Armor Wars will now be a film as an alternative of a present, and that might point out a change within the MCU’s Disney+ technique. Taking many without warning, THR reported that Armor Wars starring Don Cheadle is being reworked as a film for a theatrical launch. Marvel Studios has but to formally announce the Armor Wars film, which might make it the primary MCU challenge to be modified from a Disney+ sequence to a theatrical characteristic movie.
Armor Wars is ready to be Warfare Machine’s first solo journey within the MCU. Launched within the very first MCU movie Iron Man (2008), James Rhodes was initially performed by Terrence Howard. After a paying dispute led to Howard not returning for the sequel, Don Cheadle was solid as James Rhodes in Iron Man 2. Cheadle reprised his function as Warfare Machine in Iron Man 3, each Avengers film aside from the primary one, Captain America: Civil Warfare, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Don Cheadle had expressed curiosity in higher growing Rhodes as a personality, particularly after Avengers: Endgame. That chance arrived within the type of Armor Wars, a Disney+ MCU sequence that might draw inspiration from the homonymous comedian however would primarily be an authentic story. With Armor Wars now changing into a film, Marvel proves that it’s keen to interrupt its Disney+ components if the story asks for it – which is nice information for the remainder of the Multiverse Saga and for the way forward for the franchise as an entire. Not each story can work in a restricted sequence format, as proved by flaws that productions similar to WandaVision and Hawkeye have proven. This new method means that the MCU is displaying hitherto unseen flexibility, boding effectively for the remainder of the franchise.
Why Is Armor Wars Changing into A Film?
Within the authentic THR report that broke the information of the Armor Wars film, it’s acknowledged that Marvel Studios was “dedicated to getting the story advised the instantly” and realized after a protracted course of that the challenge would work higher as a characteristic movie somewhat than a TV present. The Armor Wars growth course of started in December 2020 when Marvel introduced that Don Cheadle would return as Warfare Machine in a Disney+ present impressed by the comedian guide arc Armor Wars. Not a lot was heard about Armor Wars till August 2021 when Yassi Lester joined the challenge because the present’s head author. Nonetheless, nearly two years after the unique Armor Wars announcement, the present had but to begin taking pictures.
The information that Armor Wars will now be a present as an alternative of a Disney+ sequence comes as a shock contemplating that Marvel had simply confirmed the present at D23 2022. Whereas Don Cheadle was not on stage, Kevin Feige revealed a model new Armor Wars brand and described the challenge as a six-episode sequence. Three weeks later, Marvel is now reportedly eager on an Armor Wars film somewhat than a present. Yassi Lester stays connected to the challenge as the pinnacle author, however neither a director nor a launch date has been introduced. Contemplating how Armor Wars was not a part of Marvel’s Part 5 slate revealed at D23, an Armor Wars film would possible be a part of Part 6.
Marvel’s Disney+ Technique Is Flawed
The truth that Armor Wars was changed into a characteristic movie to ensure that the creatives concerned to get the story proper proposes a mirrored image on Marvel’s Disney technique. With the MCU having to “begin from starch” after Avengers: Endgame concluded the Infinity Saga, the Disney+ platform supplied a terrific alternative for Marvel to introduce new characters or higher develop those that had survived Endgame and would nonetheless play an element in the way forward for the franchise. The Disney+ platform additionally meant that Marvel Studios could possibly be extra experimental with the MCU, as it’s simpler to mix genres and bend tropes in a streaming format than it’s on the large display screen. Disney’s streaming service additionally permits the MCU to maintain increasing with out making a “Marvel film fatigue”, because the TV exhibits would add a breath of recent air into the franchise.
Nonetheless, nearly two years after Marvel’s first Disney+ sequence WandaVision, nearly each MCU present has had issues with pacing, construction, and story. These issues come from the truth that Marvel’s Disney+ productions will not be a film however are additionally not conventional serialized TV – they’re one thing in between. Many of the MCU Disney+ sequence like WandaVision, Hawkeye, and Ms. Marvel have had a six-episode run, which Kevin Feige and the creators concerned would usually consult with as a “six-hour film”. Whereas that method could appear thrilling, it results in an uncommon tempo that doesn’t resemble that of an precise MCU film however that additionally doesn’t resemble a conventional, serialized story. That results in numerous the MCU sequence feeling too lengthy to be a film however too quick to be a satisfying present, an issue that has prolonged from WandaVision to Ms. Marvel.
An Armor Was Film Avoids Repeating Marvel’s Disney+ Method
Reshaping the Armor Wars present right into a film can keep away from {that a} promising story finally ends up not attaining its true potential. After six MCU Disney+ productions adopted the six-episode format, the Armor Wars present risked changing into as predictable as latest Marvel exhibits. An upgraded go well with in the direction of the top of the present, a surprising villain twist halfway by the season, and an action-packed battle within the season finale are tropes that may be present in nearly each Marvel Part 4 sequence. In principle, WandaVision mustn’t have the identical story beats as Hawkeye, but the constraints of the six-episode format have made the MCU exhibits an excessive amount of like one another.
A number of Marvel exhibits haven’t adopted this components, which made them really feel at the least extra unpredictable. For instance, whereas Loki did characteristic most of the commonest tropes in one other six-episode run, the present is confirmed to have a follow-up second season and didn’t attempt to resolve each battle in a rushed finale. One other instance is What If…?, an animated anthology sequence that stunned numerous viewers when all the tales converged into one season finale. Nonetheless, having Armor Wars as a film ensures that it’ll not repeat most of the most egregious Marvel Disney+ present errors.
The Armor Wars Film Can Set A Nice Precedent For The MCU
Even when Armor Wars’ change from a Disney+ present right into a film applies to this case solely and doesn’t have an effect on future MCU tasks, it’s at the least good to know that Marvel Studios is keen to deviate from an authentic plan if the story asks for it. The Disney+ platform is a good software for Marvel Studios to broaden the MCU and transfer the saga sooner, however a six-episode occasion sequence is not going to work for each character or story. Hopefully, Armor Wars changing into a film will lead the MCU to higher take into account which tasks ought to be a sequence and which ought to go to the large display screen. Not solely that, however it’ll hopefully lead the MCU to not be so strict in the case of the format of the Disney+ exhibits.
