Key Takeaways:
– “The Marvels” has now reported a loss of between $295M-$300M.
– The film cost $378M to produce, making it one of the most expensive in history.
– “The Marvels” was the first MCU movie not to cross the $100 million mark domestically.
– Disney CEO, Bob Iger, hinted towards the pandemic and the film’s director, Nia DaCosta, for the film’s failure.
– DaCosta, however, asserted that she had no creative control over the movie.
Let’s get into it! Have you ever had a dud? Like, something you did or said that didn’t go as planned and just fell flat? Well, “The Marvels,” a film from Disney/Marvel, didn’t just fall flat — it nosedived!
See, it’s one thing for a movie to not hit its expected mark, but “The Marvels” did way worse than that. The film was supposed to be a blockbuster hit, but instead, it turned out to be a bucket of popcorn without the butter. Heck, it lost more money than most films even make!
Numbers Just Got Scarier!
Original reports shadowed a $237M loss, but recent leaks from film tax credit filings put the figure closer to $300M. That’s just shocking, right? What’s more shocking is the cost it took to produce the film. With a production cost of $378M, “The Marvels” didn’t just cost an arm and a leg but the whole body!
Was There More Than What Met The Eye?
Digging a bit deep, it turns out that Disney/Marvel spent over $100M in the final year of production. And that was after they had already done another reshoot. So, yep, it seems like a second round of reshoots definitely took place.
There’s a First Time for Everything
Now, here’s the real zinger: “The Marvels” was the first-ever MCU movie not to cross the $100 million mark in the US. And trust me, it wasn’t even close. The film barely managed to scrape together $83M, making people question if it’s the biggest disaster Disney has ever cooked up.
Who’s to Blame?
In tough times, looking for someone to pin the blame on is second nature, and Disney seems to have found theirs. During a chat at the New York Times’ DealBook Summit, Disney CEO Bob Iger subtly pointed fingers at the pandemic and the film’s director, Nia DaCosta. He said that DaCosta, who broke barriers as the first black female director of an MCU film, needed extra help which couldn’t be provided because of COVID-19.
Ignoring the Facts?
But before we all rush to conclusions, let’s hold up a minute! DaCosta has her side of the story to tell. Claiming that she had absolutely no control over the creative elements of the film, she firmly declared that “The Marvels” was “a Kevin Feige production” and that it was “his movie.”
In all honesty, the outcome of “The Marvels” looks more like a series of unfortunate events rather than someone’s fault. Regardless of who is responsible, it’s clear that this film was an uphill struggle from the start. It looks like Disney has a long and windy road of recovery ahead, but hey, it’s Disney! If anyone can weather a storm like this, it’s them. Let’s see how they bounce back. After all, it’s not about how you get knocked down but how you pick yourself up, right?