MCU Pt. 1: Continuity

If you have been watching Marvel content after Avengers Endgame and feeling like the quality of Marvel projects are between mid, mediocre, or just outright bad, then you aren't alone. I spent over a week analyzing Phase 4 & 5 which is post-Endgame content and reading a number of comic books from Avengers to X-Men. There was so much more they could've done better and I believe it could've started even before Endgame. For product managers, imagine this is video platform based mobile app where you find out the features (movies) you've added aren't capturing the attention of users. Here's how I would fix the product pipeline had I been the CCO/Producer of the MCU.

Captain Marvel should have.....

Been introduced years ago before Infinity War. Spider-Man was introduced in Captain America: Civil War in 2016. This was a year before his solo MCU debut film Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017. Spider-Man is one of the more popular characters in Marvel's catalog. This gave fans and the audience time to get to know and like this version of Spider-Man before Infinity War.

Captain Marvel/Ms Marvel is one of Marvel's strongest characters but she isn't well known. Had she been introduced earlier, it would've gave the audience time to get to know her backstory and have her interact with other Marvel characters like the Guardians for example. She's been somewhat of a loner and I think that has somewhat hindered her likability.

In Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, she's referred to as Ms Marvel (original version of Carol Danvers), she was introduced when the Avengers were dealing with the Kree invasion, something that Ms Marvel had experience dealing with. After seeing what she can do, Tony extended her an invitation to join the Avengers which she accepted. The way she was introduced was how she should've been introduced.

Tease the Kree/Skrull invasion in an Endgame post credit

I think many Marvel fans especially of the comic books were disappointed in Secret Invasion and quite frankly I was as well. Having Rhodey reveal himself as a Skrull in a post-credit scene can build this storyline up to the Skrull/Kree war and what is to come.

2021

Movie Slate

I would keep Black Widow and Shang Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings. However, I would have Natasha's sister, Yelena, take up the mantle of Black Widow and her get recruited by Sam Wilson to be a part of the Avengers. When it comes Shang Chi, I would have it play out somewhat the same but I would introduce Iron First here in a post credit scene where he comes into contact with Danny Rand as Iron First where Danny comes to Shang Chi for help leading into the next Shang Chi film.

Spider-Man: No Way Home plays out as it did in the movie. It heavily teased that Venom is coming sooner rather than later. And quite frankly it's been about time that he becomes the black suited Spider-Man.

When it comes to the Eternals, I would put that on hold until I'd figure out where they would fit in the MCU continuity.

Here is where development should be starting on films on the Fantastic 4 and the X-Men (After the events of Days of Future Past).

TV Slate

I would overhaul the storyline in Falcon & The Winter Soldier and I would also make sure the continuity between WandaVision & Multiverse of Madness is swift and smooth. I would've also added the Ms Marvel post credit scene at the end of WandaVision leading to The Marvels for a 2022 release.

Hawkeye would play out the same and Kate Bishop would assume the role of Hawkeye from Clint as he walks into his retirement.

2021 should've came out stronger and should have had some more continuity. Kevin Feige and Disney came out of the pandemic dropping the ball here.

In the next article let's dive into 2022 and 2023. They're content that should've been released earlier, that should've been made into something else, and other content that should've of been produced unless there was fan demand for it.

When it comes to product management, you have to know your audience and who you're building for. Same thing with comic book movies. This was the beginning of the downfall of the MCU/Disney because they forgot who their audience was and who they were building for.