I know you touched on it a bit, but I'm wondering how Marvel can avoid burn out with their packed slate coming up. 10 movies/series this year and 7 next year is an incredible feat (granted many would have been released in 2020), but runs the risk of overloading consumers, especially more casual ones who now HAVE to catch the weekly shows on Disney+ in order to fully keep up with the movie continuity. By and large, it looks like there will be some new Marvel content nearly every week this year, which frankly is asking a lot of even hardcore fans such as myself.
It's a good question! Marvel Studios executives know it's going to feel like a lot — because it is. The idea is to do what Lucasfilm has done with Star Wars over the last two decades, I imagine. People can watch Clone Wars and Rebels (or Bad Batch this year), but since they're animated and not major installments (ie a new theatrical movie or tentpole TV production), they're for a specific set of fans.
Falcon and Winter Soldier is likely a one-and-done series. Same with Loki, again, I would imagine. WandaVision is just absurd enough that it'll hopefully feel very, very different to traditional superhero things, and come across as a new fantasy/sci-fi series that happens to be in the MCU. They can get away with more on Disney+ because there needs to be a consistent flow of new series (plus library offering, which is a whole other essay), so they don't have to necessarily feel like big Marvel productions. I'm hoping they lean into the abstractness of it all so that people don't face Marvel burnout.
But! It's inevitable that some people will. Disney's bet is that 80% of people who watch the Marvel films will want TV series based on new characters, but I'm sure executives know it's a lot of Marvel all the time going forward.
Mandalorian has many weak episodes and story telling. That Luke Skywalker showed up in the Mandalorian is fine (if something makes sense in the storyline, then they can and should go for it), but the lead up to it was very weak (poorly directed and written). If Mandalorian is the "peak Star Wars" that Disney has to offer then the future of Star Wars continues to be bleak.
Don't get me wrong, the show has incredibly good episodes. Just that overall I think it's pretty weak. But definitely no way near as bad as the recent Star Wars episode 7-9 movies. Especially 8/9, an unwatchable mess that deeply damaged Star Wars canon.
I know you touched on it a bit, but I'm wondering how Marvel can avoid burn out with their packed slate coming up. 10 movies/series this year and 7 next year is an incredible feat (granted many would have been released in 2020), but runs the risk of overloading consumers, especially more casual ones who now HAVE to catch the weekly shows on Disney+ in order to fully keep up with the movie continuity. By and large, it looks like there will be some new Marvel content nearly every week this year, which frankly is asking a lot of even hardcore fans such as myself.
It's a good question! Marvel Studios executives know it's going to feel like a lot — because it is. The idea is to do what Lucasfilm has done with Star Wars over the last two decades, I imagine. People can watch Clone Wars and Rebels (or Bad Batch this year), but since they're animated and not major installments (ie a new theatrical movie or tentpole TV production), they're for a specific set of fans.
Falcon and Winter Soldier is likely a one-and-done series. Same with Loki, again, I would imagine. WandaVision is just absurd enough that it'll hopefully feel very, very different to traditional superhero things, and come across as a new fantasy/sci-fi series that happens to be in the MCU. They can get away with more on Disney+ because there needs to be a consistent flow of new series (plus library offering, which is a whole other essay), so they don't have to necessarily feel like big Marvel productions. I'm hoping they lean into the abstractness of it all so that people don't face Marvel burnout.
But! It's inevitable that some people will. Disney's bet is that 80% of people who watch the Marvel films will want TV series based on new characters, but I'm sure executives know it's a lot of Marvel all the time going forward.
This is honestly such a fantastic analysis. Huge fan of your writing, Julia!
Am I one of the only people who loved that Luke Skywalker made that appearance in the final episode of The Mandalorian?
As an aside, the show itself is fantastic, and Pedro Pascal is perfect in the role as the Mandalorian.
Mandalorian has many weak episodes and story telling. That Luke Skywalker showed up in the Mandalorian is fine (if something makes sense in the storyline, then they can and should go for it), but the lead up to it was very weak (poorly directed and written). If Mandalorian is the "peak Star Wars" that Disney has to offer then the future of Star Wars continues to be bleak.
Don't get me wrong, the show has incredibly good episodes. Just that overall I think it's pretty weak. But definitely no way near as bad as the recent Star Wars episode 7-9 movies. Especially 8/9, an unwatchable mess that deeply damaged Star Wars canon.
Brilliant as usual Julia. Looking forward to your Verge and Musings on Mouse writings in 2021.