This town might not be big enough for both of us. At least, that seems to be the thought process for many superhero aficionados.
With the DCU starting fresh, how many potential and formerMCUactors and directors will swap their Feige hats for their Gunn belts? Gunn is a beloved director who everyone seems to love to work with, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see a few actors flip sides.
The Marvel Studio System and Credibility
Actors that have starred in Marvel properties have a dual-edged sword to deal with. On the one hand, being employed by Marvel often comes with a financial, career, and overall visibility boost. On the other, Marvel often makes actors sign on for multi-picture deals.
This double-edged sword means that actors may be typecast or associated too much with a specific character. Years-long deals often seem like the old studio system of doing entertainment business. But for many of these actors, it can do wonders for their careers and provide stability for at least a few years.
The thing is that these actors no longer have just the single option of working for Marvel. Now that theDCUis ramping up its efforts, and the fact that James Gunn now has a history with many MCU actors, there are suddenly options available where there were not before.
The DCU Offers Options and New Ground
What the DCU has to offer MCU Talent is a fresh start as a new character. They may even be able to do brief cameos where once they were signing big contracts. Imagine if the DCU could score Robert Downey Jr. for even five minutes of screen time. Absolute chaos. But audiences would show up in droves. Good for the actor and great for the studio.
Related:The Reason for James Gunn’s DCU Hiring Explained Simply by WBD CEO; “Everyone Wants To Work With Him.”
As for directors, many have said they don’t want to be mired in the muck and rigid storytelling style the MCU has created. But James Gunn’s DCU is a new experiment. Directors may see him in a more positive light as he has the clout of being a fellow director and think they may be allowed more leeway with characters.
There are plenty of directors who shun superhero movies. But perhaps this whole time it’s been about shunning Marvel superhero movies.With Zack Snyder out of the way, there is more than just a little wiggle room for truly creative, established talent.
New directors may also want a seat at the table. Where Marvel has built its stable, DC is still making inroads with new talent. And Gunn is very aware of what it feels like to be a new director with a fun project and some runway.
Marvels Brain Drain
The fact is that the monopoly is over. Marvel, once the only kid in town, is now about to share the spotlight. This means that even their higher-ups now have options.
No matter how well people think Marvel has done with their properties, their reliance on zero competition has done them well for fifteen years. But now DC has the money and executive team to woo top-notch talent away from the MCU.
Victoria Alonso parted ways with Marvelafter seventeen years. Her next career step could very well include DC. Her top-level knowledge of the industry from the inside could be very valuable to James Gunn and his team. If DC can snag executive talent along with onscreen talent from Marvel, it could lead to a monumental shift for the titan of superheroes.
The DCU can be a bastion of hope for those who have had it with their time at Marvel. But, whether it is executives, actors, or even FX artists, the company will soon see a shift. When they are no longer the only game in town, people who want the clout associated with a big superhero brand no longer need to stick with this one-stop shop.
Marvel Loses When Disney Cuts Back
Bob Iger has a problem. His corporation is hemorrhaging money. Due to this, he’s been laying off workers, selling off properties, and taking a hard look at money-making content. Two properties stand out: Star Wars and Marvel. Both have been at the forefront of Disney’s portfolio for years. However, both now risk overexposure.
Related:Disney+ and Hulu: The Biggest Shows & Movies Being Removed
Iger has made it clear that Marvel shows and movies will begin following a different pace. Part of this move is to slow spending; the other is to bleed the properties for as long as possible.
For Iger, the Disney+ shows already in the bag can be doled out a bit more sparingly. And movies can be spaced to give more hype and temper saturation. But with this move, Marvel may lose out. With a five-year slate of projects already announced, it may become difficult to hold on to actors and directors whose projects keep getting delayed.
DC will undoubtedly be there when Marvel’s world comes crashing down. They don’t want a catastrophe, as the fall of Marvel would most definitely be a canary for the industry. However, a few people jumping ship wouldn’t hurt how DC does business.
So far, it does not seem that talent needs to sign any type of noncompeting paperwork. But, should that happen, actors and directors must make a choice that could tip how the superhero genre has balanced for over a decade.
Marvel will lose talent to DC, but it may already be losing it simply because Disney is scared of what might come next.
