Sadie Sink entered mainstream headlines this month, rumoured to be starring alongside Tom Holland in the new instalment of Marvel’s Spider-Man 4. This seems to be the first time Marvel has gained mass online traction for a superhero film since, what people are calling 2023’s “Superhero Fatigue.” It is no secret that since the release of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel’s productions have plummeted at the box office, with Marvel’s latest release of Captain America: Brave New World sadly falling into their usual patterns – sparking critiques describing the narrative as “empty-headed” and “formulaic.” With the release of the new Thunderbolts trailer, and the new Spider-Man beginning filming this year, it seems to me that Marvel might be crawling back to what they know will spark audience excitement – the resurgence of their most beloved characters.
The Thunderbolts trailer was quickly, and widely, well-received, as many people have commented on their excitement for the return of Florence Pugh and David Harbour, alongside many others. Much like Spider-Man: No Way Home, the film heavily relies on the previous success of other films and personas in order to bring in the audiences they previously had. While several people have commented on this popularity indicating Marvel’s “Superhero Fatigue” coming to an end, I disagree. Instead, I’d argue that this marketing strategy may get people through the door, but it will not boost the quality of the writing or production.
Though a clever strategy, it becomes clear that this pattern is simply a deflection from the homogeneity and oversaturation of these titles. This was a common critique of No Way Home as the plotline itself seemed to stray away from the previous films, and the majority of the selling-points of the franchise were lost. From the death of Aunt May to the loss of relationship between Peter Parker and MJ, it was a completely unwanted fresh start for Tom Holland’s character; who seemed to be overlooked entirely due to the appearance of Andrew Garfield and Toby Maguire.
It seems like superhero movies are not making their comeback, as Marvel are not only recycling plotlines, but recycling whole characters. While this may be good news for the fans of Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Tom Holland – these films, like almost every successor of Avengers: Endgame, will not bring about a new age for the superhero movie. Sorry to Marvel, but not even Sadie Sink can save you now.
“The Pile of Spider-Man” by RLHyde is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.