[Possible spoilers for Captain Marvel, but, really, you should have seen it by now.]
As the movie approaches the $1 billion box office level, Marvel’s Captain Marvel is, along with Black Panther, demonstrating that the MCU’s films (and, perhaps, movies in general) don’t need to primarily focus on white guys as heroes.
Which, honestly, I have no problem with, and in fact, applaud. There are a lot of characters in the Marvel Universe who are not-white and/or not-male, and this only frees up the opportunity to see more of them center screen, too. I would prefer not to see white guys disappear totally from the MCU — but that hardly seems likely. Heck, even the Snap didn’t do that.
(And, yes, there’s even the possibility that some characters might be cast with people who don’t align with their complexion or even gender in the original comics. Nick Fury’s a kinda-good example of that being workable, as are changes with Mar-Vell. If done well, in a way that doesn’t significantly change something essential about the character, I don’t have a problem there.)
Beyond that, it’s noted that the success of these two heroes that are slated for prominence in the post-Avengers “Phase 4” movies, along with the movies already slated, indicates that Marvel need be in no big hurry to incorporate the massive properties they just inherited with the Fox deal: the X-Men and the Fantastic Four.
I mean, I’m as anxious as anyone else to see a decent film rendition of the FF, but I’m totally cool with both properties, esp. the X-Men, getting a few years of rest and reset, and then potentially centerpiece another phase down the line. Aside from the risk of super-hero flicks going out of style (which has been predicted multiple times over the last decade) before they circle around to those sagas, a break makes a lot of sense. Though in the meantime we can get some “hints” (news stories about mutations on the rise due to cosmic radiation or Infinity Stone leftovers; a NASA representative name-dropping Reed Richards; weird shenanigans on the news going on in the Sokovian neighbor nation of Latveria, etc.) to help tee up some excitement.
Another interesting thread of discussion that’s come up lately, viz Captain Marvel, is the question of Carol Danvers sexual orientation. It’s a little weird that it’s being brought up in large part because the character doesn’t have the traditional “boyfriend” in her origin movie, which is supposed to be a good thing because not every woman’s story has to be focused on her relationship with a man — but that’s, in turn, made people wonder if Carol’s relationship with Maria Rambeau or (and this would be an interesting twist) Mar-Vell might be more than just friendship.
I’m, honestly, non-committal. There’s nothing wrong with it, but there’s nothing particularly compelling about it, either. To be sure, I don’t have a personal stake in that particular representation, and I agree that getting some LGBTQ folk into the MCU picture (a million unofficial memes about Steve/Bucky notwithstanding) would be a positive thing in principle. I may just be a bit concerned at a meta level about the amount of heavy-eyerolling-See-it-was-all-a-feminist-plot that would ensue if it turned out that Captain Marvel was a lesbian, or even bi, but that seems inevitable no matter what happens with the character.
Honestly, the question of any sort of relationship for Carol is a more interesting one to me: a highly duty-driven person, whose memories have been messed up, who’s been betrayed by her closest friends, who’s just spent a few decades in deep space (has it actually been that long for her, or 3sd-are we talking some light-speed time contract compressing the interval for her?) … trust issues and understanding how to relate to people at all might be a serious uphill road for her, regardless of which way(s) she swings.
In short, on this as with other things, I’m more interested in good story than in particular agendas. If they want to have Capt. Marvel and Valkyrie as the hottest gay lovers in space-time, great. If she ends up in domestic bliss with Doctor Strange, well, that might be interesting. Heck, if she decides that Rocket Raccoon is her type, I’m cool with that, too. Just give me a good story about it.
Do you want to know more?
- ‘Captain Marvel’ And ‘Black Panther’ Show Why The MCU Doesn’t Need The X-Men
- A Gay Captain Marvel Would Be The MCU’s Biggest Statement on Diversity
Two failed FF efforts, I’m sure that Disney is at least a little gun shy about any kind of attempt to try for a third.
But, I would be perfectly happy to have Quicksilver brought over, or even bette Agent Brand.
@Scott – Everyone has their own tolerance for variation from “canon” (even given how canon has changed over the decades). My own is more limited than some, broader than others.
@Stan – Well, the MCU had its own Quicksilver, so that’s not likely to happen. And, sadly, we’ve already had Pietro and Wanda established, so we’ll not likely get Magneto as a parent for them.
There’s certainly a world of interesting X-folk (and supporting and ancillary cast) that it would be cool to see.
(And we can even do some of that early, before a serious X-focus. Imagine the Guardians of the Galaxy running into the Starjammers.)
I have every confidence that Marvel can do something cool and enjoyable with the FF, when they get around to it. Humor, tragedy, banter, cosmic stuff. Right up the MCU’s alley.
I do have a problem with characters’ race or sex being changed, but that’s because I have invested 40 years in the comic book versions of the characters. Honestly, I’m just as upset by changes to a character’s hair color (Daredevil, Ant-Man) or name (“David” Banner?).
I understand why the movie’s Mar-Vell couldn’t be the comics version. Because of my inflexibility in these matters, I would rather Mar-Vell had been left out completely. The character in the movie shares nothing with the comics character except a Kree military background. Totally unnecessary to the film, methinks.
But, as I say, I’m inflexible. My shortcomings should in no way affect others’ enjoyment of these films and characters. You folks have fun while I sit here alone, grousing because Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne wore glasses. 🙂