Disney’s Big Changes Spell Trouble for Marvel & Star Wars

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focusing on producing original films.

As reported in Variety, Disney aims to captivate young moviegoers from Generation Z by moving away from well-known franchises. Sources suggest that the studio is actively searching for original ideas and proposals, such as thrilling international journeys and hidden treasure stories, along with seasonal movies like those for Halloween season. David Greenbaum, president of Disney live-action and 20th Century Studios, is spearheading the effort to develop a solid plan for this new approach.

Disney Needs Original Movies to Balance Out Marvel and Star Wars

The 2010s were a thrilling era for both Marvel and Star Wars. During this decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was at its peak, captivating viewers with the unique concept of a shared cinematographic universe that grew into an epic climax over time. Meanwhile, Star Wars made its comeback after a decade-long hiatus, promising to combine new characters with old favorites in the sequel trilogy. Despite being adaptations and continuations of well-known franchises, these films remained fresh and exhilarating.

In recent times, there’s been a noticeable shift. Marvel and Star Wars, once trailblazers, have flooded the entertainment landscape with numerous projects. This abundance has led to a feeling of being overwhelmed, often referred to as franchise exhaustion. It appears that Disney+ is the primary contributor to this, focusing heavily on Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm to generate a vast library of streaming content. Keeping up with everything has become quite challenging for fans, as the volume exceeded the genuine interest in some of these series and shows. The MCU and Star Wars have certainly had their successes in the 2020s, but their consistent hits are not as frequent as before. Both franchises are currently experiencing a slowdown; Kevin Feige is advocating for Marvel to prioritize quality over quantity.

To compensate for Marvel and Star Wars reducing their production rates, Disney might need to produce more original films to occupy important release dates. Instead of a summer blockbuster from the Marvel universe, they could opt for an exciting global journey as their main event. Maintaining a blend of unique ideas and established franchises is a common strategy among Hollywood studios. This year, Warner Bros. has experienced great success with movies like Sinners, F1, Weapons, as well as launching a new shared cinematic universe with Superman.

To clarify, it’s important to note that both the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Star Wars aren’t disappearing. The film “Avengers: Secret Wars” signifies a new start for the MCU, providing an opportunity for the X-Men to become the mainstay of the franchise. On the other hand, “The Mandalorian & Grogu” and “Star Wars: Starfighter” aim to bring the Star Wars universe back to cinemas with great impact. However, Disney should not solely depend on these extensive franchises to fill their annual film schedule. Audiences have demonstrated a limit to their interest or support for multiple sequels and spin-offs, making such an approach unlikely to succeed. By adopting DC Studios’ strategy of reducing output, Disney could effectively rejuvenate the MCU and Star Wars, transforming them into genuine events once again.

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2025-08-21 19:49