Credit: Marvel StudiosThe Marvel fans are not happy about this Marvel Studios choice.
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The Avengers franchise has always been viewed as the “premier” Marvel Studios intellectual property (IP), after the explosive success of the first Avengers film in 2012 directed by the now-controversial Joss Whedon.
In 2018 and 2019, the Avengers once again took the world by storm with parts one and two of the epic Infinity Saga conclusion, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame respectively. Avengers: Endgame, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, served as the dramatic ending to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Phase Three, with the world saying goodbye to Marvel heavyweights Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man and Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America.
Recently, it was announced that Marvel writer Michael Waldron would write the script for Avengers: Secret Wars, slated to debut in theaters November 7, 2025, after Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, set for and earlier release that year in May 2, 2025. This was revealed at this year’s San Diego Comic Con by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige himself, as part of the MCU’s Phase Six and the Multiverse Saga.
The fan outcry began when the @DiscussingFilm released the news via Deadline on their official Twitter account — that Michael Waldron would be writing for Avengers: Secret Wars.
Now, fans are weighing in with their opinions — and things aren’t looking particularly enthusiastic in light of this announcement. Unless you take it to mean “enthusiastically opposed to”.
It appears that Marvel fans and movie-goers have a highly negative perception of this writer and their work due to the scripts of previous Marvel Cinematic Universe projects. Namely, the writing in the MCU film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, directed by Sam Raimi, as well as that of the Disney+ Original TV show Loki (2021), starring Tom Hiddleston Loki Laufeyson/Odinson.
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Starting things off, @The4threjected chimed in with a succinct:
NOOOO
NOOOO
— cawk goblin 🥹 (@The4threjected) October 3, 2022
As did @dieg_guev7:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
— diego, hip-hop, & comics 🇲🇽 (@dieg_guev7) October 3, 2022
Amidst these despairing cries, Nicholas Pascar throws in a “Sam Raimi” meme with the text “Ah Rosie, this is horrendous”, featuring Alfred Molina who played Doc Ock AKA Doctor Octopus/Dr. Otto Octavius in the Raimi-directed Spider-Man films from the early 2000s. This is a reference to the greatly panned writing present in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, another Raimi-directed film:
I have opinions
I have opinions pic.twitter.com/yn13qJpeiN
— Nicholas (@NicholasPascar5) October 3, 2022
Many also expressed the sentiment of “we lost”, referring to the Marvel fandom and Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole, as Farhan Mehmood shared:
The following may include language not suitable for younger readers.
OH FUCK NO. NONONO. PLEASE NO. THATS AN L. THATS VERY BAD.
OH FUCK NO. NONONO. PLEASE NO. THATS AN L. THATS VERY BAD.
— Farhan (@farhan__mehmood) October 3, 2022
@StrangeAcee adds to this, with:
Way to ruin all my hype for this movie
Way to ruin all my hype for this movie
— Ace ۞ (@StrangeAcee) October 3, 2022
While @ramonarturo711 bemoans:
Omg this is going to be worse than Doctor Strange
Omg this is going to be worse than Doctor Strange
— ❗️Ramon❗️ (@ramonarturo711) October 3, 2022
Some fans took a turn for the dramatic, like @underooswebsss leaving a Breaking Bad “suicide attempt” GIF and commenting:
I WANNA KMS [kill myself]
I WANNA KMSpic.twitter.com/DyTtGXnBH0
— m.m🦇 (@underooswebsss) October 3, 2022
@TheHannahcast ponders instead why Marvel seems to be hiring so many Rick and Morty writers lately (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law head writer Jennifer Gao is another Rick and Morty alum). Rick and Morty being a notoriously crass and absurd adult animated comedy:
Marvel has been hiring a LOT of Rick & Morty writers lately.
Marvel has been hiring a LOT of Rick & Morty writers lately.
— Christian Hannahween (@TheHannahcast) October 3, 2022
And @SynthPotato attempts to encapsulate the fans’ worry and outrage, with this screengrab image of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, with the caption:
Thanos should’ve killed all of us
— Synth Potato (Ameer) 🥔 (@SynthPotato) October 3, 2022
Avengers: Secret Wars is arguably the biggest upcoming Avengers film, and will be the culmination of the entirety of the Multiverse Saga. Secret Wars is likely to mirror Avengers: Endgame in many ways, bringing superheroes from across the various franchises and ostensibly, universes.
Before his stint with Marvel, Michael Waldron was assistant writer for 13 episodes of American TV sitcom Community and served as producer for Rick and Morty, and wrote for one episode.
Fans are definitely surprised and upset with this development, but time will have to tell as to whether this decision was the right one for the MCU.
What do you think of Michael Waldron getting hired to write for Avengers: Secret Wars? Share your thoughts in the comments below!