# Is there an endgame to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991 "2015-08-26T21:45:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/21 "2015-08-27T14:31:10Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > No, they are planning to stretch it out until it snaps, and then stomp it into the ground, and then dig up the rotting pieces and make a series of zombie movies about them. This is Disney, after all, which will find every possible way to exploit a property. Look at [High School Musical](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_School_Musical) for instance. One TV movie spun off three sequels, foreign adaptations, soundtrack albums, a live musical, a concert tour, ice tour, book series, video games and a reality show. Not that I’m complaining. My parents have a _very_ small stake in the company. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/22 "2015-08-27T14:37:13Z")
Does it matter? As soon as we get to an endgame they can always REBOOT! We can have a never ending circle of Marvel Superhero fun-ness! ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/23 "2015-08-27T15:09:46Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Last I’d heard, Peter Parker was still going to be in the red and blue tights after _Secret Wars_ wraps up, with Miles Morales also going under the same name, in his black and red version of the suit. Has that changed recently? Hmm. I haven’t been following closely, but last I saw was that Peter was going to retire from the tights and do his corporate thing full-time, as part of Miles’ supporting cast. Checking, I can’t find much more than speculation, either way, beyond that Peter would be mentoring Miles, which could be either in costume or out. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/24 "2015-08-27T16:40:29Z")
Marvel’s been letting out teaser images for their “All New, All Different” Marvel universe, and [there’s two Spider-Men](http://i.imgur.com/aPBpZU4.jpg) in some of them. Granted, it doesn’t necessarily have to be Peter under the other mask, but that’s where I’m putting my money. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/25 "2015-08-27T16:46:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And note that they _are_ actually planning on phasing out actors and characters. In some cases, this means someone else takes over the costume, and in others, it’ll mean completely different heroes. I think they _did_ have intentions of this and maybe will still do so to a small degree but I think the realities of marketing and the fingers of studio executives will make that harder and harder. There are suits that would rather pay Robert Downy Jr. a Kajillion dollars to stay Iron Man than risk, say War Machine, getting a movie. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/26 "2015-08-27T18:34:13Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > No, they are planning to stretch it out until it snaps, and then stomp it into the ground, and then dig up the rotting pieces and make a series of zombie movies about them. And then reboot the zombie movies, with an emo zombie… 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/27 "2015-08-27T19:04:46Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I think they _did_ have intentions of this and maybe will still do so to a small degree but I think the realities of marketing and the fingers of studio executives will make that harder and harder. There are suits that would rather pay Robert Downy Jr. a Kajillion dollars to stay Iron Man than risk, say War Machine, getting a movie. The realities of marketing are eventually going to have to cede to the realities that Robert Downey Jr. turns fifty this year, and he’s not going to be any younger by the time _Infinity Gauntlet_ wraps. ---
**Author:** ![Shearer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@Shearer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shearer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/28 "2015-08-27T19:08:10Z")
This superhero craze won’t last forever. They’re filling their boots while the iron is hot, or something ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/29 "2015-08-28T01:03:39Z")
I don’t think there is a superhero craze. There’s a good movie craze, and that’s not going anywhere. Marvel has been doing well because they’re making good movies. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/30 "2015-08-28T20:19:07Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > [However, I would definitely watch _My Dinner with Galactus_, especially if it had a scene with Tony Stark, Thor, and Peter Quill comparing notes on pick up methods while Romanov, Lady Sif, and Carol Danvers wondering why they put up with this nonsense, and Groot dancing to Eddie Kendricks “U Need a Change of Mind” while Rocket assembles a starbreaker gun out of random pieces of Star-Lord’s Walkman. > > Stranger It also needs Wallace (“NEVER go up against a Scicilian when DEATH is on the line”) Shawn as Pip the Troll ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/31 "2015-08-28T20:30:05Z")
or…better. MY DINNER WITH GALACTUS: THE MUSICAL Galactus! I met a space-god named Galactus! And suddenly the Earth Will increase the space god’s girth you see! Galactus! Say it loud and there’s planets quaking Say it soft and and the Earth is shaking. Galactus! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/32 "2015-08-28T20:31:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t think there is a superhero craze. There’s a good movie craze, and that’s not going anywhere. Marvel has been doing well because they’re making good movies. I’m not so sure that holds. Westerns didn’t die out as a viable genre because people weren’t making good westerns anymore. They died out because people were tired of watching cowboys. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/33 "2015-08-28T20:43:36Z")
If they ever get Fantastic Four back, I can see a new MCU whose endgame is the superheros vs. Galactus. I think Marvel will eventually spin off the main films into smaller stand-alone franchises that may be set in the future. There’s a set of comics set in 2099 isn’t there? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/34 "2015-08-28T20:52:41Z")
The end of Ant-Man clearly set up for both his involvement in Civil and a stand-alone sequel, so we’ve already got at least one move planned for Phase 4. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/35 "2015-08-28T21:27:42Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m not so sure that holds. Westerns didn’t die out as a viable genre because people weren’t making good westerns anymore. They died out because people were tired of watching cowboys. Well, to be fair, people got tired of watching the same Western movie over and over again. The studios managed to extend this by making revisionist and even antithetical Western movies; movies like _The Wild Bunch_, _The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly_, _High Plains Drifters_, et cetera, the type of which have continued sporadic popularity (e.g. _Unforgiven_, _Tombstone_, _Deadwood_ et cetera) largely by playing against the archetype. By the same token, Marvel has taken to playing its ostensible superhero films into other genres; for instance, the _Iron Man_ films all play off of variations of the lone genius inventor against ‘industry’ (shades of _The Man in the White Suit_) and/or film noir, the _Thor_ films play into the pseudo-mythological story of Norse gods, _Captain America_ (especially _The Winter Soldier_) folds nicely into the political conspiracy genre, _Guardians of the Galaxy_ is classic science fantasy, and _Ant-Man_ is pretty much a straight up heist film. The Marvel films that play explicitly into classical superhero theme of good versus evil, i.e. the _Hulk_ films have been the least successful, because they are exactly what the public expects. It is still possible to play upon those themes at a more base level, e.g. the Netflix _Daredevil_ series, but it has to be played out with more nuance. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/36 "2015-08-29T09:38:13Z")
No more than there is an end game for the comics universe. (I’m surprised no one else said that.) Yes, they may wrap something up if the writing is on the wall. Yes, they may make a universe shattering event or throw in a reboot. But there’s no plan to go to an ending. That would be silly–what if people still want more? ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991/37 "2015-08-29T10:26:00Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > There are formally announced films going out into [2019](http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/marvel/237462/full-marvel-movie-release-calendar). However, last year, Kevin Feige (president of Marvel Studios) indicated that they, at least at that point, had [a roadmap which went all the way out to 2028](http://screenrant.com/marvel-studios-movies-schedule-releases-2028/). :eek: With the 105 year old Stan Lee still doing cameos? Do you think he’s recorded dozens in front of green screens for use after he’s left us? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-endgame-to-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/728991.md?page=1)