The recent disinterest among audiences in major franchises like DC or Marvel has become increasingly apparent. Despite occasional successes, these prominent franchises are currently experiencing a slump. And as Edgar Wright aptly pointed out, it is the issue of oversaturation in the market. During his appearance on a podcast with Josh Horowitz, he shared insightful viewpoints on potential solutions for how colossal franchises like the MCU could remedy this situation once and for all.
Edgar Wright Points Out the Issues Plaguing Major Franchises Such as Marvel and DC
On a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Hollywood director Edgar Wright, without explicitly mentioning any specific names, outlined the current challenges facing big-budget franchises. He stated,
“I think one of the problems with film franchises is sometimes when they announce — I’m not mentioning any names or anything — when they announce like massive slates of films and TV shows […] there’s a danger of killing the golden goose,”
He suggested that the sheer volume of films and series in the lineup aimed at consistently pleasing audiences year-round might be causing a decline in fan interest. In a word, oversaturation is the issue plaguing the market. He then elaborated, emphasizing the overlooked importance of knowing when to stop, a critical quality that many tend to disregard. He stated,
“I would never want to besmirch any franchises because I’m 49 now, and it’s a different thing if maybe you have kids, and it’s about introducing your kids to the franchises. But it is a weird thing: If I could go back to when I was a young film fan, and I’ve just enjoyed a movie, and people are saying, ‘Guess what? They’ll be one every three years for the rest of your life.’ I’d be like, ‘Really?!’ That’s the thing that is sad to me, the lack of investment in new movies.”
He highlighted that the segmented nature of franchises like Marvel and DC, where there’s an ongoing sense of continuity in the vast multiverse, presents a challenge. The idea of a continuous stream of content, once an exciting prospect for audiences, eventually diminishes the anticipation. Receiving a film every two to three years takes away from the enjoyment and eagerness that comes with prolonged anticipation, Wright feels.
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Edgar Wright’s Proposals for Rescuing Large Franchises Like Marvel and DC
Edgar Wright besides stating the problems according to him, also advocated solutions for the situation, emphasizing the need to allow people a break. The director urges these franchises to “just take a breather”, to revive the enthusiasm among audiences. He believes that the charm of loving a film doesn’t imply a constant demand for the same elements. Sometimes, viewers should have the opportunity to rediscover what they love, exploring a diverse range of selections within their interests. He stated,
“I wish some franchises would just kind of have the sense to just take a breather and let people get excited about it again. I feel like there are certain things that I loved that I don’t want to see again, or I don’t want to see them again for a long time. And again, I’m not going to bad mouth anything because it always gets interpreted as sound[bites].”
He emphasized that it’s okay to cherish something without desiring more of it indefinitely. Therefore, he encourages these franchises to focus on investing in new narratives. He also clarified several times that none of his comments on the situation stem from ill intent, as the genuine essence of well-intentioned criticism often gets misunderstood in translation by the media especially. He then lastly stated,
“We desperately need more new movies. I know IP is the dreaded word but it’s even like finding new things that could be a series. It doesn’t just have to be the same things again and again. I’m not so naive to say everything has to be an original going forwards. Obviously, that would be great and there are a lot of great indies and international cinema.”
He continued,
“They don’t have the same problem […] international cinema is flourishing. I just think you would hope the studios would put as much investment into original films as they do into the ongoing IP, but also it’s OK to take a break and let something be missed so then you can have a big return, or just think about things that could be franchise starters.”
Lastly, he doubled down on his suggestion, strongly advocating the pursuit of compelling narratives among the big-budget films that can reignite lost enthusiasm. He also emphasized the need to take a break before audiences begin to miss something they haven’t yet realized they’re yearning for.
