Earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Iger commented that his company must become “better at curating” content that’s “extraordinarily expensive.” “We want the quality on the screen, but we have to look at what they cost us,” Iger said. What’s that mean? In the case of Disney+, it’s fewer “Stars Wars” and MCU shows. Kevin Feige confirmed earlier this week that Marvel Studios would begin to slow down its Disney+ content rollout this year, but what does that mean exactly? The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop there.
“There is going to be a level of rigor on Marvel and across the entire company,” a company insider told THR about Disney’s upcoming plans to rein in its franchises. “Numbers matter now, and costs are going to be outlined and enforced.” That’s a massive shift in the MCU narrative as Phase 5 begins this weekend with “Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania.” For reference: Phase 4 saw Marvel Studios release 18 total projects in theaters and on streaming, seven more than Phase 3. But don’t expect Phase 5 to hit or surpass that number anymore, even though Feige announced five MCU series for Disney+ for 2023 at Comic-Con last year.
So what are the sure things calendar-wise for Marvel’s Disney+ releases this year? Insiders tell THR that “Loki” Season 2 and “Secret Invasion” are definites for 2023. But that leaves “Echo,” “Ironheart,” “What If …?” Season 2, and “Agatha: Coven Of Chaos” leftover from Feige’s Comic-Con announcement. Will those shows still hit the streamer this year? Likely not, even though “Echo” and “Ironheart” wrapped production already. As for shows currently filming like “Daredevil: Born Again,” or those still in development like “Nova,” expect Marvel to space out their releases as well.
But what about Disney’s other massive franchise, “Star Wars”? Beyond “The Mandalorian” Season 3, which premieres on Disney+ on March 1, “Ahsoka” and “Skeleton” will also hit the streamer this year. An insider told THR, “Lucasfilm may ramp up, but it will have to abide by the same fiscal discipline as the rest of the company.” And as for future “Star Wars” films, that’s remains up in the air still. Patty Jenkins‘ “Rogue Squadron” isn’t happening, but Taika Waititi‘s still might. Damon Lindelof also has something in the works, but nothing definitive. Expect an update for new “Star Wars” films at the Star Wars Celebration in London this April.
Iger reining in future Disney+ output matches the themes of fiscal responsibility also seen in his announcement last week of three new animated sequels for the “Toy Story,” “Frozen,” and “Zootopia” franchises. In short: Disney will stick with what works (which “Strange World” clearly didn’t) and be more mindful of keeping their streaming content profitable. So, while this may mean less Marvel and “Star Wars” content, it may also mean higher quality content overall. And after how mediocre some Disney+ shows have been, that’s excellent news for the streamer’s subscribers.
