Marvel’s MCU Conflict and Avengers Reboot

Marvel executives reportedly discussed returning to the MCU’s origins amid uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s current status.

In-depth analysis of the MCU’s main problems is provided in a robust new report from Variety. Of particular interest are the problems related to the glut of new content that has been released since Avengers: Endgame. Among the options that were thought of? A reboot of the Avengers featuring the original cast, apparently.

In spite of their deaths in Endgame, that would entail the reappearance of Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow and Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark/Iron Man, according to the Variety report. However, it seems that Marvel hasn’t “committed” to this bold idea.

That’s partly because that plan would prove costly for a studio that has been losing money, especially considering the renowned high salaries of MCU actors. Variety’s sources claim that Downey received an upfront salary of $25 million for Iron Man 3, and that amount does not even account for the percentage of box office receipts that many actors receive as additional compensation.

Problems in the MCU:

Returning to the original Avengers would be a significant event, especially in light of the positive reception Endgame received as the MCU’s Infinity Saga’s conclusion. However, as the Variety article explores, the MCU is currently at a sort of existential crossroads, which has made it difficult for Disney CEO Bob Iger to hold on.

This adds to the drama surrounding Victoria Alonso’s firing by Marvel Studios in March, which was unexpected at the time because Alonso was one of the company’s most important producers. At the time, reports shared that Alonso’s termination was due to a contract violation involving her involvement as a producer on the Academy Award-nominated drama Argentina, 1985 from Amazon Studios.

However, according to Variety’s sources, it was a response to what was seen as a decline in quality, particularly with regard to the visual effects, in the MCU since Endgame. Alonso took the brunt of the responsibility since he was Marvel Studios’ president of physical, post-production, visual effects, and animation.

The problems have also affected the studio’s protracted Blade reboot, which has gone through several directors and writers and famously contemplated moving Oscar winner Mahershala Ali to fourth lead. According to a Variety report, the film is currently being produced for less than $100 million, which is quite remarkable given how much Marvel typically spends on its blockbusters.