Marvel’s Multiverse Saga Is In Trouble In An Unexpected Way

Right after Marvel Studios announced the rest of their plans for the Multiverse Saga, it appears the MCU is already in trouble in an unexpected way.

The MCU’s Multiverse Saga is in trouble in an unexpectedly big way. Approaching the end of Phase 4, Marvel Studios laid out its overall plan for Phase 5 and Phase 6 during the much-anticipated San Diego Comic-C0n 2022. Spearheaded by Kevin Feige, Marvel’s panel included the announcement of several new projects, but as exciting as this is, the franchise is already facing some issues as it continues tackling the Multiverse Saga.

Known for playing the long game, it wasn’t surprising that Marvel Studios has its next storytelling era all mapped out. Like the Infinity Saga, the Multiverse Saga will culminate with two Avengers films, both releasing in 2025. Before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, however, there will still be more than a dozen films and shows to be rolled out, and some of those endeavors are still yet to be properly announced by Feige and his team. These upcoming projects will continue to set up certain plot lines coming together at the end of Phase 6, and, furthermore, all of these projects will premiere in the next two and half years. While this means there won’t be any scarcity of MCU content in the foreseeable future, it isn’t exactly good news for a specific pocket of the entertainment industry.

According to some sources, the VFX industry is reportedly depressed after MCU’s Phase 5 and Phase 6 announcements at San Diego Comic-Con due to the workload they will be facing in the next few years. This could mean big problems for Marvel Studios moving forward in the Multiverse Saga. As the MCU’s upcoming projects become increasingly CGI-reliant with stories set off-world with the burgeoning multiverse or with characters using magic such as Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Marvel Studios will need VFX houses’ services now more than ever. Given their reputation, however, artists may not be eager to work with Marvel Studios anymore. Meanwhile, those who would be forced to tackle new MCU movies and shows could be unmotivated, which in turn could reflect negatively on their work quality. Considering Marvel’s allegedly stressful working conditions they are subjected to and the less-than-ideal compensation for all their hard work, these toiling VFX houses couldn’t really be blamed if this scenario does come to pass.

Marvel Doesn’t Need To Rush The Multiverse Saga

Before Feige’s Hall H 2022 Comic-Con panel, Marvel Studios already received backlash from VFX artists who criticized the poor working conditions they are subjected to when working on MCU projects. One former Marvel artist recalled colleagues breaking down from being overworked, which forced some of them to change industries altogether. Coming into MCU Phase 5 and 6 with a burned-out VFX industry should worry Marvel Studios. Without their contributions, sticking to Marvel Studios’ jampacked slate could be difficult; otherwise, they risk putting out films and shows that have subpar visuals — something that they are already consistently criticized for. It’s curious, then, why Marvel Studios seems to be rushing tackling the Multiverse Saga. The Infinity Saga took 11 years to play out, while its follow-up would only take four should the MCU stick to its current release map. And while it must be said that the uptick in releases is partially caused by the launch of Disney+, there is no reason for Marvel Studios to rush out their projects like this. Aside from putting more strain on an already tired VFX community, there is also a growing sense that audiences are becoming desensitized to the MCU’s increasingly frequent releases.

Marvel Studios isn’t the only studio doing this. The overall state of the VFX industry at present is worrisome, as most big filmmaking companies tend to overwork their artists, forcing them to rush deliverables to hit tight schedules. With MCU being the biggest and most popular franchise in the world, however, Marvel Studios can be more imposing with their strict deadlines than others. Luckily, it’s also the reason why they can be the ones to lead the charge in addressing this issue – and this is a stance change that needs to happen sooner rather than later.