Movies

Doomsday’s SHOCKING Resemblance to a HUGE MCU Flop!

BBG News

The decision to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in upcoming Marvel movies is becoming a critical turning point. Even die-hard fans can’t deny that the franchise has hit a slump, with “Captain America: Brave New World” joining other underperforming films at the box office. Following the ill-fated choice of Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, who delivered well onscreen but was marred by his off-screen legal issues, Downey will now take over the role during a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe is grappling with a series of troubles.

In essence, Disney is pulling out all the stops to make sure that “Avengers: Doomsday” lives up to fans’ expectations, a fact that recalls the grandeur and cost associated with previous projects, some of which faced financial struggles despite their high budgets. It’s crucial that “Avengers: Doomsday” avoids repeating these missteps to ensure the Marvel Cinematic Universe remains on a stable course.

MCU Phases 4 and 5 Have Not Gone as Planned

The Once Invincible MCU Is in Rough Waters

After concluding Avengers: Endgame atop the pop culture throne, leaving fans eager for what’s next, Phase 4 kicked off swiftly and was generally well-received. Notably, the Marvel franchise expanded its horizons by delving into streaming platforms with critically acclaimed shows such as WandaVision and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Meanwhile, the silver screen continued to shine with box office hits like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The pinnacle, however, was undeniably Spider-Man: No Way Home, which showcased the multiverse’s narrative potential to a global audience.

Although the franchise continued to thrive, there were early indications of turmoil. While Phase 4 served its purpose, it felt more like maintaining momentum as fans came to terms with the departure of key characters. The break seemed essential following the exhilarating lead-up to Endgame, but Phase 5 couldn’t afford to rest on past accomplishments. High expectations were set, and the MCU promised that Quantumania would commence everything spectacularly. However, quite contrary to expectations, the film underperformed, facing issues both in its content and behind the scenes, leaving the expansive franchise appearing uncertain about its direction.

The Kang Dynasty” into “Doomsday.

Ant-Man 3 Launched Disappointing Year

The Mega-Franchise Stumbled Badly in Phase 5

2023 seemed to be a tumultuous year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with a string of letdowns that left me feeling a bit disheartened. The most glaring disappointment was “The Marvels,” which only managed to rake in around $200 million internationally – a figure far lower than what this franchise is traditionally accustomed to. Even the summer’s MCU streaming series, “Secret Invasion,” failed to spark much interest, despite the return of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and an intriguing storyline revolving around the Skrull Invasion.

2023 didn’t just see failed projects. In fact, James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” was highly acclaimed by both critics and audiences. Similarly, the creative narratives in other productions earned recognition. The “Loki” streaming series, for instance, made its mark by shaping new rules within the storyline, as Loki navigates his way through the complex administrative labyrinth of the TVA. The year 2024 saw a reprieve with the release of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which was a massive success and finally paved the way for the long-awaited introduction of the X-Men into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Although there were some triumphs, it was evident that the franchise had experienced a decline. Gunn’s departure for the DCU gave Vol. 3 a sense of conclusion instead of beginning, and What If…? may be enjoyable, but its anthology format didn’t provide enough substance to carry the weight of the franchise. Loki and Deadpool & Wolverine were equally entertaining, but they leaned too heavily on self-reference, lacking the foundation needed for the MCU to grow further.

Rising Costs and Expectations Have Hampered the MCU

Failure Is a Sliding Scale

Overall, Phase 5 has performed better than it might seem at first glance, and while Quantumania isn’t exceptional, it’s more average than poor. Similarly, Captain America: Brave New World hits all the necessary notes but lacks the impact to be truly groundbreaking. The feeling of a directionless franchise is hard to ignore, as there seems to be no clear leader like Tony Stark or Steve Rogers once were. Despite occasional victories, it’s lost its forward momentum, and with new characters on the horizon, it urgently needs a major success to regain its footing.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but speculate that Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was driven by the desire to reclaim the box office dominance. The character he portrays, Doctor Doom, has had disappointing big-screen appearances so far, especially with the struggling Fantastic Four film series. By transforming him into a Stark-like variant, we’re injecting a fresh dose of creativity that was missing in previous films. This could potentially steer the MCU back on course and set the stage for an exciting build-up to Secret Wars. If this character becomes successful, it would generate momentum for the upcoming Doomsday and give it a headstart with a bit of wind behind its sails.

Unfortunately, one element that “Doomsday” is relying on – cost – has made the situation more complex. Marvel has spared no expense in producing this film, not just focusing on the expected grandeur, but also on the star-studded cast. Robert Downey Jr., who won an Oscar for his role in 2023’s “Oppenheimer” and is the originator of the MCU with Tony Stark, doesn’t come cheap. Similarly, the directors, having helmed “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame,” also demand a high fee for their services on “Doomsday.

The predicament deepens with the fact that the plot of Secret Wars relies heavily on cramming numerous characters into the narrative, many of whom are well-known stars demanding substantial fees. Names like Chris Evans, Wesley Snipes, and Jennifer Garner join forces with Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in this superhero extravaganza. The upcoming productions, Doomsday and Secret Wars, seem to outdo even that in scale. Without a payout of several billions, the financial loss would be astronomical. This is essentially the challenge that the MCU faces at the moment.

The film Quantumania, in its own right, earned a decent $476 million globally. However, this figure is rather insignificant when considering the substantial expenses associated with its production and promotion. In today’s market, these figures might not hold up as they once did, even just five years ago. Despite this, it’s clear that there’s still an audience for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but perhaps not as large as Marvel and Disney are anticipating. Quantumania‘s performance serves as a cautionary tale. On the positive side, altering a franchise of this magnitude may be too challenging, leaving Marvel Studios with little choice but to continue on their current path. The future remains uncertain, but both Doomsday and the MCU are putting everything on the line with this decision.

Currently, they are banking on Robert Downey Jr.’s charisma and the storytelling abilities of the Russos to revive the franchise. It’s plausible, or perhaps even probable, but the stakes are high if it fails. Even if it succeeds, there’s a bigger issue at hand – films like Quantumania can’t maintain their massive budgets with the returns they generate. Doomsday needs to handle this situation more skillfully, not just for its own survival, but also for the well-being of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole.

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to open May 1, 2026.

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2025-05-02 00:54

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