If you’re a devoted fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you’ll need to see all of the movies in theaters and every show set to debut on Disney+….
For 10 years strong, the Marvel Cinematic Universe ruled with an iron (man) fist at the box office as Kevin Feige helped orchestrate a shared story throughout dozens of films that all culminated in “Avengers: Infinity War” and then “Avengers: Endgame”.
Now the Marvel chief creative officer is taking the MCU in a new direction following the exit of actors such as Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans and instead putting his focus on new characters and stories that haven’t been the focal point for the studio previously.
Marvel is also gambling by putting several marquee characters into new shows that will debut exclusively on Disney+ — the new Disney streaming service that launched last week — and now if you’re a devoted fan, you’ll need to watch both the movies and the new series to understand how it all connects in the end.
“No, it’s specifically the plan that the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be in theaters and be on Disney+,” Feige told the “Awards Chatter” podcast just recently. “To go full circle to USC, when I went to USC it was called the USC School of Film and Television. It is now called the USC School of Cinematic Arts because the cinematic arts crossover.
“So we are certainly doing cinematic art level production for Disney+. “Falcon and Winter Soldier” is currently shooting and I just yesterday got back from the set of “WandaVision,” which is shooting. All of those characters will undergo transformative, I hope, very exciting experiences in that show and then go into our movies. So they’ll go back and forth.”
In addition to series such as “Falcon and Winter Soldier”, “WandaVision”, “Loki” and a new “Hawkeye” show, Marvel will also look to debut several new characters in series exclusive to Disney+. Those characters will then crossover into films as well as Marvel looks to establish a new era with their shared universe.
“Some characters like we announced She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight, you will meet for the first time in a Disney+ show and then they will go into the movies,” Feige said. “But the MCU now will go back and forth.”
It’s an ambitious idea not only because it will require a lot more work to not only develop a huge slate of films but Marvel Studios is now handling the responsibility for the shows going to Disney+ as well. Marvel hasn’t really crossed over any past characters from their films onto television or vice versa outside of Phil Coulson going from the movies to “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and then Peggy Carter and Jarvis appearing in “Agent Carter” and then crossing back over for the most recent “Avengers” film.
The good news is Disney+ is already off to a tremendous start with more than 10 million subscribers signing up for the service at launch and those numbers will likely only increase once more original programming like “Falcon and Winter Solder” or the upcoming “Ms. Marvel” series are featured programming.
Expect the crossovers between films and Disney+ to start next year when Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe begins with films like “The Eternals” and shows start debuting on Disney streaming service for the first time.
