The MCU is at a bizarre crossroads. When someone asked Marvel who represented the franchise, the answer was always Iron Man and Captain America for over 10 years. The Infinity Saga’s emotional backbone was provided by Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers.
However, all that is in the past. As ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ nears, Marvel has a much greater challenge than just taking down Doctor Doom. It needs to pick who audiences should feel with on the next page. And that makes the film more important than just another Avengers movie.
Marvel Has Too Many Possible Faces For The Iron Man Void
The most significant difference between the old MCU and the new is the number of major characters vying for attention. Spider-Man is probably the most secure option. ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ has already proven that Peter Parker is one of Marvel’s most well-known heroes. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will continue to captivate audiences with his presence.
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Then there’s Fantastic Four. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm are a whole new breed of superheroes. It’s possible that they’ll play a bigger role in the big picture of the Marvel universe in the aftermath of ‘Secret Wars’. Then there are the X-Men.
If the mutant universe of Marvel does eventually become the main focus of the MCU, characters like Cyclops, Storm, Jean Grey and Wolverine could completely change the game. Now Marvel would not have to decide between one or two Iron Man and Captain America successors. It would be creating a whole new hierarchy. That’s why ‘Doomsday’ could function as an enormous audition.
The Character Who Connects With Audiences Wins
The interesting thing is that Marvel doesn’t necessarily need to decide the winner beforehand. Audiences might find themselves drawn to the characters they’re meant to be seeing together in ‘Doomsday’. Consider the original Avengers. Tony Stark was not the only face of Marvel in the beginning.
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However, his personality, humor, and emotional experience were too much to ignore. Captain America developed into the moral center almost organically. It may be a reaction that Marvel is seeking again. Maybe Spider-Man walks away as the obvious replacement.
Maybe the Fantastic Four become the new base for the MCU. Or one of the X-Men takes on an unexpected role as the breakout star. That’s what makes ‘Doomsday’ interesting. The film is not only reuniting generations of Marvel characters, but it’s also introducing new ones.
It could be revealing which ones have enough emotional weight to carry the franchise afterward. However, if Marvel is listening, the most important decision on the future of the MCU may be made outside of a boardroom. It might come from which character audiences simply can’t stop talking about when the credits roll.
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