If you’re a big movie fan, and especially a big SUPERHERO movie fan, what were you probably doing around this time last April – and the April before that? Gearing-up for an “Avengers” movie!
But here we are, in April 2020, and there is no “Avengers” movie this year. In fact, there’s no Marvel Cinematic Universe installment to kick-off the Summer Movie Season for the first time since 2014. That year, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” opened the first Friday in April (still, technically, Spring).
There was “Avengers: Age of Ultron” in May 2015, “Captain America: Civil War” in May 2016, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” in May 2017 and those “Avengers” chapters (“Infinity War” and “Endgame”) on the final Fridays in April 2018 and 2019.
Of course, “Black Widow” was supposed to be released on May 1st. But life had other plans. For now, Disney and Marvel have sent the Scarlett Johansson-starring action film to November.
The 16-month gap between “Spider-Man: Far From Home” (the previous MCU release on July 2, 2019) and the Nov. 6, 2020 release of “Black Widow” is easily the longest stretch of time between MCU movies since “The Incredible Hulk” to “Iron Man 2”’s 23-month gap from June 2008 to May 2010.
But maybe this break is exactly what the Marvel Cinematic Universe needed. For years, many (including myself) have complained about the over-abundance of superhero blockbusters dominating multiplexes. Heck, look at all that Martin Scorsese recently said. Now, we’re in a moment where there are no comic book flicks being absorbed by the eyeballs of comic book fanatics.
When the theatrical experience comes back swinging (hopefully soon), major interest in these superhero films will start up again, equating to BIG box office. And they’ll all probably be piled on top of each other in the release schedule.
But for now, let’s all take a deep breath, stay safe and positive… and focus our attention on some real-life heroes instead.