Marvel Disney+ Originals could see a decline in future output on the streaming service. The Hollywood Reporter claims, Disney is putting the brakes on the output of some of its biggest franchises and brands following Bob Iger’s Feb. 8 comments that the company needs to be “better at curating” franchise content that’s “extraordinarily expensive.” Added Iger: “We want the quality on the screen, but we have to look at what they cost us.”
Marvel CEO Kevin Feige recently backed up these claims in an interview with Entertainment Weekly saying, “The pace at which we’re putting out the Disney+ shows will change,” noting there would be fewer shows that are more spaced out.
A company insider also told THR, “There is going to be a level of rigor on Marvel and across the entire company,” adding “Numbers matter now, and costs are going to be outlined and enforced.”
Last July at San Diego Comic-Con, Feige announced five Marvel Disney+ Originals that were set to release in 2023 including What If …? Season 2, Echo, Loki Season 2, Ironheart and Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Now, The Hollywood Reporter states that Loki Season 2 and Secret Invasion are “the only sure bets to debut this year. Even projects that wrapped months ago, such as the Hawkeye spinoff Echo and Wakanda Forever spinoff Ironheart, are unlikely to arrive in 2023 as the studio spreads out its content and tinkers in postproduction. And shows in development, such as Nova, are now on a slower path.”
THR also notes franchise fatigue reporting that during MCU’s Phase 4, Marvel released 18 projects across theatrical and streaming – four films and five TV shows in 2021; three films and three TV shows in 2022; plus a few specials. For comparison, the studio released just 11 projects from Phase 3, which ran from 2016 to 2019.
Marvel or Disney have not announced a change of release plans yet.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter