Disney CEO Bob Iger wants fewer sequels in the MCU, and this is likely fueled by the veritable failure of Thor and Ant-Man's latest movies.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe was once one the biggest media franchises in the world, with its characters and concepts being household names. That popularity has definitely decreased since 2019's Avengers: Endgame, and that's especially being seen in the box office decline of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Given Bob Iger's recent comments, this could be bad news for both Ant-Man and another Avenger.
The CEO of Disney has questioned the need for seemingly endless sequels in the MCU, namely for its older characters. Thor and Ant-Man are some of the only remaining "classic" MCU characters, so their solo adventures may be done. Here's how the reception to their latest films may have doomed their cinematic feature futures.
The Latest Thor and Ant-Man Movies Disappointed Fans
2022's Thor: Love and Thunder was initially expected to be a huge hit, especially given how successful its predecessor, Thor: Ragnarok, was in reviving interest in Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder. Unfortunately, it was largely seen as an extreme version of that movie's flaws, with overly comedic scenes reveled in, while more dramatic elements were woefully missing in action. It also turned Thor into a bigger goofball than ever, making him far from the regal, godly figure that Kenneth Branagh had introduced over a decade beforehand.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantunamia met an even worse reception, with many finding it bland and a complete 180 from the more small-stakes comedy heists that were the first two movies. The Quantum Realm setting was a blasé miasma of CGI, and the villainous Kang the Conqueror was generally the only praised element of the film. It's currently one of the worst-reviewed movies in the MCU, and it's also on the way to becoming a certified bomb at the box office. Both it and the fourth Thor had exorbitant budgets that weren't reflected in the finished product, and it similarly turned its title hero into a joke. With the fallout that its failure is causing for the MCU, as a whole, it could mean that even Scott Lang's giant form isn't big enough for the spotlight anymore.
Thor 5 and Ant-Man 4 Are Likely Off the Table With Bob Iger
As mentioned, Disney CEO Bob Iger has recently questioned why some MCU properties are getting numerous sequels. This likely wouldn't even be an issue if not for the performance of the recent Thor and Ant-Man, both critically and financially. Despite a decent score from audiences, Quantumania proved a disappointment at the box office and with critics. While Love and Thunder did perform better at the box office, it was still a significant step down from what was likely expected of the film, given the hype going into it. Thus, if there are any classic Avengers who don't get any more sequels going forward, Thor and Ant-Man are likely on the chopping block.
The criticisms toward their latest movies could be seen as a sign that those properties are simply out of steam. This is backed up by Ant-Man needing to outright use a villain from Iron Man's rogues' gallery for Scott Lang's second movie. Still, if there isn't a Thor 5, it would mean that the mid-credits scene teasing a fight between Thor and Hercules would go unfulfilled. Such a feud and its implications could possibly redeem Love and Thunder's most notorious plot points, but it's unlikely to get the chance to do so. Similarly, Ant-Man and his family will probably only show up in future Avengers films and other MCU crossovers, dooming the diminutive Avenger to be small potatoes from here on out.
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