In 2008, Marvel Studios redefined the superhero movie genre forever. The studio was famously running out of ideas and was desperate to pay off its incredible debts. They turned to the cinematic world in an attempt to keep their corporation afloat and would end up creating one of the most popular film franchises of the modern era. 2008’s “Iron Man” serves as the cornerstone of what is now referred to as the MCU, or Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Instead of simply creating a single film or trilogy based on a single hero, Keven Feige and his team had an incredible idea. Each Marvel movie would connect to the others, either explicitly or implicitly. Every film, even the individual superhero plots, would continue an overarching story. This culminated in what many fans have dubbed the “Infinity Saga,” which starts with 2008’s “Iron Man” and ends with the beloved “Avengers: Endgame.”
“Endgame” and its direct predecessor, “Avengers: Infinity War,” are often considered the peak of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, for good reason. Which is why Marvel recently announced at CinemaCon that “Endgame “would return to theaters. This new showing is meant to generate hype for the upcoming film, “Avengers: Doomsday,” while bridging the gap between the films with some completely new content.
The Upcoming Showing Will Feature Never-Before-Seen Content
“Avengers: Endgame” features the Avengers five years after losing to the Mad Titan Thanos and his eradication of half the universe’s population. Desperate for a solution, the remaining Avengers travel through time to prevent the tragedy from ever happening. This culminates in one of the most epic battles in cinematic fiction history, the likes of which haven’t been seen since The Battle of Helm’s Deep from “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.” Eventually, the ragtag team of superheroes accomplishes their goal, but not before sending ripples throughout the multiverse.
Unfortunately, Marvel Studios seemed to lose some momentum after the incredible success that was “Avengers: Endgame”. There were some incredible films created after “Endgame,” but it was clear that the studio lacked the same clear direction that was present with the Infinity Saga. End credit scenes ended up going nowhere, and entire projects were shelved or heavily edited. It really seemed like Marvel had lost what made their franchise so successful, until some of their most recent announcements.
GettyAfter a heavy pivot, Marvel brought back leading man Robert Downey Jr. to once again save them from the studio’s impending fate. However, this time Downey is playing a completely different character. In the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday”, the once charismatic hero is set to play Victor Von Doom, the most intelligent and ruthless villain in Marvel history. This is easily one of the most controversial ideas the studio has had, but the upcoming showing could change everything.
The new showing of “Avengers: Endgame,” set to take place on September 25, is planned to include never-before-seen footage that will bridge the gap between Endgame and Doomsday. It’s completely up in the air what sort of content fans might get, but it could show Doom interfering with the multiverse long before fans ever detected him. How they will explain two of their most important character sharing the same face remains to be seen, but it’s clear Marvel is taking a huge step in the right direction.
Marvel Is Once Again Bringing Their Cinematic A-Game
For the last two decades, Marvel has really become a cinematic powerhouse. Each subsequent superhero film has amassed much more than anyone could have ever imagined. Some of their recent titles may have fallen flat, but the studio is clearly ready to prove they are as relevant as ever. The studio might have shifted some of its focus to the television industry, but “Avengers: Doomsday” could prove they still know how to make engaging films.
GettySeveral of Marvel’s recent projects, like “Wonder Man” and “Werewolf By Night,” prove the studio isn’t afraid to get creative, which is incredibly refreshing. Most studios are content with sticking with what works, but Marvel has always been willing to test the boundaries of what audiences are willing to consume. If they manage to keep this creativity, while rediscovering what made them popular in the first place, “Avengers: Doomsday” could become a great success, but a lot of pressure is on the recently announced “Avengers: Endgame” to bridge the gap between these two projects.
