2020 has the potential to be the year in which DC can finally overtake Marvel at the movies and on television. It can’t be denied that 2019 was a tremendous year for Marvel. With three films all seeing massive success commercially and critically, as well as the continued praise of their television and streaming programs, Marvel had done well for themselves. However, as the brand seems to cool down in the new year following the saga-ending Avengers: Endgame, with only some smaller releases on the big screen and a handful of TV series, this could be the perfect opportunity for DC to outshine Marvel on both fronts with their future offerings.
The two biggest comic book brands in the world, DC and Marvel, have in some form or another been at odds for as long as they’ve both existed. Though it has since been refuted that there is no rivalry between the two, when the Marvel Cinematic Universe launched in 2008 fans knew it was only a matter of time before DC and Warner Bros. responded with a shared continuity of their own. They started off fairly strong in 2013 with Man of Steel; however, from there, the films in the universe haven’t been up to par with Marvel’s. With only seven movies in the series released up to this point, what has become known as the DC Extended Universe has more or less flopped as a shared universe, even though the franchise’s movies have performed well individually.
Though the MCU has been going strong for over a decade, it has reached a point of contraction as it looks to rebuild a new saga in the coming years. The smaller scope and introduction of lesser-known characters could allow DC the perfect window to make up some lost ground against their competitor. 2020 is certainly not poised to be as big as 2019 in regards to the superhero genre as a whole, but that lighter release schedule may be all DC needs to regain its footing, reestablish its universe, and perhaps remind audiences of what they can do with the characters they have.
Marvel’s 2020 Release Slate
Hot off the heels of an epic 2019, Marvel Studios appears to be starting from scratch. The franchise reached a fever pitch following the release of Avengers: Endgame and now looks for a fresh start. Phase 4 officially begins in May with Black Widow, and during the summer fans will be able to watch on ABC the final season of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which will run for 13 episodes. Also, during the fall, the Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier will be released, around the same time as The Eternals that will hit theaters in November of 2020. WandaVision has also been pushed up from its previous 2021 release to a 2020 debut on Disney+. All in all, some strong content, but still a far cry from their previous year.
Marvel is cooling down in 2020, introducing new characters and expanding upon those who were in minor supporting roles in years past. There is not nearly as much buzz as there was for what was released last year, and it is clear that the franchise is in no hurry to rush the success they had with the Infinity Saga. It took them over a decade to pay off all the films leading up to the finale, and surely to top it would take just as long, if not longer. It will be a slow burn, and surely Marvel head Kevin Feige and those at Marvel Studios are well aware of this, so they are prepared to have a slow year, here and there, in order to make the next Endgame-level team-up film that much stronger.
DC’s 2020 Release Slate
Meanwhile on the DC side of things, they continue along their Arrowverse crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths, which will wrap up in the middle of January. Throughout the year, DC will keep fans occupied with their CW offerings, with The Flash, Batwoman, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl continuing throughout the year beyond the crossover event. They kick off their movie releases with Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), which will act as something of a Suicide Squad offshoot, that is to be released in February. Later in the year, Wonder Woman 1984, the follow up to 2017’s Wonder Woman, will hit theaters in June.
DC is firing on all cylinders this year. There is a perfect blend of old favorites coming back into the spotlight for a sequel or another season of a TV show as well as new characters taking center stage for the first time. Not to mention all of the cameos throughout Crisis on Infinite Earths have fans from all corners of the multiverse tuning in. They have something for everyone this year, and while the response has been mixed to most of their releases, DC needs releases like this in order to take advantage of Marvel’s loosened grip on the superhero genre heading into 2020.
DC Can Take Advantage Of Marvel’s Recovery Period
Marvel is clearly in a rebuilding stage right now, having to work with what is left, after Phase 3 saw its conclusion and a slew of their biggest characters wrapped up their stories. Surely they aren’t looking to put the MCU to rest anytime soon, and their releases in the coming year are certain to be incredibly popular. It is still indisputable, at the moment, that they remain the top dog in the superhero game, but if 2020 is as “back to basics” as their release schedule leads on, this could be a tremendous opportunity for DC to fill the void.
As indicative of their recent releases, DC is working hard to try out many different styles and presentations to their films, as well as their TV series. After years of being criticized for a bland, uninteresting presentation, they have begun to try out a variety of different looks, characters, and genres in order to entice a wider audience to see what the buzz is about while also quietly putting the previous DCEU approach to bed. To some extent, it does appear to be working, as within the past few months the brand has become more and more talked about than in years past. With Marvel taking a step back in 2020, there could be even more room for DC to take their spotlight.
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