With almost all of the movies and shows of Phase 4 being announced in the prior months, it is evident that Kevin Feige looks to continue with the MCU into the indefinite future. Given the MCU's success, this comes as no surprise. New shows, new movies, and new characters have already been announced, indicating that Feige and the rest of Marvel are planning for the future, Phase 5 and beyond.
Seldom thought about among MCU fans, however, is the eventual end of the MCU. If Marvel truly wanted to end at the top, then Phase 5 would be the ideal phase for their termination, as it would seemingly be near, or possibly at, the apex of the MCU. To some fans, this would be a good place to end this beloved universe while to others, this idea is nothing more than foolish.
10 Should Stop: Spider-Man might not be part of the MCU's future
Spider-Man is a juggernaut in the Marvel Universe, arguably their most popular character across all of their assets. While fans have already gotten two MCU Spider-Man movies so far, and another for Phase 4, Spider-Man's time in the MCU looks to be coming to an end. Unless another deal between Sony and Marvel takes place, it looks as though Spider-Man will once again return to Sony Pictures, cut off from the MCU.
To many fans, Spider-Man is a pillar of the MCU, and so not having him in future films, interacting with other heroes, would be a deal-breaker. Hence, to continue with the MCU past Phase 5 without Spider-Man would feel incomplete.
9 Should Continue: It wouldn't make sense story-wise to just "end" a universe
If Marvel was planning on ending the MCU, then it would have to involve lots of hand waving. Because they've dedicated so much time and effort to create a universe, they would have to conclude every character's storyline, leaving them off in a good place that fans would be happy about. Essentially, every hero would either have to die heroically or pull a Steve Rogers.
This would be too much work and it wouldn't make sense to conclude everyone's storyline. Ending it all at Phase 5 would be an arduous task.
8 Should Stop: Marvel would seemingly have a monopoly on the film industry
Simply stated, Marvel movies are, and will continue to be, huge successes. These movies have become so big that they might become a problem down the line. Because Marvel will be releasing so many more superhero movies in the near future, a box office saturation of superhero movies might occur.
This might be an exaggeration but it is a possibility. Superhero movies might not be the best for cinema as a whole, as they will make it less diverse.
7 Should Continue: Always more stories to explore
Marvel Comics does not have a shortage of great stories, and so source material will never run out for the MCU. Plus, Marvel knows how to hire some talented writers for their shows and movies, so there will always be new and exciting stories to be told in the future.
The MCU does not have to worry about running out of ideas. Because of this, ending the MCU without first exploring these stories would be a shame to fans and creators alike.
6 Should Stop: Fans might feel burnt out in the future
With so many Marvel movies coming out in the future, viewers might get a bit worn out in the upcoming phases. This is not to say that the quality of movies will go down, but rather that too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing. The situation is analogous to reading a single comic book series continually for years on end. Fans might become tired of this universe and crave something new and different.
Thus, making more movies and shows might feel like a drag. Everyone knows of that show that had one too many seasons or that movie series that had one too many sequels. Marvel should try to avoid this.
5 Should Continue: Many characters still need to make their MCU debut
There are just so many great exciting characters in the Marvel universe that have not yet made their debut in the MCU. Comic book fans want to see live-action versions of their favorite heroes. Niche forgotten heroes can get their chance to shine as well. Because of this, ending the MCU prematurely, or at all, might disappoint some fans.
New shows and movies that revolve around lesser-known characters not only spice up the movie list, but also promote their comic books. It's a win-win for fans and Marvel alike.
4 Should Stop: If it doesn't stop at Phase 5, when is it supposed to stop, if at all?
If Marvel doesn't stop at Phase 5, then when exactly should the company call it quits? Should the MCU just go on forever? Though this would be nice, it might be a bit unrealistic. Shows and movies cost a lot of money and need a lot of resources so expecting Marvel to continue to pump out these high-quality movies and show forever isn't going to happen.
Marvel needs to think long-term, very long-term, about what exactly the future of the MCU is going to look like. Should they end when they are on top or continue until they are in the trenches?
3 Should Continue: The MCU has a dedicated fanbase that should not be abandoned
The MCU has garnered a dedicated global fanbase over the years. These fans are the lifeblood of Marvel. They buy the merchandise, visit the theme parks, read the comics, and watch the films and shows. Ending the MCU would disappoint these fans, making it feel as though Marvel was abandoning them.
Because of how massive the MCU fandom has become, ending the MCU could be a disastrous decision. Fans could grow resentful of Marvel, which could ultimately lead to problems for the company down the line.
2 Should Stop: Future phases would make it difficult for new fans to jump in
At the core, the MCU is one big cinematic story. And so, to understand the whole story, fans need to start at the beginning. In order to keep up with the new content being produced, fans should be familiar with all the movies and shows that were released prior to that point. Its a big and daunting task that can come off as a bit intimidating to newcomers.
For Phase 6 and beyond, in order for new fans to become acclimated with the universe, they would need to watch 5 or more phases worth of movies and TV shows. At that point, fans would need to dedicate a month, possibly more, of their time watching the Marvel films. As great as the MCU is, it is not newcomer friendly, which could become a problem for Marvel in the future.
1 Should Continue: The MCU is still going strong, so they should continue with their momentum
The MCU is going strong and there are no signs that they are going to slow down. With this in mind, it would be a bit foolish to call it quits as of now. The MCU is still relatively young so it needs more time to grow and develop. The entire franchise is riding off of the momentum of Endgame, and so they should continue to use this to their advantage.
Marvel and the MCU is at its prime so fans can be assured that this universe, and its characters, won't be going anywhere any time soon.