After many years of hits at the box office, Marvel Studios finds its fortunes waning, as superhero fatigue has set in among moviegoers, and recent releases have failed to outperform their budgets. What can possibly remedy this malaise? Why a new character that fans have been begging to see for years—and not as a vague cloud of smoke as seen in a past Sony-made Fantastic Four film—of course.
The big picture: Marvel needs a planet-sized solution for its franchise fatigue. The MCU needs an injection of fresh acting blood and ideas after the scandalous departure of Jonathan Majors, who was slated to lead a raft of new films and storylines as Kang. Thanos worked because he allowed the heroes of the MCU to unify against a universe-destroying enemy. Galactus posed the same challenge and narrative benefits but from an even more familiar character.
Why it matters: Galactus isn’t just another villain, he’s a force of nature.
- Unlike localized villains that are specific to particular comic book series, Galactus is potentially the biggest challenge of all, thus setting up a possible series of films.
- As a villain who consumes entire worlds, Galactus can live on for years, threatening various superhero franchises.
Between the lines: Learning from past cosmic storylines.
- What “Infinity War” got right was creating a multi-front threat that showcased a broad array of superhero characters, thus setting up future films and tying in older films.
- The challenge with Galactus is that cosmic beings like the Celestials didn’t really resonate with audiences in “Eternals,” so it will be important for Marvel to emphasize the well known lore and popularity of the villain from old Fantastic Four comics.
The bottom line: Galactus could be Marvel’s next decade-defining antagonist. As Marvel sets up the new version of the Fantastic Four (after multiple failures) and Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., Galactus grounds the MCU in classic well-known Marvel storylines popular with the most dedicated fans. Like the now-erased Kang, Galactus could also unite several fractured storylines to revive fan dedication and excitement.
