Marvel, Star Wars and DC Fans Share Concerns About Their Favorite Franchises

For years, ‘Marvel’, ‘DC’, and ‘Star Wars’ dominated the box office, turning nearly every new release into a significant event. However, recent trends indicate a shift in audience engagement.

During San Diego Comic-Con, Variety engaged with fans to uncover their thoughts on why these once-mighty franchises seem to struggle in resonating with viewers. While opinions varied, many fans identified common issues: an overwhelming amount of content, subpar films, perplexing creative decisions, and a heavy reliance on familiar characters.

DC fans, in particular, are grappling with the direction of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe. One fan, John from Oklahoma City, candidly expressed his discontent regarding the upcoming ‘Supergirl’.

“I think the new ‘Supergirl’ sucks,” he shared with Variety, suggesting that DC should carve out its own identity instead of trying to compete with Marvel.

Not all DC fans echoed this sentiment. Nathan, a 28-year-old from Los Angeles dressed as Lobo, initially feared that Gunn would make Superman too similar to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. After viewing the film, he changed his stance, stating he “loved” it.

Nathan believes that DC’s greatest potential lies in allowing filmmakers the freedom to create distinct films. He highlighted the upcoming Clayface movie, which is expected to adopt a horror theme, as a promising example.

He also raised concerns about the studio’s reliance on audience testing. Referring to reports of multiple versions of ‘Supergirl’ being considered before its release, Nathan remarked, “general audiences don’t know what they want.” He feels that studios should sometimes trust a filmmaker’s vision rather than altering a movie based on preliminary feedback.

Star Wars fans voiced their own grievances. Jermaine, a 36-year-old from Los Angeles who crafted an impressive 14-foot lightsaber cosplay, expressed optimism for the franchise. He praised ‘Andor’ as a “masterpiece,” even while acknowledging that recent Star Wars films have been a “mixed bag.”

Kyle, a 29-year-old Rebel Commando cosplayer, suggested that Disney+ might be contributing to the issue. He believes the vast array of Star Wars content available on the streaming platform has led to a sense of oversaturation.

“It feels like they’re trying to push things out onto a streaming service rather than actually make something grand and adventurous,” Kyle said.

Marvel fans appeared more optimistic, particularly following the studio’s impressive Hall H presentation. Cameron, a 34-year-old Cyclops cosplayer, described Marvel as undergoing an exciting transition, while Spider-Man enthusiast Nate expressed he was “super excited” about ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.

However, not all were convinced. Jordan, a 33-year-old fan, told Variety that while Marvel’s brand remains strong due to projects like ‘X-Men ’97’ and ‘Marvel Rivals’, she is not impressed with the studio’s current trajectory, specifically criticizing the lack of female representation in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.

Some fans believe the issues extend beyond individual franchises. Crystal, a former TV editor, attributed the changes in audience engagement to the rise of streaming.

“Streaming really destroyed a lot,” she shared with Variety, arguing that audiences no longer experience major shows and films collectively as part of a shared culture.

This may represent the most significant challenge facing ‘Marvel’, ‘DC’, and ‘Star Wars’. Once regarded as shared cultural phenomena, these franchises now struggle to connect with audiences amid a deluge of streaming content, constant releases, and a fragmented viewership. Simply having a well-known character is no longer sufficient.

Ruby, a construction worker from San Francisco, perhaps encapsulated the collective frustration best after Marvel’s Comic-Con presentation. While she appreciated the surprises, she remained cautious.

“So, it’s really cool to see ‘Ghost Rider,’ but are we gonna get ‘Ghost Rider?’ I’m still waiting for ‘Blade.’”

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