Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the Marvel Cinematic Universe would no longer release more than three films per year.
The announcement and the current Marvel calendar are now at odds
In a deliberate attempt to focus more on quality than a number, following the kind of slack they received with multiple films tanking at the box office in 2023, Bob Iger stated that they want to reduce output and focus on quality, a policy he said was “particularly true with Marvel”.
Bob Iger stated, “We’re slowly going to decrease volume and go to probably about two TV series a year instead of what had become four and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two, or a maximum of three.”
He added, “And we’re working hard on what that path is.”
Bob also added that there was a lot to look forward to this year and next, as he said that there are “a couple of good films in ’25 and then we’re heading to more ‘Avengers,’ which we’re extremely excited about,” adding: “Overall, I feel great about the slate. It’s something that I’ve committed to spending more and more time on. The team is one that I have tremendous confidence in, and the IP that we’re mining, including all the sequels that we’re doing, is second to none.”
Meanwhile, the announcement and Marvel calendar are now at odds, as Disney’s recent release schedule lists four films in 2025: Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, The Fantastic Four, and Blade. Then there are four in 2026—including the fifth Avengers film.
In the current year, there is only one Marvel film: Deadpool & Wolverine.
Bob also stated that the forthcoming slate will have a mix of sequels and originals, emphasizing that the present emphasis is on franchise films: “We’re gonna balance sequels with originals. Specifically in animation, we had gone through a period where our original films and animation, both Disney and Pixar, were dominating. We’re now swinging back a bit to lean on sequels.”