Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to release on November 11th
With Black Panther: Wakanda Forever set to release on November 11th, I think it’s time that we come together as media consumers and accept the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the king of Hollywood. From the release of the first installment of Ironman in 2008 to the most recent Thor: Love & Thunder, released in May of this year, MCU movies have become an undeniable force in the world of pop culture. Enjoying superhero stories was once seen as an interest reserved only for geeks who religiously read comics. Now, it has evolved into a mainstream topic of conversation that both die-hard comic readers and casual movie-goers can enjoy being a part of.
Disney/Marco Grob
Lots of credit can be given to Disney and its purchase of Marvel in 2009. Although Marvel Studios was making cult-classic movies like the original Spider-Man trilogy and X-Men through different studios, they lacked the funding to stay afloat in the movie business. It wasn’t until the mouse got involved that Marvel movies became a powerhouse in the industry.
As of late, it’s become easier to ask who in Hollywood isn’t involved with the MCU. The expansive roster of Marvel characters has opened up many opportunities for celebrities to take a role in the universe. Some notable actors new to the MCU include Oscar Isaac, who has become the live-action representation of Moon Knight, and Florence Pugh, who plays Yelena Belova, the newest character taking up the mantle of the Black Widow. The MCU is not just reserved for actors; even Harry Styles has taken up a role in the universe as Eros, brother to the big-bad villain Thanos.
Creator: Jesse Grant | Credit: Getty Images for Disney
With the expansion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe through the creation of the “Multiverse,” where any past Marvel product can be made relevant to the story, actors are coming back to reprise their past roles as Marvel characters that were thought to have been behind them. Most recently, it was announced that Hugh Jackman will come back to star as Wolverine in Deadpool 3. What was once an emotional death of Wolverine’s character and a beautiful farewell to Hugh’s portrayal of the mutant throughout the years in the movie Logan has now become a resurrection, thanks to Disney. This unmatched ability of the MCU to cast anyone they’d like for their characters displays a level of dominance in Hollywood that no other studio has been able to compete with.
Although the MCU is blessed with unlimited resources, they still have to make good movies. There are many instances where films receive insane budgets, include star-studded casts, and still fail to do well at the box office (I’m looking at you, Amsterdam). For all the haters that say that MCU movies are only enjoyable to kids and comic fans, let’s look at the numbers. The MCU is responsible for 6 out of the 15 highest grossing films of all time, and no other franchise appears on that list more than the MCU. You can take any pick from those six and immediately understand why they were so popular: Avengers: Infinity War, the jaw-dropping theater experience where we saw the heroes lose and the villain win. Avengers: Endgame, the sequel to Infinity War, served as one of the greatest superhero team-ups that could only be fathomable in a comic. Black Panther was a significant moment for Black culture, allowing for the most popular Black superhero to come to life on the big screen.
Tons of criticism is thrown at the MCU. Film-bros state the MCU isn’t “real cinema” because it lacks nuanced story-telling, and die-hard comic book fans express distress with the way their favorite characters are being adapted in live-action. My reply to these critics is simple: MCU products are fun, and I like to have fun. To say that you have watched an MCU product and got zero enjoyment out of it is equivalent to saying that you hate puppies and sunsets. The perfect mix of drama, action, and comedy that culminates in an MCU movie is why the studio consistently releases hits. Even if some releases are more lackluster than others, the MCU’s worst movie would be other studios’ most profitable one. For this reason, I have to crown the MCU as the king of Hollywood.
Strike Out,
Jon-David Delcastillo
Boca Raton
JD Delcastillo is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine. He loves consuming media and thinking critically. A major know-it-all, anything related to pop culture, music, and sports. Reach out to him on Instagram @jd.delcastillo or email jd.delcastillo954@gmail.com
