Marvel Studios is trying its best to bring audiences back with quality, but will Sony’s slate affect the goodwill the MCU is trying to buy back? It’s no secret that Sony’s Spider-Man flicks haven’t been critical darlings — “Morbius” and “Madame Web” have been mercilessly bullied for quite some time. While it remains to be seen if “Kraven the Hunter” can be a winner, it’s possible that Sony’s increased Marvel output could drive audiences away from the MCU even more.
Superhero fatigue can no longer be ignored, with financial receipts for both Marvel and DC movies indicating indifference towards caped heroes and world-ending escapades. Seeing as Sony’s Spider-Man flicks are semi-related to the MCU, it’s best for both studios if “Madame Web,” “Kraven,” and “Venom 3” hit, at least commercially. It also remains to be seen how in tune with the MCU these films are. If they all directly reference the franchise, is Marvel Studios really learning from its mistakes?
Marvel Studios’ restructuring comes when DC is doing the same, rebooting itself as the DC Universe, which formally kicks off in 2025 with James Gunn’s “Superman: Legacy.” On the whole, 2024 is looking pretty barren superhero-wise, but that should give audiences time (and energy) to return to the theaters in 2025 when Marvel is set to drop “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Fantastic Four,” “Thunderbolts,” and the long-awaited “Blade.”
