MCU Roles Aren’t the Biggest Deal in Hollywood Now

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A new report has revealed that Marvel roles are no longer as appealing to actors as they once were. The study highlights how interest has declined since the height of the MCU’s Infinity Saga and points to shifting trends in Hollywood casting.

Lesser actors are demanding Marvel roles

According to Variety, fewer Hollywood actors are asking to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe than during its peak years. One top agent explained, “Joining the MCU is still a crazy, life-changing opportunity, but I don’t have as many clients asking to do one as they were five years ago.” That time frame coincided with Avengers: Endgame, which remains the franchise’s most profitable release and the second-highest-grossing movie of all time.

Variety reported that Marvel’s 2025 releases Thunderbolts*, Captain America: Brave New World, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps “all dramatically underperformed compared with their predecessors and barely eked out a profit.” An executive noted that “the standalone movies are in trouble, because you feel like you can miss it now.” Another director added, “Any movie could be huge, but nothing is close to a guarantee.”

The downturn comes after Marvel expanded its output in the early 2020s. The studio produced both theatrical films and streaming series. Variety’s franchise scorecard found the MCU had the highest market saturation across films, Disney+ shows, and related projects. Marvel’s breakout hits, such as Deadpool & Wolverine and Spider-Man: No Way Home, remain exceptions. These successes were largely tied to major crossovers or character returns.

Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Evans led the Infinity Saga. The current Multiverse Saga has relied on lesser-known characters. Films like Eternals and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings have been less profitable in this saga.

Marvel Studios executives see the two upcoming Avengers films as stabilizing forces. One executive told Variety they view Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars as “bulletproof.” They expect that crossover events will continue to anchor the franchise’s commercial appeal.

Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.

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