11 Changes The MCU Wishes It Could Make
3. More Creative Risks Early On
Marvel Studios plays it safe too often, sticking to traditional superhero adaptations, rarely killing off major characters, and only occasionally straying from its set template.
This is a shame because the very best MCU movies are the ones which have broken the mould; the times it's taken a punt on lesser-known properties, explored new genres and made bold, status quo-shattering creative decisions.
The Guardians of the Galaxy movies have broadened the series' appeal by adding cosmic elements, Captain America: The Winter Soldier broke into spy-thriller territory, and Ant-Man's prominent comedy brought tone and colour.
Marvel also has a habit of throwing in game-changing plot points but failing to stand by them. Tony Stark hangs up his suit at the end of Iron Man 3, only to put it on again in his next MCU outing, and the destruction of the Bifrost had little consequences for Thor. Even Civil War hasn't shaken things up to the extent it should have.
In hindsight, the studio will likely feel it should have stood by some of these bold decisions, since it's clear that risk taking is not the enemy of success in the MCU.
Had Marvel gambled more earlier on, the MCU would likely be a more diverse place, spanning a wider array of genres and playing host to dozens of heroes and villains that are still confined to the comic books.