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Has the MCU lost its magic? Disney CEO Bob Iger reveals what he thinks the reason is for a disappointing Phase 4 and 5 for fans.

It’s been no secret that many fans have grown tired of the MCU after Avengers: Endgame. While the studio did have its hits like Shang-Chi and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it also had its struggles with projects like Black Widow and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. During a recent interview, Disney’s CEO Bob Iger said that the company’s increased project load may have taxed creatives and diluted attention:

“Marvel’s a great example of that… They had not been in the TV business at any significant level,” Iger told CNBC. “Not only did they increase their movie output, but they ended up making a number of television series, and frankly, it diluted focus and attention. That is, I think, more the cause than anything else.”

The MCU has certainly ballooned in size recently. Not counting one-shots, Phase 3 only had 11 projects, while Phase 4 had 18 and Phase 5 is planned to have 13, with more potentially to be added. This technique does have its benefits, such as giving heroes like Moon Knight and Werewolf By Night who would have never had projects in the old model a chance to shine. However, with it being revealed that streaming services such as Disney Plus may be operating at a loss, this extra content may not only be creatively unsustainable, but financially as well.

The future of the Avengers franchise

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is the first movie in a two-part finale to Marvel’s Multiverse Saga. It will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars, rounding out Marvel Studios’ Phase 6. Both films are scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2025.

Destin Daniel Cretton is set to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, with Jeff Loveness attached to write. Michael Waldron will write Avengers: Secret Wars, though there is no director attached to the project.

With the expansive Multiverse Saga and its star-studded cast at the helm, Marvel fans are undoubtedly on edge for the next two Avengers movies. Regardless of how fans interpret Robert Downey Jr.’s comments, one thing is certain: Marvel Studios has a grand vision in mind.