The first opus of the Marvel universe with entirely female leads, this feature film released Wednesday in France is not only in line with the 32 other films in the franchise, but also borrows from the plot of two series television.
It’s well known that Hollywood loves to turn its successes into sequels. But few recent films have had to deal with such heavy liabilities – on screen, as well as off camera – as the new superheroine adventure, The Marvels, in theaters Wednesday, November 8. Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel (still played by Brie Larson), is thus assigned two partners from the Disney+ series WandaVision And Miss Marvel : Monica Rambeau, played by Teyonah Parris, and Kamala Khan, played by Iman Vellani.
Women to save the universe
The three women are forced to team up to save the universe as they unwittingly swap bodies when using their superpowers due to an anomaly. A plot twist that Marvel films are accustomed to but which fuels fears of worsening the weariness shown by the public with regard to superhero adventures.
According to the magazine Varietyfollowing the franchise these days is more akin to “school work” than entertainment. For its director Nia DaCosta, the challenge of the film was to alternate between exploring the backgrounds of its heroines and pursuing their new wacky adventures in space. “We tried to honor their stories,” she explained, summarizing her questions. “What do we need to see in this next phase for all the characters, and how can we balance it?”
According to the magazine Varietyfollowing the franchise these days is more akin to “school work” than entertainment. For its director Nia DaCosta, the challenge of the film was to alternate between exploring the backgrounds of its heroines and pursuing their new wacky adventures in space. “We tried to honor their stories,” she explained, summarizing her questions. “What do we need to see in this next phase for all the characters, and how can we balance it?”
Difficulties
The film also faced challenges off camera: to complete the film, filming had to resume for four additional weeks and its release was delayed several times. Rumors regarding a takeover of the film by Marvel studio boss Kevin Feige have circulated. According to Variety, Nia DaCosta even reportedly left the project during post-production. The person concerned denied this information to AFP.
“At the heart of the story, it is about three characters who meet and discover each other for the first time,” said producer Mary Livanos, certain that the public will be able to “follow and enjoy the story” without being knowledgeable about the Marvel universe. Another difficulty, the actors’ strike in Hollywood, which just ended on the evening of November 8, prevented the casting from promoting the film before its release. And as for Captain Marvelreleased in 2019, The Marvels also had to face a campaign of sexist trolling online, towards its three leading female roles.
Sorority
Analysts are not predicting a dazzling fate: they expect $60 million in revenue at the American box office during its first weekend, which would be exceptionally low for a Marvel film. But Mary Livanos wants to be confident. The producer recalls that several projects directed by women are currently a hit in the United States. “It’s really exciting and it’s a happy coincidence that the film is coming out after this incredible summer with barbie And Taylor Swift this fall in cinemas”, she insists, hoping that the film can take advantage of this momentum.
For Nia DaCosta, Marvel’s youngest director, hired at 30 with only one acclaimed independent film to her credit, sisterhood is a recurring theme. His first movie, Little Woodstells the story of two sisters who struggle to escape poverty, a criminal past and an unwanted pregnancy, and who must come together to support each other. “That’s a bit how I saw these three characters, (…) three sisters who have to find themselves – and find each other”, she says. “In the Marvel Universe, that means becoming a great superhero team.”