Hollywood Franchises Benefit from Breaks to Foster Anticipation, Suggests Director Edgar Wright of Scott Pilgrim
Hollywood franchises benefit from periodic breaks to generate excitement, suggests Edgar Wright, director of Scott Pilgrim Although not directly mentioning Marvel, it's evident his comments allude to the popular superhero franchise
Instead of moving on to Phase 5, a movie director believes that the MCU should take a break for five. Edgar Wright (known for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Baby Driver) has hinted at this view, although he refrained from explicitly naming any specific Hollywood franchises in his suggestion.
During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast (reported by IndieWire), Wright discussed the general fatigue caused by movie franchises. "I think one of the problems with film franchises is sometimes when they announce--I'm not mentioning any names of anything--when they announce like massive slates of films and TV shows […] there's a danger of killing the golden goose," the director said.
While not explicitly mentioned, it's clear that Disney's MCU and Star Wars are the only franchises that announce multiple films and TV series years in advance. In contrast, Wright admires the James Bond series for taking a break between releases in order to build anticipation. "They are wise to slow down and create excitement for the next installment," remarked Wright. "I believe that some films and series would benefit from taking a hiatus to generate anticipation."
Wright, now 49, acknowledges that he may no longer be the intended audience for Hollywood blockbusters. "I don't want to criticize any franchises, but being older now, it's different when you have kids and want to introduce them to these movies," he explained. "But it's a strange thing. If I could go back to being a young film fan and just enjoy a movie, and then people tell me there will be one every three years for the rest of my life, I'd be surprised. What makes me sad is the lack of investment in new movies."
For those who don't know, Wright was originally set to direct the Marvel film Ant-Man but ultimately left due to creative differences. He has yet to watch the movie, despite being a credited writer for it.
After not directing Ant-Man, Wright moved on to direct the film Baby Driver in 2017. In 2021, he directed the documentary The Sparks Brothers and the film Last Night in Soho. Currently, he is promoting the Netflix series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, a sequel and remake to his 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
Image credit: Getty Images/Presley Ann
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about Hollywood franchises taking breaks to foster anticipation. On the one hand, I understand the desire to keep fans excited about a franchise by not releasing new content too frequently. On the other hand, I also understand the frustration of fans who have to wait years for new installments in their favorite franchises.
I think it's important for Hollywood studios to find a balance between these two extremes. They need to release new content often enough to keep fans engaged, but they also need to make sure that they don't oversaturate the market with content.
Ultimately, I think it's up to each individual fan to decide whether or not they're willing to wait for new content in their favorite franchises. Some fans may be happy to wait years for a new movie or TV show, while others may prefer to watch something else in the meantime.
