The MCU ain’t what it was once. As a lot as everybody beloved Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and even The Marvels has discovered streaming success, there’s no denying that Marvel merely isn’t the cinematic juggernaut it was 5 years in the past. Now it’s extra just like the Vinnie Jones Juggernaut.
The aforementioned Brie Larson sequel is the proper proof within the pudding: in 2019, Captain Marvel introduced dwelling over $1 billion on the field workplace whereas The Marvels solely managed simply over $200 million in 2023. It’s straightforward to argue, then, that the MCU is now working at a mere fifth of the facility it was again earlier than Avengers: Endgame got here alongside and set an unreachable pinnacle that meant we may solely go down from right here. Simply have a look at how little constructive hype for Avengers 5 and 6 there may be on the market — all the eye is destructive, as a result of Jonathan Majors recasting drama sucking up all of the air.
And but there’s in some way a fair greater indicator that the MCU is only a shell of its former self, and there’s nothing we are able to do about it. A brand new cinematic universe is rising up, and it presents a real menace to Marvel. Not as a result of it’s so good, however as a result of it’s so, so dangerous.
The Poohniverse is right here to show simply how far the MCU has fallen
You noticed would possibly’ve heard about Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey… Effectively, now prepare for The Poohniverse. It’s true. Though it appears like an April Idiot’s Day prank come early, the makers of the Disney-spoofing slasher are dead-set on making their very own multiverse. Along with the beforehand introduced Blood and Honey 2, Bambi: The Reckoning, and Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, The Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble has been formally introduced. It’ll function Pooh, Piglet, Bambi, Peter Pan, and plenty of extra twisted fairy story icons coming collectively to mutilate your childhoods.
Because the poster and title — The Avengers was launched as Avengers Assemble within the U.Okay. — make abundantly clear, The Poohniverse is an unsubtle try to evolve from poking enjoyable at Disney to mocking Marvel. In fact, they are saying imitation is the sincerest type of flattery, and it’s not like Monsters Assemble goes to be a lot of a rival financially. The indie British franchise’s first chapter solely earned $5 million on the field workplace, in any case.
Even so, the creation of The Poohniverse within the first place marks a major shift within the sorts of illicit progeny that the MCU spawns. Solid your minds again to 2017 and also you’ll keep in mind the final time a horror universe impressed by Marvel was mooted — Common’s Darkish Universe, which stumbled with its opening gambit, The Mummy remake. As soon as upon a time, then, rival Hollywood studios have been pumping tens of millions upon tens of millions into their makes an attempt to duplicate the Marvel formulation. The primary Marvel-style horror franchise starred Tom Cruise. The brand new one stars a knock-off model of Tigger.
With none offense meant in the direction of the filmmakers or those that loved it, (presumably paradoxically and/or when excessive sufficient to be midway to the moon), Blood and Honey is categorically one of many worst motion pictures of all time, in line with each IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. For the MCU to be the guiding gentle of its franchise follow-ups is a severe blow to Marvel’s pleasure and ego. Neglect James Gunn’s DCU, Marvel would possibly wish to be careful for the Poohniverse as a substitute.
Oh, trouble.