Source: Marvel/Disney
It's no secret that the latest Marvel Studios movies have been doing less than spectacular at the box office, and while many believe that superhero fatigue is the main culprit behind the slide, Avengers: Infinity War filmmakers Anthony and Joe Russo believe technology is to blame.
According Variety, the Russo Brothers don't necessarily think that comic book fans are just fed up with all the superhero movies and shows we've been bombarded with in recent years, but rather how audiences receive and consume whatever these movie studios are churning out. With people living in a digital age where they want everything the way they're used to, they feel that the old school “let's make plans to go to the movies” isn't as viable as it was in years past.
By variety.
“I think it's a reflection of the current state of things. It's tough right now, it's an interesting time,” Joe Russo said. “I think we're in a transition period and people don't yet know how they're going to get stories going forward or what kind of stories they're going to want.”
“There's a big generation gap in how you consume media,” he continued. “There's a generation that's used to viewing dates and going to a theater on a certain date to see something, but it's getting old. Meanwhile, the new generation is “I want it now, I want to process it now,” then they move on to the next thing, which they process while doing two other things at the same time. You know, it's a very different time than ever. And so I think everybody, including Marvel, is going through the same thing, that transition. And I think that's probably what comes into play more than anything else.”
Joe Russo noted that the new generation of moviegoers communicates largely with “memes and titles without anyone reading the previous two sentences, so it's all 100 characters or less – or 10-second social media videos you scan.”
Well, he's not wrong. But truth be told, the last few Marvel movies and shows have had a rocky history, and when you combine that with weak special effects, fans will tune out.
Fortunately for Marvel, the hype is back Deadpool & Wolverine It will almost certainly lead to another billion dollars at the box office, and if they're lucky, it'll also help generate interest in the future of the MCU, as Deadpool looks set to be a big part of its future going forward. At least that's what fans are hoping as the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is said to be focused on mutants, with the Avengers taking second place to the X-Men in the coming phases.
What do you think led to the decline of comic book movies? Is it superhero fatigue? Online media? Let us know in the comments section below.
