But does that really tally with what we witness on the entertainment market as a whole? I mean, there is hardly a film in the popcorn segment that doesn’t at least include hopes of a potential sequel in its contracts, from Kingsman to Bourne to It to MI to whathaveyou.
Joker is probably that one exception from the rule, mainly because Phoenix doesn’t want to do a whole series of films and the Joker isn’t a hero in the traditional sense. With Bond I think any actor would also hope to return to the role - and that wouldn’t be detrimental in my view to a one-off. Bourne for example could have profited from a distinctive change of tone and course, showing more than just machine-agent-Bourne in destruction mode.
Exactly. Every actor lucky enough to get a franchise role will fight tooth and nail to keep it. Of course, in the press they will claim that as artists they long for other rewarding roles. But that‘s just PR.
Even Phoenix, by the way, has said now that there would be many more things to explore with that character. Expect him to pop up in future films, even if it is denied currently.
The ideal is what RDJ, Christian Bale and, to some extent, Daniel Craig had of having a franchise role to keep returning to, but having time to do other works around it. A franchise role gives long term job security in a profession that doesn’t allow for it, and if you can make it into a production you’re proud to be forever associated with, well that’s just an added bonus.
I do note that Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig are already framing his Knives Out role as, potentially, a long term gig. The long term job security of Bond, but not as likely to break limbs.
The quandary for Eon casting so young is that it’d be hard to do so without acknowledging the age and that would mean a learning the ropes theme which has ‘just’ been done by Craig.
Granted it would’ve been almost 20 years by the time Bond 26 is released, but it’s very recent in terms of the movie count in that time.
I’d probably reverse that and say: granted it’s recent in terms of movie count, but it would’ve been almost 20 years by the time B26 is released, so they’d get away with it.
I’d be surprised if many audience members even lodged ‘learning the ropes’ very highly in their recollection of Casino Royale. Of those who did, 20 years is forgivable, especially in the context of a reboot. People are used to reboots arriving sooner than before, and involving more dramatic change (Batman, Spiderman, upcoming Ghostbusters…) than we’re talking with Bond.
(Of course whether Eon see it that way is another matter.)
In any event, Bond 7 probably will not appear before 2024: Marvel has just staked out release dates for four movies in 2022 and 2023, sucking out the air of all quarters of those years…
I adore Marvel movies, but from my experience the second a film actually tanks, the studio, in this instance Disney, will dump it and any related.
I’m fortunate, as a fan, that Feige is aware of this, in a way his 20th Century Fox and Sony counterparts were not…so now Feige has power over both, but careful planning can only get you so far in an industry that relies FAR more on luck, rather than careful planning, than many would admit.
And at some point in time a Marvel movie just has to fail. The audience will grow out of it, grow tired of it, and they will run out of the more interesting heroes they have, and - well, it´s just the way those cycles work. It´s astonishing that this has continued for so long anyway.
But with the “original” Avengers finished now I predict a decline in box office will happen sooner rather than later.
I agree, they’ve only bought themselves time by James Gunn making Guardians of The Galaxy a success, and Ryan Coogler doing the same with Black Panther. Feige’s true success is knowing he’s on a hastily collapsing bridge, and has been doing the best to give himself, and the sub-studio he runs, as much of a future as possible.
I dunno… As much as i see the (highly enjoyable) Marvel films in much the same way as Scorsese, another nail in the coffin of serious storytelling, a change in line up is exactly what Marvel needs. If re-casting into different, but essentially the same stock archetypes was a precursor to decline, then Bond wouldn’t have made it much further than Connery.
How the next phase manifests will tell, not the mere fact that the next phase has come. Feige could try a Dalton and see figures decline, or crowd please with a Moore, Brossa and gamble on it’s longevity, or pull a Craig master stroke and see doomsayers off with record figures.
It’s certainly all on the next role of the dice, but it could go either way and with Feige track record for smart choices i’d be more inclined to predict further success.
Personally, though i’ve had my fill and would like to see their demise make room for original scripts.
The thing is, part of the huge success of Marvel are the old codgers such as me: people in their 50s who watched most of the Marvel stuff for old times sake. We went to the theatres with our kids or grandkids - but once the ‘classic’ lineup is done it’s no longer a sentimental guilty pleasure for my generation. I’ve had my problems getting my head around the Holland Spider-Man already.
So I think the crucial step will be the moment when the middle aged audiences start staying at home and the tent pole blockbuster character of these productions wanes. There will no doubt still be a fanbase but I suppose it will be considerably smaller. After all, these are characters that were originally invented as easily consumed genre fare, much like the pulp heroes of last century. They will not disappear entirely overnight; but their significance will most likely fade somewhat.
That’s the bit I’ve always got most, RDJ properly selling, to me as a father who’s kids have grown up with Holland’s Spider-Man, the surprise father role. It’s what makes Endgame hit so hard for me; Tony doesn’t give a toss about half the universe, he just wanted his surrogate son back! How beautifully Gweneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and Jon Favreau played into that just added to it.
They ALL jest wanted to get back the single member of team Iron Man they lost.
