10 Huge Recurring Problems The MCU Needs To Solve

One of the problems with announcing release dates for sequels years ahead of time is that it severely reduces the narrative stakes. Everyone knows that Character A is coming back for at least a couple more movies, so why should they be interested in what happens to them?

We all know how the MCU formula works. The heroes defeat a generic villain in their standalone features, then The Avengers team up every few years to take on an enemy that they can only defeat together. Having been on this cycle since the beginning of Phase One, the MCU as a whole provides little interesting conflict for our heroes at all.

The death of an important character is a great way to give a jolt of energy to a franchise when done right, but Marvel have pulled the 'fake-out' so often that dying doesn't mean sh*t in the MCU, you'll probably come back again.

Quicksilver stayed dead, but Nick Fury, Loki, Bucky Barnes and others have all died at least once. Rhodey's dramatic fall was a key moment in the 'Civil War' trailer, and he was fine. Remember when Tony was dying in Iron Man 2? Phil Coulson may have disappeared from the big screen but Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is currently shooting season five.

It's hard to get properly invested in a character that you know isn't in any real danger, especially when they don't have a decent antagonist, and Marvel's penchant for the 'fake-out' death has lowered the dramatic stakes even further.