10 Lessons The DCEU Must Learn From Avengers: Infinity War
What Thanos and the gang can teach the folks at Warner Bros.
Avengers: Infinity War crashed into cinemas with the impact of a Wakandan meteorite and it isn't just the Marvel Cinematic Universe that will never be the same as before. The Russo Brothers' cosmic showcase is sure to ring changes across the superhero genre, having established itself as the one to beat in this thriving category.
The MCU's latest instalment has attracted glowing reviews across the board and is smashing box office records left and right. No doubt the folks over at DC and Warner Bros are turning greener than Bruce Banner with envy, although they'd be quick to point out that Infinity War's success is good for the comic book film genre as a whole.
That doesn't mean it hurt them any less when Infinity War crushed Justice League's entire box office run in a matter of days but there are lessons the folks behind the DC Extended Universe can learn from Marvel Studios' almighty cosmic crossover.
In fairness to the DCEU, it's in relative infancy compared to Marvel's cinematic juggernaut. Justice League was essentially its answer to the first Avengers movie, yet none can deny the need for course correction between now and a time when the series is ready to wage its own cosmic-scale war, a phase or two from now.
Its architects must learn from Thanos and the gang before then...
10. Lay The Groundwork First
There are a whopping 40 Marvel characters in Infinity War, yet at no point does that feel like overkill. While Thanos hogs the spotlight at times, each hero gets the chance to make a mark on the story and, in most cases, their screen time is appropriate.
Marvel Studios was able to thrust these characters into the thick of an intergalactic conflict without the need to waste time telling a series of complex backstories. The previous MCU films shouldered that responsibility and Infinity War is the result of 10 years of universe building which dates back to the original Iron Man.
One of the main reasons Justice League fell apart on arrival is because the entire thing felt rushed. When the first Avengers movie proved a Hulk smash at the box office, DC and Warner Bros wanted a rival superhero team-up on its slate yesterday; but with only a handful of films feeding into it, the project turned out half-baked.
Ideally, the Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg should have appeared in solo movies before the main event, to prevent them from jostling for introductory screen time, and this is a mistake the DC Extended Universe cannot afford to repeat.
It seems Justice League 2 will focus on Lex Luthor's Legion of Doom, so it's important that the next wave of movies introduces as many of its villainous members as possible before they pool their resources for a showdown with Superman and co.