EDITORIAL: The Marvel Cinematic Universe: Bigger Than We Thought?

Marvel Studios made cinematic history with The Avengers, why wouldn't they continue to do so? Check out my editorial on what I think Marvel should do next in their Cinematic Universe.

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By superotherside - 7/24/2012


Let's think. You're Marvel. You have just made cinematic history by bringing together a multi-franchise cast of characters to gather in one film, Marvel's The Avengers. What should you do now? Making an Marvel's The Avengers 2 is invertible but is it all of Phase 2? Lets see what we can piece together.



Naturally most of you have heard about a little film called Guardians Of The Galaxy by now. As announced at the last SDCC, Guardians Of The Galaxy is headed to a theater near you in 2014. Okay, so this means that Peter Quill, Rocket Raccoon, Drax, Gamora, and Groot are all going to appear in Marvel's The Avengers 2? No, of course not, that's silly and stupid. But if you take it that Marvel Cinematic Universe is framed around the Avengers that's what you'd have to think. Marvel's The Avengers 2 already will have its hands full of characters it needs to add to the roaster, with Ant-Man (Scott Lang), Giant Man (Hank Pym), Wasp (Janet van Dyne), Ms Marvel (Carol Danvers), Black Panther (T'Challa), and Vision, being just a few of the fan favorites and some of the more famous Avengers. But what if the Avengers are only part of the story? What if they aren't the biggest story in Phase 2?



The first time I started thinking this way, I was wondering how they could sum up the whole Infinity Gauntlet story arc in an Avengers film. The conclusion I finally came up with was, they couldn't. The Avengers alone would be so out gunned by Thanos with the Infinity Gauntlet it would be ridiculous, even throwing the Guardians of the Galaxy in there it wouldn't add to the threat much. More on that later. So is Marvel either going to do a half-cooked adaption of the Infinity Gauntlet or are their plans bigger than The Avengers?



I then thought of Inhumans. There has been some talk about doing an Inhumans movie for some time. Now before you say Inhumans are dumb characters I recommend you read this story arc here. You don't need any prior knowledge of the characters etc. that story arc will introduce them to you and show you why they're interesting. Kevin Feige has stated many times that these characters were possible candidates for their own film. And according to It'sOnTheGrid the story synopsis is thus.

Aliens who were put on Earth as sleeper cell aliens to eventually call back their race to take over the planet. Ultimately, the group of aliens fully assimilates and don’t want to cause war.

Obviously the story has been somewhat changed in this synopsis but I would say that it would fit nicely in the MCU this way and done right, it could be a better adaption to their very confusing origin story. It would give good ways to introduce the Kree, possibly have Captain Marvel play a part in it and/or have a Ms Marvel cameo as her origin story is very Kree based.



My next thoughts were, “Well what about all the movies for Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, Namor, Nova and even the possibility of a new Incredible Hulk movie?” They have all been talked about by Marvel, so what do they have in common? Well, let's think. Do they belong to a team? Yes, The Defenders.



Building the franchise not unlike Marvel's The Avengers, with each character having their own solo movie, then building up to a team movie, would be the best direction to go with these characters. Who would be the villain for all the Defenders to team up against? Annihilus. They could do an adaption from the Annihilation story arc with Annihilus trying to take over the Galaxy, and having Nova (Richard Rider) becoming the last of the Nova corps. This type of story would easily fit the sort of haphazard like team the Defenders are. Because they are not really a team, they're more just people thrown together at the last minute to defend us.



Now, if Marvel is going ahead with all these team films, what is their plan? Now, I think would be a good time to talk about Thanos. Yes, this is where I think the MCU is headed. How can Marvel do the Infinity Gauntlet story arc? Build up all these teams, then have the teams team up against a threat to the Universe. What I mean is an adaption of the Infinity Gauntlet story arc which would bring the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Inhumans, and the Defenders together in a team up of teams which would be in a two part movie.

Need more explanation? Here is what I'm guessing is the big picture line up of the MCU.

2008
Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk

2010
Iron Man

2011
Thor
Captain America: The First Avenger

2012
Marvel's The Avengers

2013
Iron Man 3
Thor: The Dark World

2014
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Guardians Of The Galaxy
Ant-Man

2015
Black Panther
The Incredible Hulk 2
Marvel's The Avengers 2

2016
Doctor Strange
Inhumans
Namor

2017
Iron Fist
Nova

2018
The Defenders

2019
The Infinity Gauntlet Part 1

2020
The Infinity Gauntlet Part 2

This is what I could see happening. This would give plenty of time to see more of Thanos, to build his character and his story before he gets the Gauntlet. It would also give enough time to introduce most if not all the needed characters by the time the Infinity Gauntlet movies came around.


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Xandera - 7/24/2012, 11:43 AM
What an impressive write up! Nice job, Superotherside!

I hope you're right, this would be incredible!
sansClaymore - 7/24/2012, 11:51 AM
what happened to thor 3 and cap 3, antman 2? i think your getting ahead of yourself, but it is an impressive line up "IF" this is marvels plan. but i doubt it
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 11:55 AM
Xandera Thanks!

sansClaymore After the Infinity Gauntlet films, then Thor 3, Cap 3, and Ant-Man 2 would continue. Same as with the rest of the films. I'm just saying this is Phase 2. Thor 3, Cap 3, and Ant-Man 2 are in Phase 3. Predictions on Phase 3 are too far away to guess. ;) I understand your doubting it, but weather this is Marvel's plan or not, it needs to happen.
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 11:56 AM
sostheTruth Oh I meant to put one on there! I knew I'd forget one! Re-editing.
stutx - 7/24/2012, 11:59 AM
wow very great plans, i would hope this could be their plan.. As Im reading the Annihilation series right now i was wondering how the avengers and GoTG would fair against Thanos. great write hope to read more of your work
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 12:02 PM
sostheTruth Updated. ;)

stutx Thanks!
redsoxdude - 7/24/2012, 12:25 PM
I love this idea and I hope to see it. Plus side to Marvel is we know that they have no issues with doing something like this either.
Hawksblueyes - 7/24/2012, 12:25 PM
Great write up! There is only one problem with your theory. Every time Thanos has ever shown up in the comics, he has been too powerful for any grouping of heroes to defeat. His defeat/downfall in every story line has always been that he subconsciously supplies the means for the heroes involved to defeat him.

The amount of heroes involved in the battle is nowhere near as relevant as the specific heroes involved. The one character that needs to be introduced, who knows Thanos inside and out (better than Thanos knows himself) is Warlock. There are only a few (out of the many) Thanos story lines that do not include Warlock. He is also essential to the development of Gammora and Drax. Warlock is and always has been Thanos' silver bullet. His arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is absolutely essential.
Bumble - 7/24/2012, 12:32 PM
i do gree with you, Marvel's cinematic universe is much bigger than i think any of us thought. yeah, back when we al firt saw iron man and that cameo of nick fury appeared before us, we all saw the writing on the wall...THE AVENGERS! but i don't think anyoneculd answer that the were thinking, "oh yeah, marvel's going to break out a full on marvel-verse on the big screen." we were all just hoping to live to see the day avengers hit the screen in all of its glory (and that it wasn't a big pile of carp than the Lord!).
I do think your movie role out plan is a little short sighted though. And I still think we haven't fully grasped ow big their plans are. I think that some how, some way, soonr or later, we will et to see mos, if not all of our favorite Marvel heroes on the big screen. I just think Marvel has plans to make this cinematic universe lat, and last for a lon, log time :-)
CharlesTheIncredible - 7/24/2012, 12:34 PM
Wow....great write up. I dont know much about Warlock but I hear hes pretty important regarding Thanos. So Im gonna also agree with Hawks
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 12:36 PM
redsoxdude Thanks!

Hawkesblueyes Agree whole heartily. What I'm trying to get at is with several teams it would be much more dramatic for Thanos to defeat all these once they fight him. If he fights just one of them it's not that big of a deal. I imagine Black Bolt yelling in Thanos's ear and then have Thanos smile and clutch his throat and toss him off like a fly. That would be epic. Warlock is essential, he would be the leader of the attack etc. He would probably be introduced in GOTG. So yeah, no problem there. :) Another reason for all the teams was Doctor Strange. Strange played a huge part in the Infinity Gauntlet and would be needed in the film. Some of the characters Marvel doesn't have (Silver Surfer, Mephisto, and Wolverine) could be easily replaced with (Nova, Loki, and Drax respectfully) using the other characters story arcs.
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 12:40 PM
Bumble the universe doesn't end after this. The can continue to make Cap 3, Ant-Man 2 etc. This will just be an event. Next event could be Civil War!

IncredibleChuck Thanks. Read the comment I just posted in response to Hawkesblueyes.
Hawksblueyes - 7/24/2012, 12:44 PM
superotherside: I agree completely. I also have some thoughts concerning The beginning of TGOTG film starting out with Gammora, Drax, Warlock and Thanos before TGOTG are actually formed but I am planning on writing my own editorial on that (hopefully soon.)

I know Warlock was not part of the team roster announced but that doesn't mean he won't be in it or that he will even be part of the team.

Again...great stuff!
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 12:54 PM
Hawksblueyes Ahhh! That would be an awesome way to start it. Build up a friendship of Warlock/Thanos then finally break it as Warlock/Thanos disagree over Lady Death. Then Warlock could fill the void of friendship from Thanos with Peter Quill (Star Lord). Great idea!

IM53 Thanks!
Asterisk - 7/24/2012, 1:06 PM
It's hard to imagine the Thanos story stretching all the way out to 2020. Seems like such a long way away, especially since we could only get Cap 3, Thor 3, and Ant-Man 2 after that.
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 1:15 PM
Asterisk It will be worth waiting for. If they do this, it will make movie history. Seriously though, how many stories to you think Cap, Thor, and Ant-Man have to tell? You go though all their villians and then what do you do? If you do the multi-franchise thing, then you have limitless stories to tell. Because Cap might fight Iron Man's villain like AIM, but this is the beauty of it because it's not just Cap's or Iron Man's villain the villains become more than that, they become the villains which appeared in these movies. They are crossing over to other stories. They become known not that they're some hero's villain, they become known because they're everyone's villain! It's amazing. Besides this other events could come up, Civil War being the most probable. Plus by the time this event is finished the other studios might have given Marvel the rights to the other characters!
Nubase - 7/24/2012, 1:19 PM
it will all decend into complete pile of crap!
the movies will end up like gi joe and the transformers but thats what the marvel fans want and marvel want the 5 year old kids to watch thier movies with chocolate and ice cream on thier clothes because that all l heard recently from marvel fans, marvel make movies that are kid friendly and therefore will make billions.

DragonofDarknessXIII - 7/24/2012, 1:19 PM
This is gonna be a good decade for Marvel.
bundyse - 7/24/2012, 1:20 PM
Finally does that mean we may get the Silver Surfer back on the big screen in The Defenders and The Infinity gauntlet. Then hopefully his own movie
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 1:22 PM
Nubase Ok... I guess you're entitled to your opinion but I wish you could explain it a bit better... and you just said it would make billions. So yeah, I guess someone likes it huh?

DragonofDarknessXIII I know right! Epic decade for Marvel!
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 1:23 PM
bundyse Hopefully, if Fox will give up the FF. If not, no. I would probably replace him using Nova as his character to do an adaption of the Infinity Gauntlet without him.
DalyBear - 7/24/2012, 1:24 PM
I really think they should introduce team ups. How cool would it be if Thor 3 had equal sharetime with Hulk? And they called it Thor & Hulk or whatever
Spidey31 - 7/24/2012, 1:24 PM
Is RDJ playing ironman after IM3?
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 1:25 PM
Thanks to everyone who liked this article! It is on the main now! :)
ThatOneDude - 7/24/2012, 1:26 PM
I would shit myself if the Defenders was released!
C'mon MARVEL!! You got Hulk! Just Namor and Strange and you're good!!
PaulRom - 7/24/2012, 1:27 PM
@Spidey31: RDJ's contract with Marvel is finished after IM3, although it's not confirmed whether or not he's done with the character. I'd be surprised if he stops with IM3.

Anyways, good write up Otherside. An Infinity Gauntlet film with Thanos battling nearly every MCU hero would be incredible.
BmanHall - 7/24/2012, 1:27 PM
The Marvel Cinematic Universe: Bigger Than We Thought?

[frick] me, I hope so!!!
LordHuck - 7/24/2012, 1:27 PM
Not every Marvel hero needs a solo trilogy. I don't see 3 antman movies happening.
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 1:27 PM
DalyBear Agreed! I think a Cap/Iron Man one would be great too!

DoubleB That would be cool IMO. Not sure if they could still produce the quality though. If they could I'd be all for it!

Spidey31 I hope so! But I don't know.
Zarog - 7/24/2012, 1:29 PM
Great write up. Loved your ideas. You should consider editing the article so that this could potentially get on the main page.
BoyNike75 - 7/24/2012, 1:31 PM
What about a new Punisher movie? Does he fit into the universe at all?
ATrueHero1987 - 7/24/2012, 1:31 PM
This seems great! I believe also that BP & TIH will come out in 2015 but I The Avengers 2 might be pushed back a year.
Zarog - 7/24/2012, 1:31 PM
@PaulRom His contract is not up. He has a six pic deal. It was assumed that it would be split between an Iron Man trilogy and an Avengers trilogy.
JoeMomma29 - 7/24/2012, 1:34 PM
Nice list of movies, we could only hope but we are at the mercy of several factors. Those main factors are the big fat cats at the movie studios, directors and their visions, greedy producers, and of course Disney!

Also pushing so many movies is a great thing for us fan boys but you also do not want to over saturate the market. People begin to frown on spins offs etc.. I know I got turned off with the whole Aliens and then Predator/Alien movies.

ATrueHero1987 - 7/24/2012, 1:35 PM
^^He's only talking about Marvel Studio movies.
Altair - 7/24/2012, 1:35 PM
Yeah this is an awesome article. I would love to see this.

@Nubase You make no sense.
inky - 7/24/2012, 1:36 PM
does leave gaps like next spiderman any of the mutants and fantastic four reboot.
a good ghostrider would be nice and a revisit to howard the duck and man thing:)
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 1:37 PM
Zarog Already made the main page. :) Although if you have any ideas on what I can do better let me know! I appreciate all constructive criticism .
inky - 7/24/2012, 1:37 PM
marvel studios should start gaining back lost franchizes like mutants etc
j0hnb1aze - 7/24/2012, 1:37 PM
Great stuff! I hope we don't have to wait until 2020 for the conclusion of infinity gauntlet!

TexasTwoFace - 7/24/2012, 1:38 PM
I've always wanted to see Captain Marvel, Nova, Adam Warlock, Star-Lord, and Quasar solo movies ending up with a big cosmic trilogy, but I never thought I would really see it, and now with Guardians of the Galaxy coming out I'm more convinced than ever, however I guess we can dream.

And on a side note, why no Mantis? I'd much rather see Mantis than Gamora. To me Star-Lord, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon are the three must-haves with any Guardians tale. To me Gamora is more Infinity Watch anyway.
Mechagino - 7/24/2012, 1:39 PM
Disney needs to buy back the FF before doing an IG movie. The FF and FF alone need to be bought for something like that.... Well that and maybe Ghost Rider.
JoeMomma29 - 7/24/2012, 1:41 PM
Hey maybe when hell freezes over Marvel and DC will team up for joint movie! That to me is the ultimate, ultimate CBM. Again it is only a dream!!!!
ATrueHero1987 - 7/24/2012, 1:41 PM
@Mechagino I would love for FF to be done by Marvel Studios but FOX ain't going to let that happen. Especially after the success of The Avengers, they're really going to make FF now(add to the fact that the rights to FF will revert soon).
RAV3RXTZ - 7/24/2012, 1:42 PM
Great write up! I've read Annihilation Wave through GOTG and loved the story arc! Would love to see the universe on screen.
DrDoom - 7/24/2012, 1:43 PM
What the [frick]?

Why do you get so many comments when you made a similar editorial to mine and I got almost none?

I hate this site. And the planet.
Zarog - 7/24/2012, 1:45 PM
@superotherside: Use the find & replace command to replace "adaption" with "adaptation"(adaption isn't a word, but I know what you're saying), replace "invertible" with "inevitable". Just proofread for misspellings and incorrect words. That's all I was thinking. But, really, I LOVE your ideas.
BmanHall - 7/24/2012, 1:45 PM
@ AcidicHeart: It's not about what you do on the site, it's about who you do on the site... Or something like that.
superotherside - 7/24/2012, 1:46 PM
Mechagino Heh, have you read the Infinity Gauntlet? If you have you'd know the FF weren't in it. They were some of the characters who dissapeared. This story arc doesn't need them. Would I like to have them in it if possible? Oh yeah. But they aren't needed. Neither is Ghost Rider. I don't think he was in it either.
MrJohnStewart - 7/24/2012, 1:46 PM
I wish they would realize that they could do this with X-men as well.
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