Is the Fantastic Four gone for good? The CEO of Disney gives his thoughts on the franchise’s future in the ever-growing MCU.
For a moment, it seemed as though things were finally looking up for the MCU. The Fantastic Four: First Steps managed to continue the streak of being well-received by critics following the surprise success of Thunderbolts. It also made quite a pretty penny during its opening weekend box office, giving many hope it may be the next big franchise for Marvel.
That is, until the film absolutely belly-flopped in its second weekend. The Fantastic Four: First Steps experienced a nearly 70% drop in box office revenue. While it’s important to note that international box office grosses are down across the industry, this left many to worry that Marvel’s First Family would be discarded once more as the MCU enters its mutant era.
Will The Fantastic Four Get A Sequel?
Disney CEO Bob Iger recently sat down with Variety to talk about the company and a number of its larger franchises. With the recent release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the outlet inquired about the family’s future in the MCU. The answer brought a breath of relief over fans, with Iger admitting that the team is set to be an important part of the MCU going forward.
“[Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four’ reboot] successfully launched this important franchise into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
Currently, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is still on track to recoup its budget and marketing costs. However, these thin margins likely won’t be enough to sustain the MCU given how many flops the franchise has had in recent years. Hopefully if and when the Fantastic Four get a new movie, market conditions and consumer sentiment are enough to justify keeping the team around for a long time to come.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters. Stay tuned for all the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
