Marc Guggenheim is the creator of Arrow and the progenitor of the CW’s Arrowverse, which spanned six series and nearly 700 episodes. However, even he thinks Marvel Studios needs to slow down the amount of content they’re putting out in the MCU, especially regarding Disney Plus.
Phases 4 and 5 of the MCU have served to be some of the most controversial in the franchise, with many fans and critics claiming there to be a dip in quality, likely related to the increased content load from the introduction of Disney Plus series. Marc Guggenheim, the writer behind Arrow and the CW’s Arrowverse, is among those critics, saying that Marvel Studios should cut down on the amount of projects coming out:
“If I was suddenly in [Marvel Studios President] Kevin Feige’s role, basically I would do what [Bob] Iger was saying, which is prune the tree,” Guggenheim told The Direct. “You know, there’s just too much content. I’m like the biggest Marvel nerd ever, and I haven’t seen Moon Knight. I just can’t keep up. There’s just too much content.”
That form of pruning Marc Guggenheim is referring to when it comes to the MCU doesn’t simply stop at limiting the Disney Plus series. Rather, Guggenheim thinks Marvel Studios should take a similar approach to DC Comics or even his own Arrowverse: to start things fresh following a Crisis.
“I think honestly what the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going through right now is the same discovery that Marvel print universe and the DC print universe also went through,” He continued. “Which is – I think of these universes like ships, and the longer a ship sails, the more barnacles get attached to its hull, and the more that weighs down the ship and the more it effects how fast the ship can move through the water. And every now and again, you need to do some sort of reboot that scrapes off the barnacles, like ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths.'”
Rebooting the MCU would certainly be a double-edged sword. While it would allow Marvel Studios to start fresh without the baggage of previous phases, a reset to the status quo could mean less popular characters don’t have as much of a chance to thrive. Figuring out where to balance content between films and Disney Plus is certain to be a key factor in determing the success of the MCU for years to come, though only time will tell if Marc Guggenheim has the right approach.
From the Arrowverse to the DCU?
Stephen Amell returning as Green Arrow in the DCU would be far from the first time the Arrowverse has crossed paths with big budget DC Comics films. Ezra Miller famously appeared as his version of The Flash during the Crisis on Infinite Earths special, which also featured appearances by Robin actor Burt Ward and the cast of Titans, which had its own ties to the Shazam! films.
The final season of The Flash brought closure to the story of one of the most iconic and beloved characters in the Arrowverse. The series has been a staple of the CW network and has been widely praised for its action sequences and engaging character arcs along with its witty and heartfelt storytelling.
James Gunn and Peter Safran told journalists that their vision for the DC Universe includes locked scripts, wiggle room and a unified storyline across film, television, animation and video game projects. The two explained that the DC Universe could bring back elements from previous DC regimes, meaning that their eight-to-year plan is not a full reboot.
Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the DC Universe!
