Marvel needs to take notes from theMCU’s early success if they want to fix the Multiverse Saga’s major trilogy problem. Most of the time,the best MCU trilogieshave had elements that set up future events. However, compared to the Infinity Saga,the Multiverse Saga has very few trilogy endings that work as connective tissue for the MCU.
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumaniadidn’t set upAvengers 5as much as it should’ve, even before the studio pivoted from Kang. The thirdGuardiansmovie ended with a new team that we may not see for some time, andSpider-Man: No Way Homesets up a future for the hero that’s somewhat separate from the MCU, partially due to thecomplex nature of the situation with Sony.
The MCU’s Recent Trilogies Haven’t Connected The Franchise Like The Previous Ones Did
Past MCU trilogies have done a great job of connecting the franchise, unlike the recent trilogies of the Multiverse Saga. Many trilogy endings were used to set up a big Avengers film, which was why characters felt so properly integrated into the universe. Building up their individual development through a trilogy allows the characters to play a bigger role in the overall MCU.
Iron Man was the first character to havea complete trilogy in the MCU. It’s not a completely obvious tie, but Tony’s new approach to the superhero life at the end ofIron Man 3somewhat shapes his eventual mentor relationship to Peter Parker. Spider-Man then coincidentally debuts in a trilogy closer,Captain America: Civil War.
The conflict ofCivil Warhad major ramifications on the Avengers, and it’s why they are so fractured inAvengers: Infinity WarandEndgame. There are even instances where a trilogy directly leads into another film, such as the ending scene ofThor: Ragnarok.The film ended with the remaining Asgardians being intercepted by Thanos, and the ramifications are shown in the opening moments ofInfinity War.
How The MCU Can Fix This Trilogy Problem
There are a few franchises in the MCU on track for a trilogy in the near future. Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel both have two solo films, and the studio will likely want to close out their respective arcs with a full trilogy. These films will be Marvel’s chance to show that they still know how to close out a trilogy well.
Especially with how badlyThe Marvelsdid at the box office, an explosive third film could be how the character gets back on track.The Marvelsactually ended with something substantial to the larger franchise asit teased the X-Men. The third Captain Marvel film should continue this trend by connecting pieces of the larger MCU.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessdidn’t directly lead to another film, but it did heavily introduce the concept of the multiverse that is so integral to the current era. Considering thatDoctor Strange is now a veteran Avenger, he is the right character to task with setting up the futureMCUafter the Multiverse Saga concludes.
