Essay: "Are There 2 Different Marvel Universes On Film Now?"

[Lightning Strykez!]

Since Fox is continuing to obstinately push forward with X-Men Films and holding hostage franchises with wasted potential like Fantastic Four and Daredevil, are we supposed to simply write them off as a separate universe from the one Marvel Studios has created?

Marvel Studio's Triumph: I ask this because Marvel is on a seerrrrrrious roll right now. Avengers, Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, etc. have all taken the entire genre to an entirely new level of sophistication and frankly, I'm spoiled as hell now. Personally-speaking, looking back at any Fox-created films nowadays is just irritating because Marvel has proven that the creative developers at Fox have consistently short-changed the true...well, fantasy element that makes these films great.

The Chris Evans Factor: While I am in love with Chris Evans as Captain America (and believe the actor is being better utilized), we must admit that Marvel's plucking him from Fox's franchise sorta cancels it out, doesn't it? I mean, there would be no way for the actor to play both roles simitaneously (not that Fox & Co. could pay him enough to do it anyway). And using the same FF cast again with a new Human Torch actor would be just so glaringly obvious.

I've always secretly hoped for a Secret Wars styled feature film with ALL of these heroes from ALL the properties dealing with a Thanos-level crisis one day. And, as the comic from the 80s shows, Reed Richards and Doctor Doom play a pivotal role in Secret Wars. For as awesome as Marvel Studios has things set up right now, how could they move forward that that concept--or any other crossover concept for that matter--with Chris Evans at the helm of Avengers?

Which brings me to...

Crossover Potential: Marvel is basically on a "pollinating" binge right now--they are planting a lot of seeds for future growth. At times they'll need to continue to bring in more of their characters to further their own film's storylines. Already they've been successful in "borrowing" characters from other studios i.e. Hulk for participation in their projects. I could see them bring Spider-Man into the mix in the future as well. But somehow...I'm not seeing X-Men as part of this new Marvel film world. Ditto for the FF.

How do you guys feel? Do we have two separate universes with alternate realities on film now, or is all of it existing in the same timeline?

 

[cherokeesam]

I'd be perfectly comfortable with having the X-Men exist in a separate universe....the abysmal AVX notwithstanding, they've pretty much acted like separate universes since about the 1980s anyway.

Otherwise, I'd like to see Fantastic Four and Daredevil return to the Marvel fold one day. Punisher and Blade apparently have already, but there's no indication Marvel Studios is ready to give them their spotlights back in this brave new Marvel Cinematic Universe yet. And poor Spidey....looks so lonesome over there all by himself...

 

[Tony Stark]

There was a picture on facebook of Garfield reading some Thanos comics. Now anything is speculative at this point, but I'd love to see Marvel/Disney strike a deal with Sony to use the character in a MCU film with a share of the profits. When you look at the earning potential of a film like that with Spider-man and the rest of the MCU, I think both companies could see it as a win.

 

[cherokeesam]

There was a picture on facebook of Garfield reading some Thanos comics.

So I was sitting there thinking about a fat orange cat reading Marvel Comics in the Sunday funnies....

...took me a minute

 

[Baneis8feettall]

There is only Marvel Cinematic Universe and it belongs to Marvel Studios. Other movies are totally different worlds. (as long as there is no crossover) There is no spider-man,x-men or daredevil in MCU. Even if these characters are exist but not shown in movies because of the rights, they are not same ones in other studios' movies.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

^ But isn't that a crime? Because technically you're saying that half of the Marvel's best catalog of characters don't exist in their own universe.

It's a waste.

 

[Moridin]

The Chris Evans Factor: While I am in love with Chris Evans as Captain America (and believe the actor is being better utilized), we must admit that Marvel's plucking him from Fox's franchise sorta cancels it out, doesn't it? I mean, there would be no way for the actor to play both roles simitaneously (not that Fox & Co. could pay him enough to do it anyway). And using the same FF cast again with a new Human Torch actor would be just so glaringly obvious.

..... For as awesome as Marvel Studios has things set up right now, how could they move forward that that concept--or any other crossover concept for that matter--with Chris Evans at the helm of Avengers?

That Evans played both Torch & Cap is irrelevant.

1. That FF series is finished. Fox are planning a reboot, if they go ahead with that they'll have an entirely new cast. If it doesn't then the rights go back to Marvel Studios who will reboot & recast. So either way a new actor will play HT in any future FF flicks.

2. They are entirely seperate universes.

Crossover Potential: Marvel is basically on a "pollinating" binge right now--they are planting a lot of seeds for future growth. At times they'll need to continue to bring in more of their characters to further their own film's storylines. Already they've been successful in "borrowing" characters from other studios i.e. Hulk for participation in their projects. I could see them bring Spider-Man into the mix in the future as well. But somehow...I'm not seeing X-Men as part of this new Marvel film world. Ditto for the FF.

No, Marvel Studios own Hulk, they didn't borrow him. Hulk '03 was Universal, MS got the rights back then made TIH '08. They have only "cross-pollinated" with properties they actually own.

While it's probably technically possible, I think it would be both a legal & creative nightmare trying to fold in characters from other studios into the MCU. They'll want big money & will probably want a say in how the story goes or how their character is treated. Too many cooks in the kitchen, especially if they're Fox & Sony cooks.

How do you guys feel? Do we have two separate universes with alternate realities on film now, or is all of it existing in the same timeline?

More than 2. X-Men, FF & Daredevil are at Fox and have no indication of being connected. So that's 3 seperate universes right there. Spidey & Ghost Rider are at Sony, and again don't appear to be connected, further still they now have 2 entirely seperate versions of Spider-man.

Those movies have as much to do with the MCU as Batman does. That's not opinion either.

^ But isn't that a crime? Because technically you're saying that half of the Marvel's best catalog of characters don't exist in their own universe.

It's a waste.

It's not a crime nor is it a waste, several of those films are terrible & best left forgotten.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

Great response Moridin!

 

[Spider-Fan]

There was a picture on facebook of Garfield reading some Thanos comics. Now anything is speculative at this point, but I'd love to see Marvel/Disney strike a deal with Sony to use the character in a MCU film with a share of the profits. When you look at the earning potential of a film like that with Spider-man and the rest of the MCU, I think both companies could see it as a win.

I'd rather not see Spider-Man in an Avengers film. I don't like Spider-Man, the Avenger.

 

[Baneis8feettall]

I'd rather not see Spider-Man in an Avengers film. I don't like Spider-Man, the Avenger.

On the other hand, Spider-Man would be greatest thing in Whendon's movie. He would have great funny quotes.

 

[Markyboy00]

They don't need any more funny quotes, Avengers had some really funny quotes.. I think some of the Hulks quotes and him punching Thor in the main fight scene at the end was hilarious.. Hulk: "Puny god".. After he got done bouncing Loki around..