6 Times Marvel Tried (and Failed) to Make a Comeback in 2025

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As someone who’s been covering superhero films for years, 2025 felt like a make-or-break year for Marvel. After the massive culmination of Endgame, things felt…off. Everyone expected the Marvel Cinematic Universe to bounce back, to reclaim its spot at the top of the pop culture mountain. And honestly, the pieces were all there. They were promising exciting new filmmakers, experimenting with different ways to tell stories, and diving headfirst into the multiverse. It really looked like they had everything they needed to hit that reset button, to deliver something truly special and win back both critics and fans.

For a brief period, things were looking up for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some new projects seemed to promise a bolder, more thoughtful direction, suggesting a return to what made the MCU great. For example, the Daredevil: Born Again series hinted at a focus on realistic stories and well-developed characters, while Thunderbolts explored more complicated moral issues – something Marvel often shies away from. A few characters felt truly engaging again, and certain scenes packed an emotional impact reminiscent of the MCU’s earlier successes. It felt like the franchise was genuinely trying to improve and was willing to take creative risks, acknowledging the mistakes of recent years.

While Marvel had big plans for 2025, with both movie releases and Disney+ shows, the year ultimately fell short of expectations. For every promising moment, there was something that felt empty, like a rehash of old ideas, and out of touch with what fans wanted. This raised questions about Marvel’s direction: were they relying too much on the past, trying to mature their stories, or simply trying to prove their continued relevance? Often, it felt like they were attempting all three, resulting in projects that, while ambitious, didn’t quite succeed. These weren’t failures due to lack of effort, but rather fascinating attempts that ultimately proved disappointing.

6
Using Shock as Proof the MCU Could Still Be Bold


Disney+

Marvel took a big risk with its 2025 animated series, Marvel Zombies, hoping to show audiences they could still be surprised. The four-episode show, which premiered on Disney+ on September 24, 2025, was a decidedly scary and gruesome take on the superhero world, featuring familiar heroes transformed into zombie-like creatures. Inspired by a popular comic book storyline, it aimed for a more mature and frightening tone than previous Marvel animated projects.

Led by showrunner Bryan Andrews and writer Zeb Wells, the team behind the show intentionally aimed for something different – darker, more violent, and focused on desperate struggles for survival. This was a departure from the typically hopeful and upbeat tone Marvel is known for, and for a while, it seemed Marvel was willing to take chances and try new things.

The biggest issue with Marvel Zombies is that it relies on shock value without meaningful depth. The first episode featured a frantic battle where major characters – Carol Danvers (as a zombie), Kate Bishop, and Riri Williams – died, with Riri making a final sacrifice to protect Kamala Khan. Instead of focusing on the emotional impact of these deaths on Kamala, the show prioritized over-the-top action. This focus on spectacle over substance is why, despite its ambitious ideas, Marvel Zombies ultimately didn’t quite succeed.

5
Trying to Revive the MCU’s Political Edge


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

When Captain America: Brave New World came out in February 2025, it was obvious Marvel was aiming for the realistic and politically relevant feel that made shows like Falcon and The Winter Soldier so popular. Sam Wilson’s first movie as Captain America dealt with issues like worldwide uncertainty, difficult partnerships, and the challenges of being a leader.

The movie built suspense through Sam’s struggle to be a beacon of hope while working with President Ross, a compellingly complex character brought to life by Harrison Ford, who later became the Red Hulk. The story created a world on the brink of war, blending political maneuvering with superhero action. Essentially, it was Marvel trying to show the MCU could still address current issues and stay fresh.

Okay, so this movie definitely tried to do a lot, but honestly, it didn’t quite land with the punch Marvel was going for. There’s this big scene where Ross turns into Red Hulk during some really important talks, and it should have been a game-changer, but it felt…flat. Like it just happened to move the plot along instead of actually saying something meaningful. Anthony Mackie is great as Sam, and he brings a lot of heart to the role, but his internal struggles just didn’t get the attention they deserved. It reminded me a lot of The Winter Soldier – that movie really dug into the idea of government control, but this one barely scratched the surface of its own interesting premise. Because of that, it just didn’t feel as urgent or layered as it could have been.

4
Worldbuilding Without Momentum


Disney+

Marvel’s Eyes of Wakanda, a new animated series that premiered on Disney+ on August 1, 2025, was a particularly bold project for the studio. The show is structured as four separate stories and focuses on the secret operations of Wakanda’s Hatut Zeraze warriors throughout history. In each episode, these warriors are sent on missions to recover vibranium artifacts hidden around the world.

The project benefited from the involvement of Ryan Coogler as an executive producer and Todd Harris as showrunner, giving it immediate credibility. Its ambitious scope, exploring Wakanda’s history through exciting international adventures, allowed for a much richer portrayal of the world than had been seen in live-action Marvel films. Designed to be visually impressive and emotionally resonant, it wasn’t intended as a minor addition to the MCU, but rather a story that would delve into themes of ancestry, legacy, and the importance of vibranium.

Despite being well-made, Eyes of Wakanda didn’t quite build the excitement needed to feel crucial to the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe storyline going into 2025. A key scene in the final episode, where the Hatut Zeraze obtain a vibranium artifact connected to the Black Panther’s history, felt important but ultimately focused on Wakanda’s past rather than changing what’s currently happening or what’s at stake for the franchise’s future.

3
Betting on Antiheroes to Feel Dangerous Again


Marvel Studios

As a huge Marvel fan, I was really excited for Thunderbolts when it finally hit theaters on May 2, 2025. It was billed as something different – a move away from the usual squeaky-clean hero teams and towards a grittier, more complicated story. Directed by Jake Schreier, the movie gathered a crew of characters who aren’t exactly ‘good guys’ – think Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, John Walker, Taskmaster, Ghost, and Red Guardian – all working (or being manipulated!) by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. It promised a messier, more interesting side of the MCU, and I was here for it!

Rather than assembling another team of traditional heroes like the Avengers, this film featured a group of agents and former villains with questionable allegiances. The movie begins with Yelena dismantling a secret lab connected to the O.X.E. Group’s “Sentry” project, presenting an opportunity for Marvel to explore a darker, more unpredictable tone. However, that potential never quite came to fruition. A scene where the team falls apart due to Valentina’s scheming could have emphasized the film’s “antihero” theme and given it more impact, but the conflict was quickly resolved. Ultimately, even the threat posed by the Sentry project was dealt with without any significant long-term repercussions.

2
Appealing Directly to Netflix-Era Fans


Disney+

Marvel’s highly anticipated Daredevil: Born Again premiered on Disney+ on March 4, 2025. The previous Daredevil series on Netflix was very popular for its realistic, down-to-earth stories, complex characters, and intense fight scenes. The new series continued this tradition, bringing back Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, alongside returning cast members like Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson.

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At its best, the Born Again series seemed to recognize what fans missed about older Marvel adaptations – a grittier, more dangerous feel. While it had moments of that tension, particularly in the courtroom and during fight scenes, the show ultimately didn’t fully embrace the rougher, more intense style of the original.

A great instance of this is the storyline where Fisk gains political control and outlaws masked vigilantes in New York City. While this plot had the potential to explore themes of fear and social commentary, similar to earlier Marvel shows, the conflict was ultimately resolved too easily, without leaving a lasting impression. The action sequences were impressive and the acting was solid, but the show lost some of the dark, complex edge that originally made Daredevil so captivating, opting instead for a more mainstream appeal. Daredevil: Born Again wasn’t a bad show, but it didn’t fully deliver the bold, uncompromising return to its roots that many fans were expecting.

1
Turning Nostalgia Into a Reset Button


Disney+

Marvel began 2025 with the animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, which streamed on Disney+ from January 29th to February 19th. The 10-episode show explored Peter Parker’s beginnings, offering a fresh take on his origin story. In this version, Norman Osborn guides him instead of Tony Stark. The series, led by head writer Jeff Trammell and supervising director Mel Zwyer, intentionally captured the feel of comic books with its vibrant animation, energetic pace, and lighthearted approach.

The show was obviously made to recapture what people originally loved about Spider-Man: seeing him grow as a person and his dedication to being a hero. It felt like a smart move by Marvel to go back to basics and remind viewers of those simple, cherished qualities, especially as they were trying to refresh their approach. However, relying too much on that familiar feeling ultimately held the series back.

The storyline where Peter dealt with Norman Osborn’s controlling guidance could have taken the story in a fresh direction. However, it ended up repeating familiar themes of trust, betrayal, and forgiveness that we’ve seen in Spider-Man stories before. Even the ending, which connected Peter’s story to vibranium and the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, felt like a nod to existing elements rather than a step towards something new.

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2026-01-04 03:35