Marvel Cinematic Multiverse (MCM) - This is not just the main Marvel Cinematic Universe (Avengers, Iron Man, Thor, etc.), but also the ones owned by Sony (The Amazing Spider-man) and Fox (X-men & The Fantastic Four).
DC Cinematic Universe (DCCU) - Since all properties are owned by Warner Brothers, this includes all of their future movies. The "Nolan-verse" (Batman Begins, Dark Knight, Dark Knight Rises) has concluded it's cinematic run. This leaves this universe mostly hypothetical as Man of Steel is the supposed start of this universe. Currently the plan is Man of Steel 2 in 2014 and Justice League in 2015.
Now that we've defined these universes, which of these universes is better poised for the future? The question isn't which of these universes is better. As a universe, the MCM is considerably better. They have established, over the last 15 years, a successful line of movies with sequels and, in the Marvel Studios films, interact with the other films. However, the question I'm asking relates to who is better geared for the future.
The MCM's biggest issue is that it involves different studios. Some characters can be in two universes as we've seen with the recent news of Quicksilver being included in both X-men: Days of Future Past and Avengers 2. The average movie-goer isn't going to understand the same character being in both universes. It will be interesting to see how it plays in the future, but I think with one version or another, you are either going to confuse movie-goers or upset your hardcore fans. Possibly both. As the multiverse grows within each studio, these issues may occur again and again.
You also have issues as a universe grows with fans asking where certain characters are in each of the movies. For instance, why wasn't War Machine (Rhodey) helping the Avengers save the world? Why did S.H.I.E.L.D. not help Tony save the day in Iron Man 3? It's easy for me to look past these things, because I feel like it happens just as much in the comics. Will the average movie-goer or the "plot hole detectives" be able to look past this as we move forward? Again, it may depend on how they answer these questions. Right now, they haven't tried to answer these questions.
The MCM is moving forward with their established characters, but also with new ones. There are plans for Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant Man. The characters are getting a little more obscure. As contracts end, we may not see the same actors that have garnered the support of fans. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine may be at an end soon. Robert Downey, Jr. has signed for the next two Avengers movies, but as far as we know, he's done with additional Iron Man movies. The MCM can either recast these characters or keep introducing different characters. Both are entirely possible, but there is the possibility of no new Iron Man movie for the next 5+ years. Casting someone else as Iron Man won't work if your try to produce them in between the next two Avengers movies. Will audiences continue to pay money for characters they don't recognize?
There is something to be said for the MCM's history though. The reason these movies have made so much money is because the previous movies have been successful. As long as each of the studios continues to produce good movies, they will have continued success.
The DCCU is very unknown at this point; however, if they follow the lead of Man of Steel, we can make some assumptions. The movies will be much more dramatic. Movies in the MCM have been fun. I think the DCCU movies will be fun in their own way, but they will likely take a more serious tone.
How big of a cast will we have in the DCCU? I think you'll see the major players and that's about it for a while. That is plenty and they are characters that most will recognize. You don't have to worry about other studios owning the characters. Here's how I picture the DCCU playing out ideally:
You keep it tight with your main characters and you've got a movie with one of your main characters or multiple characters every season. Other characters can be developed, but you don't need to make them on the scale of the big ones. I'd love to see a new Jonah Hex movie in there or Guillermo del Toro's Justice League Dark. These characters can exist in either the same universe or a different one and it wouldn't matter.
Honestly, if the following DCCU films continue in Man of Steel's footsteps, I think the DCCU is more sustainable over the next 10+ years than the MCM. As long as superhero films remain a genre that interests people, we may see the DCCU finally overtake the MCM.
DC Cinematic Universe (DCCU) - Since all properties are owned by Warner Brothers, this includes all of their future movies. The "Nolan-verse" (Batman Begins, Dark Knight, Dark Knight Rises) has concluded it's cinematic run. This leaves this universe mostly hypothetical as Man of Steel is the supposed start of this universe. Currently the plan is Man of Steel 2 in 2014 and Justice League in 2015.
Now that we've defined these universes, which of these universes is better poised for the future? The question isn't which of these universes is better. As a universe, the MCM is considerably better. They have established, over the last 15 years, a successful line of movies with sequels and, in the Marvel Studios films, interact with the other films. However, the question I'm asking relates to who is better geared for the future.
The MCM's biggest issue is that it involves different studios. Some characters can be in two universes as we've seen with the recent news of Quicksilver being included in both X-men: Days of Future Past and Avengers 2. The average movie-goer isn't going to understand the same character being in both universes. It will be interesting to see how it plays in the future, but I think with one version or another, you are either going to confuse movie-goers or upset your hardcore fans. Possibly both. As the multiverse grows within each studio, these issues may occur again and again.
You also have issues as a universe grows with fans asking where certain characters are in each of the movies. For instance, why wasn't War Machine (Rhodey) helping the Avengers save the world? Why did S.H.I.E.L.D. not help Tony save the day in Iron Man 3? It's easy for me to look past these things, because I feel like it happens just as much in the comics. Will the average movie-goer or the "plot hole detectives" be able to look past this as we move forward? Again, it may depend on how they answer these questions. Right now, they haven't tried to answer these questions.
The MCM is moving forward with their established characters, but also with new ones. There are plans for Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant Man. The characters are getting a little more obscure. As contracts end, we may not see the same actors that have garnered the support of fans. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine may be at an end soon. Robert Downey, Jr. has signed for the next two Avengers movies, but as far as we know, he's done with additional Iron Man movies. The MCM can either recast these characters or keep introducing different characters. Both are entirely possible, but there is the possibility of no new Iron Man movie for the next 5+ years. Casting someone else as Iron Man won't work if your try to produce them in between the next two Avengers movies. Will audiences continue to pay money for characters they don't recognize?
There is something to be said for the MCM's history though. The reason these movies have made so much money is because the previous movies have been successful. As long as each of the studios continues to produce good movies, they will have continued success.
The DCCU is very unknown at this point; however, if they follow the lead of Man of Steel, we can make some assumptions. The movies will be much more dramatic. Movies in the MCM have been fun. I think the DCCU movies will be fun in their own way, but they will likely take a more serious tone.
How big of a cast will we have in the DCCU? I think you'll see the major players and that's about it for a while. That is plenty and they are characters that most will recognize. You don't have to worry about other studios owning the characters. Here's how I picture the DCCU playing out ideally:
- Late 2014 - Man of Steel 2
- 2015 (more likely summer 2016) - Justice League
- Christmas 2016 - Flash
- Spring 2017 - Wonder Woman
- Summer 2017 - Batman
- Christmas 2017 - Green Lantern
- Summer 2018 - Man of Steel 3
- Christmas 2018 - Justice League 2
- Spring 2019 - Aquaman
- Summer 2019 - Batman 2
- Christmas 2019 - Wonder Woman 2
- Summer 2020 - Brave & the Bold (Green Lantern & Flash combo - that's just my wish)
You keep it tight with your main characters and you've got a movie with one of your main characters or multiple characters every season. Other characters can be developed, but you don't need to make them on the scale of the big ones. I'd love to see a new Jonah Hex movie in there or Guillermo del Toro's Justice League Dark. These characters can exist in either the same universe or a different one and it wouldn't matter.
Honestly, if the following DCCU films continue in Man of Steel's footsteps, I think the DCCU is more sustainable over the next 10+ years than the MCM. As long as superhero films remain a genre that interests people, we may see the DCCU finally overtake the MCM.
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