Disney has been in a bit of a pickle for some time thanks to some financial trouble. On top of that, tons of films released by the studio have faced trouble reeling in an impressive figure at the box office. Well, Disney said “Enough is enough” and has now come up with a strategy that could potentially harm the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Well, one of the goals of the strategy is to improve the quality of the films that are to be released. In order to do so, Disney will be taking drastic steps which include canceling some of the future projects. What does this mean for Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 6?
Is Disney’s New Strategy Bad News for Marvel?
Speaking at the Q3 FY23 earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed the cost-cutting-quality-improving strategy they would be putting to use soon. He stated that the studio is now prioritizing quality over quantity by reducing the cost per title and cutting back on projects.
“We’re focused on improving the quality of our films and on better economics, not just reducing the number of titles we release but also the cost per title. And we’re maximizing the full impact of our titles by embracing the multiple distribution windows at our disposal, enabling consumers to access their content in multiple ways.”
He also added,
“By focusing on big franchises and tentpole films, we’re able to generate interest in our existing library. For example, we are seeing tremendous engagement on Disney+ with the previous Guardians of the Galaxy films, the original Avatar, and the first four Indiana Jones movies.”
While this is a necessary step as Disney has been losing some of its magic recently, we cannot help but wonder what it could mean for Marvel’s Phase 6.
There are three confirmed projects for Marvel’s Phase 6 – Fantastic Four, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Avengers: Secret Wars. As these three films are quite important to both the MCU and the fans, they probably don’t have anything to worry about. However, for the unannounced films leading up to Secret Wars, well, they might need to watch their back.
So now, the spotlight is on the reported Phase 6 films including, Shangh-Chi 2, Black Panther 3, and Spider-Man 4. Since each of their predecessors performed well at the box office, they might not have to worry about the cutbacks. As for Eternals 2 and Thor 5, both their previous films didn’t perform too well. In fact, Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder was ruthlessly bashed by the fans for ruining the God of Thunder. Will the franchise that gave us Thor: Ragnarok not get a redemption arc?
Bob Iger Has Talked about Making Cutbacks Before
The recent investor call is not the only time Iger has touched on the subject of canceling a few projects here and there to increase quality and decrease the cost. In an interview with CNBC, the CEO talked about why this necessary evil is important.
“You pull back not just to focus, but also as part of our cost containment initiative. Spending less on what make, and making less.”
He also went ahead to give an example of Marvel Studios which ventured off into the television business, which only caused harm to the image of the studio.
“Marvel is a great example of that. It had not been in the television business at any significant level, and not only did they increase their movie output, but they ended up making a number of TV series. Frankly, it diluted focus and attention.”
We cannot say that Iger is wrong. Phase 4 was the worst time for MCU with one disappointing project after the other. So, Disney’s drastic step might cancel a few Marvel projects along the way, but it could be the right step for the bigger picture.
Marvel’s Phase 6 begins with Fantastic Four set to release on May 02, 2025.
Source: The Walt Disney Company
