Buzz
The sequel to Captain Marvel concludes a tumultuous year for the superhero film industry.
The Marvels (Vietnamese title: Marvel Squad) is the 33rd film installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It connects three mini-series: WandaVision, Ms. Marvel, and Secret Invasion, while also continuing the events from the Captain Marvel blockbuster (2019). This is also considered an indispensable piece in the development of Phase 5 of the MCU.
The Marvels debuts at an inconvenient time when Marvel Studios is struggling to regain its position. The superhero giant continuously loses points due to declining film quality, lack of direction, and cohesion. The formidable opponent is DC Studios, which finds itself in a similar predicament, as James Gunn's universe reboot project fails to impress fans.
The superhero realm in a downturn
The year 2023 plays a crucial role for two major film studios, Marvel Studios and DC Studios. The MCU officially enters the Multiverse Saga era through Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Meanwhile, DC Studios introduces its first film in its cinematic universe reboot plan, Blue Beetle. Unfortunately, both projects turn out to be flops as they fail to meet fan expectations.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, released in May last year, was hailed as the film studio's savior. It successfully won over the audience, bidding an emotional farewell to the original guardians. With the current scenario, The Marvels takes center stage, bearing the hopes of fans in the superhero film genre.
Going back to 2019, Avengers: Endgame created a global frenzy, simultaneously concluding the Infinity Saga era. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a decade of resounding success, consistently releasing blockbuster hits, dominating the billion-dollar empire in Hollywood.
Alongside the stable momentum of the Spider-Man series, the MCU has been on a downward trend since 2021 to the present. With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 receiving positive feedback, The Marvels breaks free from its shell to steer the MCU back on track.
Captain Marvel needs to assert its position
According to Box Office Mojo, the blockbuster Captain Marvel (2019) grossed $1.1 billion, an impressive figure for an introductory film. Released during the superhero boom, exploring female empowerment along with a massive fan base were three key factors that helped Captain Marvel reach the billion-dollar milestone. However, in reality, the content was not as remarkable as the revenue generated.
Focusing on conveying implicit messages inadvertently turned Captain Marvel into a soulless puppet. Even after the film ends, Goose the cat becomes the center of attention, overshadowing the main character without uttering a single line. Nonetheless, Marvel Studios deserves praise for releasing this film at this particular time with cunning strategy.
In this comeback, The Marvels excites fans as they see Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel team up against their foes. Connecting mini-series to cinematic projects is no longer unfamiliar in the MCU. For The Marvels, it enriches the narrative layers, builds a tightly-knit script, and establishes bridges to future projects. Additionally, character development is evident with the presence of Monica Rambeau and Ms. Marvel. They need to hone their skills while Captain Marvel needs to learn teamwork instead of solo operations.
Set in the present context, Captain Marvel is now the epitome of a superhero. After years of battling across the universe, she has not only honed her combat skills but also possesses extensive knowledge. Carol's absence from Earthly battles is not in vain as she can use the time to better herself. Now, Captain Marvel has proven herself worthy of leadership. What she lacks is an opportunity to solidify her position in the superhero community. Bearing this responsibility, fans can fully expect exciting developments in The Marvels.
