Marvel’s Thunderbolts Shifts MCU Focus From Multiverse to Grounded Emotional Stories

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Summary

  • Thunderbolts* focuses on emotions and personalities, providing a deeper connection to characters.
  • Marvel Studios purposefully brought Thunderbolts* back down to earth for a more grounded feel.
  • Thunderbolts* success indicates fans are ready to move on from the multiverse for simpler stories.

The recent title change of “Thunderbolts” to “The New Avengers” has generated significant buzz for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This latest addition to the franchise has received favorable reviews both critically and commercially during its opening weekend, indicating that it could become a standout film within the MCU.

Alternatively, Thunderbolts offers a refreshing change from the recent influx of multiverse stories in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Instead, the movie emphasizes different aspects, hinting at potential directions for the evolution of the MCU.

Thunderbolts* Focuses On The Emotions And Personalities

These Have Always Been Important Within Marvel Films

One factor contributing to the intense interest in watching Thunderbolts* is that it seems reminiscent of the past for Marvel Studios. It’s raw, packed with thrilling action, but fundamentally focuses on the complex personalities and emotions portrayed by its characters. For instance, Iron Man is an excellent illustration of this, as despite not being the flashiest movie in the series, it shone brightly due to Robert Downey Jr.’s captivating charm. Similarly, Thunderbolts* follows suit by delivering one of the most emotionally intense films within the franchise. The distinct darkness each character exhibits is engaging, fostering a deeper connection with the audience, which explains why there has been widespread acclaim for this film’s quality. Spectators are drawn to well-developed characters with multiple layers and profound connections that seem meaningful.

It’s more captivating when a storyline isn’t just about briefly introducing characters from different dimensions who are currently trendy, only for them to fade away soon after. That’s why Thunderbolts is resonating so strongly. The overwhelmingly positive reception will encourage more viewers to catch the latest MCU film, thereby elevating these characters’ significance. Since this team is poised to play a significant role in the franchise’s future, the fact that the audience has embraced them as a cohesive unit suggests they will attract an increasing number of fans, potentially making them key figures within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Marvel Studios Purposefully Brought This Back Down To Earth

Brian Chapek Has Revealed What Marvel Studios Aimed For

Despite the fact that most Marvel Studios productions are interconnected and lead up to a major film like “Avengers: Doomsday”, it’s worth noting that the upcoming movie “Thunderbolts” doesn’t quite reach the same level of grandeur. Previous Marvel films have been expansive, traversing numerous multiverses, causing some audience members to feel bewildered. However, “Thunderbolts” has provided a nice change of pace as it is more earthbound and reminiscent of the tone of “Captain America: Winter Soldier”. In fact, even Kevin Feige, a Marvel Studios executive, has acknowledged this, discussing “Thunderbolts” during its premiere with HeyUGuys.

He mentioned: “Indeed, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown quite expansive, hasn’t it? With Multiverses and massive threats looming, our aim in creating a Thunderbolts movie was to focus on everyday struggles and delve into the personal stories of these characters. So yes, it presented an excellent chance to gather misfits and forge unity among them within this film.

Thunderbolts* Success Proves Fans Are Ready To Move On

There Are Still Some Multiverse Stories To Be Told

In its opening weekend, the film titled “Thunderbolts*” generated extraordinary box office earnings, amassing a total of $162.1 million worldwide. Out of this figure, an impressive $86.1 million was contributed by international markets. Notably, it has managed to secure the top spot in the US box office, which is quite remarkable.

In comparison to Shang-Chi’s international debut, Thunderbolts* is estimated to be about 45% ahead. Furthermore, it surpasses films like Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy in similar markets. This suggests that audiences are keen on watching this film, and Marvel’s new direction with the storyline and characters seems to be well-received.

This positive response bodes well for the franchise, indicating that viewers are eager to engage with simpler films focused around a team, rather than complex narratives. The recent movies in the franchise, which featured convoluted plots, have been met with criticism due to their complexity and the perceived need for viewers to do homework before watching them. However, Thunderbolts* appears to be addressing this issue by offering a more straightforward film experience. This development could mark a turning point for the franchise as it moves away from the multiverse, which has been a challenging period due to the intricate storylines and situations that some viewers found confusing.

In the end, there are numerous films still planned for the multiverse stage. Whether or not Fantastic Four: The First Steps delves deeply into it remains uncertain, but Avengers: Doomsday is definitely going to explore the multiverse, with Avengers: Secret Wars likely continuing that trend. All three of these films are expected to be huge blockbusters, providing entertainment for everyone, even if there might be some confusion about the multiverse. However, Thunderbolts* hints that after this phase, Marvel Studios could benefit from taking a slightly less complex approach to storytelling.

*Note: It seems there was no actual movie named “Thunderbolts” mentioned in the original text. I’m assuming it might be a placeholder name or a fictional film in the context of the discussion.

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2025-05-07 20:08