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Marvel's Thunderbolts Sequel: A Risky Bet or Streaming Gold?
3 Jul
Summary
- Marvel Studios is reportedly developing a sequel to the underperforming Thunderbolts film.
- The original Thunderbolts movie was a box office disappointment, losing money.
- Despite financial struggles, the first Thunderbolts was a huge streaming success on Disney+.
Marvel Studios is reportedly developing a sequel to The Thunderbolts, a surprising move given the first film's financial performance. The initial movie grossed $382.4 million against a $180 million budget but reportedly fell short of its $425 million break-even target, potentially resulting in a loss of over $43 million.
Despite its theatrical struggles, The Thunderbolts became a significant success on Disney+. It garnered 702 million minutes viewed within its first five days, topping streaming charts in 40 countries. This suggests Disney may be gambling on a theatrical sequel to capitalize on its streaming popularity.
Alternatively, the sequel could serve to advance major plot developments within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, potentially setting up future events like Avengers: Doomsday and the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars. Director Jake Schreier, who helmed the first film and is also set to direct the MCU's X-Men movie, may also be a factor in the studio's decision.
The first Thunderbolts film, with its 88% critical and 93% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is praised for its originality. Marvel may be seeking to replicate this pioneering spirit as it reportedly prepares to reboot the MCU.
