Over the past decade, superhero movies have risen to become one of the most prosperous genres in the film industry. Numerous franchises have emerged within this genre, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe standing out as one of the most successful and beloved. Featuring iconic comic book characters like Iron Man and Captain America, the franchise has soared to billion-dollar success.
However, things have not been the same after the release of the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame. Subsequent films in the series not only struggled to garner acclaim from fans but also faced challenges in achieving significant box office returns, as seen with the 2023 release The Marvels. And Chris Claremont may have foreseen the underlying reasons for the MCU’s decline years earlier.
Chris Claremont’s Predicted MCU’s Downfall Years Ago
Marvel Studios introduced the MCU with the 2008 film Iron Man. Starring Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role, the film was a huge success and paved the way for a string of interconnected movies featuring beloved characters like Captain America and Thor.
The comic book writer Chris Claremont commented on Hollywood’s fascination with superhero films in a 2010 interview. The X-Men writer described it as a method for the studio executives to prioritize their job security.
He said that studio executives often prioritize adapting well-known comic book characters and casting popular actors to minimize the risk of box office disappointment. “They pick books and characters that people will know,” he said before adding, “And then hire actors that at the same time are ‘hot.'”
Claremont further suggested that if a film were to underperform, studios could justify their choices by claiming to have catered to audience preferences, calling it a “plausible Denial ability!” And his perspective gains significance when considering the current trajectory of the franchise.
Despite Marvel Studios’ efforts to introduce new casts and characters, recent films have struggled to achieve the same level of critical and commercial success as their predecessors. The last film released under the franchise The Marvels failed miserably at the box office grossing only $206 million against an estimated budget of $270 million.
The X-Men Writer Criticized Marvel Studios’ Post-Endgame Output
In a panel discussion at C2E2, Chris Claremont didn’t hold back his criticisms of the MCU’s recent endeavors following the monumental success of Avengers: Endgame. He playfully remarked adding supporting character Ricochet Rita to the MCU, quipping, “That would make Thor interesting!”
However, his criticism extended specifically to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as he expressed dissatisfaction with the narrative focusing solely on Doctor Strange saving the world. As per Popverse, he said,
“I find it disconcerting that all of the post-Infinity War films – not the TV shows – have sort of been like, ‘Hi, Doctor Strange, will you save the world from Wanda?’ So what happens at the end, a giant rock falls on her. It’s like, come on guys!'”
He also shared his criticism of the 2021 film Eternals, stating, “I want to love this stuff. I really, really, really want to love this stuff.” While he did praise the Disney+ series Mrs. Marvel, Claremont expressed surprise at the revelation that the titular character was teased as the first mutant of the MCU.
The Marvels and Eternals are available to stream on Disney+.
