Alarming The Marvels Statistic Sets Up A Huge Problem For The Avengers Replacement

Summary

• The Marvel Cinematic Universe is struggling to attract younger audiences, as seen in data for the historically bad opening weekend of "The Marvels."
• The Young Avengers team, which targets younger viewers, may face challenges if younger audiences are not showing up to cinemas.
• It's unclear whether the issue lies with the MCU itself or with a decline in cinema attendance among Gen Z, but project quality and a return to the interconnected narrative of the Infinity Saga could help increase viewership overall.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a box-office juggernaut for 15 years, but viewership for The Marvels paints a concerning picture for the franchises' burgeoning Young Avengers project. It's little secret that the MCU has failed to reach its early years' consistent critical and commercial highs in the post-Endgame Multiverse Saga. Despite standout hits like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, franchise veterans and newcomers alike have struggled to find solid footing. That continues with The Marvels's historically bad opening weekend, and specific viewership data lays bare a larger problem.
The final scene at the end of The Marvels comically recreates Nick Fury's Avengers recruitment pitch from Iron Man. However, this time, it's Iman Vellani's Kamala Kahn trying to recruit Haille Steinfeld's Kate Bishop for what appears to be the Young Avengers. This team of younger heroes has been teased for years with the introduction of characters like America Chavez, Eli Bradley, and Cassie Lang. Despite the team being well-known by comic readers and packed with potential talent in the MCU, Marvel Studios is simply failing to gain the attention of the project's presumed target audience.