The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is currently facing numerous challenges in the post-Endgame era. Not only has the pandemic significantly impacted production over the last two years, but the quality of Marvel Studios’ projects has also seen a downturn, failing to achieve the same level of success as in previous phases. Phase 4 of the MCU has only produced one film that surpassed $1 billion at the box office (Spider-Man: No Way Home), while major releases like Black Widow and Eternals performed poorly, earning only around $400 million each.
Additionally, the quality of visual effects (VFX) in recent Marvel productions has raised significant concerns, indicating a decline compared to earlier phases of the franchise. In mid-2022, many VFX artists voiced their frustrations with the studio due to overwhelming workloads and tight deadlines that often lead to compromised quality. This situation has prompted ongoing discussions about the production process, with some stating that “Marvel is the studio with the worst VFX production and management processes today.”
However, this doesn’t mean things are at their worst. According to a recent survey by Vulture, the current atmosphere at Marvel Studios could be described as a “low energy environment,” as budgets for visual effects have reportedly been about 20% lower than those of other studios.
According to VFX-IATSE (the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), Marvel tends to assign a single individual to handle tasks that other studios would typically require a team of three to accomplish. A VFX artist (who wished to remain anonymous) even mentioned that many professionals have to juggle “four jobs in one,” meaning they are tasked with responsibilities that would normally involve four times the salary they receive.
The working conditions are indeed tough. Nonetheless, very few VFX companies dare to refuse collaboration with Marvel. As reported by Vulture, Victoria Alonso, the President of Physical and Post Production, Visual Effects, and Animation Production at Marvel Studios, currently wields substantial influence in Hollywood and could indeed lead many VFX companies to collaborate with her in the future. This situation suggests that finding qualified talent may become increasingly challenging, limiting opportunities for new projects down the line. However, VFX companies that successfully complete work for Marvel are likely to be approached for larger, higher-value projects.
Despite these challenges, Marvel Studios is actively working to improve the situation as VFX professionals continue to demand higher pay in recent times. According to Vulture, in 2022, this studio decided to allocate higher budgets for visual effects, particularly for projects related to its animated series on Disney+. However, these developments have made Marvel’s executives feel uneasy. Some sources indicate that they are even considering establishing their own VFX company and may limit collaborations with third parties in the future.
Regardless of Marvel’s plans moving forward, the most crucial aspect is that they must quickly reevaluate their production processes, especially as the MCU prepares to transition into a new phase. Since the very beginning, the success of this cinematic universe has largely depended on the quality of visuals and effects. Therefore, addressing the issues with VFX companies is essential at this juncture to ensure the success of upcoming blockbuster projects and to avoid mistakes seen in productions like She-Hulk or Thor: Love and Thunder.
Source: ScreenRant, Vulture
