The Marvel Cinematic Universe Introduced Too Many Superheroes

The Marvel Cinematic Universe enjoyed several experiments in translating comic book storytelling techniques to the big screen. Cross-over events weren't unheard of in blockbuster cinema, but Marvel elevated the concept to a sprawling saga with gradually vanishing distinctions. Gigantic ensemble pieces and team-ups between ostensibly unrelated characters remain rare outside the superhero genre. However, this all-consuming routine has gradually created a comic book-style roster, which could be too much for the films to handle.

The argument over whether the Marvel Cinematic Universe should have gracefully concluded immediately after Endgame is a bit overplayed. It's hard to imagine the franchise simply shutting down, though taking a break wouldn't have been out of the question. Marvel has pumped out several excellent films and a few fun TV shows since the Infinity Saga ended, but its continued growth poses several unfortunate questions.

New Marvel Movie On Disney Plus Seemingly Added To Set Up Deadpool & Wolverine

Marvel and Disney have given fans of the upcoming Deadpool and Wolverine film some required reading on Disney+ in the leadup to the threequel's debut.

MCU Phases Four and Five Introduced A Lot of Heroes

Marvel's fourth and fifth phases harbor a lot of firsts for the franchise. WandaVision kicked off the triumphant return after the Infinity Saga, announcing Marvel's intention to take streaming TV by storm again. This marked an explosion in Marvel projects, packing more shows and movies into shorter release windows. Phase Three was a massive leap, almost doubling the content of Marvel's first two phases. Even its eleven features pale in comparison to Phases Four and Five. Phase Four delivered the usual six feature films alongside seven TV shows, extending its length well beyond any previous outing. Phase Five is still in progress, but it's set to deliver six movies and nine TV shows. These long-winded projects existed primarily to inject fresh blood into the MCU. Here's a list of some of the heroes introduced in Phases Four and Five:

Yelena Belova
Shang-Chi
Moon Knight
America Chavez
All ten of the Eternals
The Black Knight
She-Hulk
Kate Bishop
Ms. Marvel
Many more

These heroes vary in quality and enjoy wildly different spotlights throughout the franchise. Marvel will hold some up as tentpoles and abandon others entirely. Their presence isn't a problem in itself, but it is a deviation from the original Marvel Cinematic Universe model.

Marvel Can't Decide Who to Focus On

Marvel's Infinity Saga had two stars. Tony Stark and Steve Rogers commanded the franchise as its undisputed champions. Every other character, even mainstays like Hulk and Thor, stood secondary to Captain America and Iron Man. Both Tony and Steve have left the franchise, and while they have new characters to fill their roles, no superhero seems prepared to fill the voids they left. Will Shang-Chi step in as one of the central faces of the franchise? Can any member of the Eternals show their face again? Maybe a returning favorite like Ant-Man or Doctor Strange can ground the multiverse? The new characters aren't set up for leadership roles, and the familiar icons remain oddly sidelined. Think back to Endgame. Who got all the big moments? Steve wields Mjölnir and drops a catchphrase. Tony snaps his fingers and counters with his own. Tony's funeral and Steve's fond goodbye have the same cadence. Who among the current MCU roster could pull off anything like that?

The problem is Marvel's unwillingness to do what they've done in the past. Every other cinematic universe experience is dead for the same reason. The MCU committed to the simple mission of making excellent origin stories before bringing their characters together for the big team-up. Four of the original Avengers enjoyed solid solo projects. The other two remained lesser figures for the rest of their run with the franchise. Marvel plans to solve this problem by introducing a flood of new figures and pairing many of them off for team projects. The plan seems flawed.

Marvel's New Teams Will Struggle

The Marvels Ms. Marvel Iman Vellani X-Men Dark Phoenix

Marvel has at least two new teams planned. The studio intends to assemble characters of various origins into new groups, find the pairings that work, and ditch anyone who doesn't pull their weight. The Thunderbolts will bring Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Ghost, US Agent, Taskmaster, and Red Guardian together. Bucky is the only one among them who has starred in a project. Yelena Belova has appeared in two projects with a collective twenty or thirty minutes of screentime, and she's easily the second-biggest name. The Young Avengers, conversely, have Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, and Cassie Lang so far. Kamala Khan alone brings more star power to the affair, but the rest are less impressive. The Avengers worked by establishing the heroes, making fans love them, and putting them together. These teams will feature characters that most viewers will have long since forgotten.

Marvel was right to add fresh blood to its roster. The franchise could never survive on the same handful of tired names. Innovation is essential to keeping the empire alive. However, Marvel still wants its audience to care about every hero they introduce. They still want to treat their new players as if they have the clout of Steve and Tony. Unfortunately, a cinematic universe can't sustain as much information as a comic book universe. The best they can hope for is to keep producing grounded stories to build up support for a handful of characters. Constant introductions will become tiring, and many will struggle to care about the new teams. Marvel has a massive roster to choose from. It's time to pick some favorites.