Marvel Studios Has “No Urgency” With ‘Deadpool 4’ and ‘Blade’ Films

With the changing theatrical landscape also came a different set of expectations for comic book movies, as well as a new definition of what exactly constitutes a “success” at the box office. Look no further than expert box office analyst Scott Mendelson’s headline on the July 28 weekend box office, which posed the question, “Is $800 Million the New $1 Billion?” The international box office has proven to be a completely different landscape for media giants like Disney, whose recent Marvel Studios releases haven’t reached the numbers they were accustomed to in territories like China. Now, changes in how these films are made (and how much they cost) have impacted Marvel Studios’ planned MCU release slate in the coming years.

In a new report by Variety, various insider sources have provided some interesting new tidbits about what can be expected from the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward. The Fantastic Four: First Steps has earned $218 million globally since its July 25 release, which, according to Variety’s article, “could have been worse, but could have been better.” It’s already an impressive number compared to Thunderbolts* cumulative $382 million worldwide, and $162 million it made in its opening week. Nevertheless, it seems the recent box office numbers have changed Marvel Studios’ plans for the coming years, which may now feature less star power.

To that end, it has been reported that casting for Jake Schreier’s X-Men will begin soon, and that Marvel will be seeking younger talent to keep the costs down. There is no release date for the film, and sources have indicated that the July 23, 2027, Marvel Studios release date slot isn’t for X-Men. While both Avengers movies and Spider-Man: Brand New Day are mentioned in the article, there is no indication that Marvel has concrete plans for Blade or another Deadpool sequel.

Marvel Studios Is Being Careful About Which Projects They Are Prioritizing

Blade has had a myriad of problems since it was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. The revolving door of directors, writers, and even stars has seemingly led to the film just being shelved. In the various comments left by industry insiders in Variety’s article, there is only one mention of Blade, saying that there is no sense of urgency on the project, or even for another Deadpool film, which is even more surprising.

Deadpool & Wolverine’s critical and box office success ultimately made the film the second-biggest hit for Marvel post-Endgame, only being surpassed by Spider-Man: No Way Home. The $1.3 billion-grossing movie made it seem like another film with Ryan Reynolds (and maybe even Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine) was a sure thing. However, the bigger picture for Marvel Studios is less about star power and more about proven creatives and talented, lesser-known actors. In that case, the idea of a Deadpool sequel being on the backburner makes sense.

While Blade and Deadpool aren’t at the forefront of Marvel Studios’ attention, there is at least internal excitement for Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther 3. Hot off the success of Sinners, Coogler’s name will only continue to gain recognition, and the studio prioritizing the prestige director makes complete sense. While there are no known plans to move ahead with Blade and Deadpool, fans can at least take comfort that Marvel is treading carefully with the development of future projects.

Source: Variety, Puck