Beginning in fall 2023, Marvel Studios underwent significant transformations. Once celebrated for its unwavering success at the box office, the studio faced considerable challenges in both cinema releases and streaming productions. Consequently, Marvel Disney+ series were revamped to accommodate showrunners, while the annual number of Marvel Cinematic Universe films in theaters noticeably decreased. Moreover, high-anticipated projects such as Armor Wars were put on hold.
Currently, movies such as “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and “Avengers: Secret Wars,” which belong to Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), are being viewed as potential catalysts for a resurgence of public interest in the MCU. Although it remains to be seen how these plans unfold, it’s evident at this point that part of Marvel Studios’ revamping strategy involves phasing out certain franchises and exploring new concepts instead. Specifically, there are five MCU franchises that seem unlikely to return to theaters in the near future under these new guidelines.
1) Shang-Chi
It’s a pity that, amidst the continuous changes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the movie “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” seems to have suffered the most. This film was the first MCU title released exclusively in theaters post-March 2020’s multiplex shutdown, and it became a highly praised success, earning over $200 million domestically after a gap of 21 months – a significant achievement. Unfortunately, due to frequent adjustments in the priorities of the MCU (not forgetting that its director, Destin Daniel Cretton, is now working on “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”), it seems there are no immediate plans for further standalone adventures featuring Shang-Chi. However, his character will reappear in the upcoming film “Avengers: Doomsday”.
2) Eternals
In November 2021, the film “Eternals” made its debut in cinemas, boasting a popular cast and a grand marketing effort. However, what was anticipated as the launch of a new Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) phase fell short at the global box office (and even disappointed domestically), sparking mixed reactions from viewers. Although the film’s conclusion and post-credits scenes hinted at the direction for “Eternals 2,” no sequel is on the horizon, and these characters won’t be reappearing in the MCU for a while.
3) Doctor Strange
After approximately six years, a sequel for Doctor Strange finally arrived, although he also appeared in four other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films during that time. The release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sparked mixed reactions among viewers, but it was undeniably a massive success at the box office, earning over $950 million globally. Yet, it didn’t generate much demand for additional movies, and there have been no updates about a third Doctor Strange since. Given that the MCU is now more discerning about which films merit sequels, it seems unlikely that a follow-up to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be released in theaters anytime soon.
4) Captain Marvel
In simpler terms, the first Captain Marvel movie earned over $1 billion globally in 2019, indicating a significant new franchise for Marvel Studios featuring Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers). Surprisingly, the sequel, The Marvels, released in 2023, underperformed financially at the global box office. This poor performance made it one of the biggest box office disappointments ever. Although more films involving Captain Marvel characters are expected in future Marvel Cinematic Universe productions, standalone Captain Marvel movies seem unlikely for now.
5) Thor
Periodically, speculations arise online suggesting Marvel Studios might soon start production on Thor 5 featuring Chris Hemsworth. While it’s conceivable that this project could materialize in the future, at present, it seems illogical due to circumstances. After Thor: Love and Thunder’s successful global release in 2022, it has garnered some criticism over the years, even earning a few jokes. Chris Hemsworth himself has openly discussed feeling that the final product was excessively whimsical.
Due to director Taika Waititi’s statement that he won’t direct any more Thor films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe focusing more on new characters like the Fantastic Four and X-Men, it appears unlikely that we’ll get a fifth solo Thor movie. However, you can still look forward to seeing Thor in Avengers: Doomsday. If you were hoping to see Brett Goldstein’s Hercules going up against Thor in Thor 5, you might need to readjust your expectations.
Thor: Love and Thunder is now streaming on Disney+
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2025-08-08 02:43