It’s no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been in some trouble lately, but it’s still big and profitable enough to keep the spark alive and change plans so the upcoming big-screen movies and Disney+ shows will be much better. Now, Anthony Mackie is joining the chorus of critics, even though, you know, he’s playing the new Captain America.
The actor is currently filming Captain America: Brave New World, which is due out on February 14, 2025 after major delays and rewrites due to the strike, and is currently promoting 2023’s pretty solid Twisted Metal adaptation International release of TV series. Of course, when he was asked about the Marvel Sandbox, he had a pointed take on its limitations.
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Speaking to Radio Times , the actor explained the decades of source material available to extract storylines and character arcs, which often limited the narrative possibilities of the films and TV series they produced. “I would say the Marvel thing is completely different, just because it’s a controlled entertainment space,” he said. “Like, there’s only so much you can do. There’s only so much creativity you can bring to the table , because Stan Lee gave us so much content…like, you can’t really go beyond those comic book boundaries.”
While he has a point, Marvel has to respect what’s written on the page to a certain extent, which I would say is a weird way to look at Marvel Studios’ recent quality control issues as these criticisms As the studio delivers hit after hit, the Marvel cast. In fact, one of the most acclaimed aspects of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has always been how most of the stories manage to weave well-known elements, storylines, and characters from the comic books into entirely new stories that surprise hardcore and die-hard audiences alike. Casual viewers alike.
Captain America: Civil War is not a direct adaptation of the original comic series. The same goes for Thor: Ragnarok or Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Part of their massive success is due to the real intrigue surrounding them and what’s next for the overall narrative. If the Marvel Universe has struggled to evoke such a feeling lately, it’s because everything—even in the good stuff—feels scattered. I doubt that any fans of the studio’s stunning Infinity Saga (2008-2019) looked at the treasure trove of footage available for remastering for the screen.
Next up for Marvel Studios is Deadpool vs. Wolverine , the third installment in a unique sub-series that should still be a huge success at the box office unless it’s hopelessly bad. Meanwhile, its parent company is trying to absorb Overwatch 2’s dwindling but still vibrant community, which includes Overwatch and Marvel. As Dr. Hulk says, “These are confusing times.”
