets, including The LA Times, additionally confirmed the former One Direction member’s brief appearance in the movie. The LA Times also revealed that the cameo comes during the post-credits sequence. Marvel fans already know to stay glued to their seats until after the credits roll, but the pop star’s fans will have to be extra patient, too. Eros, the god of love, is a fitting role for Styles. His superpowers include stimulating pleasure centers, and is described as “provoking such extreme pleasurable sensations that a person becomes highly aroused, euphoric, or totally sedated, as the case may be.” It’s a match made in Marvel heaven, given how Styles can easily send his admirers into a frenzy by just flashing his smile—plus, one of his most popular songs is about the female orgasm, so there’s that. While this spoiler was too exciting for critics to keep to themselves, Marvel Studios is trying its hardest to not have key plot points revealed to the public before the Chloé Zhao-directed film arrives on November 5.

Marvels Eternals Why Didnt Interfere In Infinity War

Now that the characters are set to receive their own film in Marvel’s Eternals, the 26th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, some fans can’t help but wonder: where have these powerful protectors been for the previous 25 movies? The MCU has been a pretty chaotic place thus far. Near the end of the franchise’s Infinity Saga, Thanos uses the Infinity Stones to wipe out half of all life in the universe. That seems like it would have been a decent time for the Eternals to intervene. Well according to a sprawling new feature from EW, Marvel’s Eternals is fully prepared to answer that question and more. Neither the movie’s director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) nor Marvel producer Kevin Feige go on record to say precisely how Eternals will address that conundrum but EW notes on background that the movie definitely will. The article details that the Eternals mission is to focus on their nemeses the Deviants and to never interfere in human affairs. That means that, bizarre as it might seem, intervening in Thanos’s genocidal mission was all part of the plan.

It’s worth noting that the Avengers did just fine in retrieving the lost half of the universe on their own, so who’s to say that Eternals weren’t right to leave things alone all along? Much of EW’s piece focuses on the tall task of formally introducing Eternals’ titular 10 guardians, each of whom get lovely magazine covers. Salma Hayek plays Ajak, the group’s leader and healer. Richard Madden is Ikaris, who can fly and shoot lasers from his eyes. Brian Tyree Henry is Phastos, an inventor. Barry Keoghan plays Druig, a loner who can manipulate others’ thoughts. Angelina Jolie plays Thena, who can conjure up weapons out of nothing. Kumail Nanjiani is Bollywood star Kingo. Then there’s Lia McHugh as the youthful-appearing illusionist Sprite, Lauren Ridloff as speedy Makkari, and Don Lee as brawler Gilgamesh. The film’s lead, however, is an MCU veteran. After portraying minor character Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel, Gemma Chan returns to embody the Eternal with the softest spot for humanity, Sersi. Feige defended the decision to cast Chan in a new role to EW. “It would have been shooting ourselves in the foot,” the producer said. “I can go back to Chris Evans being on the list for Captain America, and some people said, ‘Oh, well, he played the Human Torch [in 2005’s Fantastic Four]. Maybe we shouldn’t consider him.’ And we said, ‘No, that’s okay,’ and the rest is history.” Sersi is romantically linked with both Richard Madden’s Ikaris and Kit Harrington’s character, a human named Dane Whitman. That’s right: it’s a Stark brother reunion. Though Marvel’s Eternals is set to be epic in scope, spanning more than 7,000 years, those interviewed highlight the dynamics between its 10 central characters as the film’s main appeal. “It’s a little bit like being on a road trip with nine of your closest friends for 7,000 years,” producer Nate Moore says. “In development, we joked that it’s like if Tony Stark and Steve Rogers lived together for that long. That friendship will turn into frenemies, and then turn into enemies, and then come back to friendship because you have that common bond. It’s like a family.” An intergalactic family in the MCU, huh? Where have we heard that one before? With Fantastic Four officially announced for (fittingly) Phase Four, Eternals and fellow Phase Four member Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings might help this era of MCU storytelling get started on the right thematic track. Marvel’s Eternals is set to be released on November 5 in the U.S. It is not currently confirmed whether the release will be exclusively theatrical.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: New Disney+ Ad Removes Release Date From Marvel Show

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is now listed as Coming Soon and fans are completely bewildered by the revelation. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan’s series was supposed to hit in the fall of this year. 

But, the coronavirus pandemic has completely thrown everything in entertainment into chaos. Now, it remains unclear if the series will be able to make this year. So, it would seem as though this is a way for Disney to hedge their bets when it comes to the highly-anticipated show. 

 Various reports have said that Falcon and the Winter Soldier heading back to the Czech Republic for some more filming. It wasn’t that long ago that people were freaking about new looks at the two leads’ costumes in the upcoming Disney+ project. So, as everything in 2020, the future is uncertain.

Disney Confirmed to Host Investor's Day in October

Even though the past week has already been chock-full of news for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it looks like the news cycle might be picking up even over the course of the next few weeks. As many have noticed Saturday, Disney confirmed it's hosting a virtual Investor's Day on October 7th. Though 2020's been a disastrous year for many — Disney certainly included — the company will largely focus on the brightest spots of the past several months, including the booming popularity of Disney+ and the performance of Mulan's PVOD release in lieu of a traditional theatrical release.

 

While it won't be an event dedicated solely to Marvel Cinematic Universe — there's much more to Disney than Marvel, after all — it's fully expected the studio will at least have a slight presence at the event. That involvement isn't something that will likely be revealed until the event itself is underway. In fact, it could end up being something as little as Bob Chapek revealing production updates now that Shang-Chi and the LEgend of the Ten Rings, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and Loki are all now back in principal photography.

Then there are questions surrounding the success of Mulan as a Disney+ Premier Access offering. Despite the live-action remake being pulled from theaters due to the ongoing global pandemic, the latest reports suggest an on-demand haul around $260 million for the House of Mouse. While those numbers came from a streaming analytics firm, it stands to reason Disney may unveil official numbers for its first major on-demand offering, especially as tensions rise in Hollywood with studios refusing to share such data in a post-coronavirus world.

The company will also likely reveal the plans on reopening Disneyland and it's company-wide procedures to ensure adequate safety for employees and visitors alike at their theme parks around the world. Disneyland was just one of a handful of parks lobbying California Governor Gavin Newsom this week to allow the reopening of amusement locations across the state.

“Over those six months, parks crafted detailed plans to reopen — they include capacity reductions, face covering requirements, robust health and safety protocols for both guests and employees, and significant modifications to support physical distancing,” California Attractions and Parks Association director Erin Guerrero said in a statement earlier this month. “These practices will promote health and safety in ways that many activities Californians are currently engaging in won’t. However, in order to reopen, parks require guidance from the state and that guidance has not been forthcoming.”