Summary

TheMarvel Cinematic Universehas construct its continued success on a figure of groundbreaking cinematic innovations , engage a number of risks in the operation . Since its origination in 2008 , the MCU has plant itself as the most successful movie franchise of all time . This success is the answer of significant origination , with the enfranchisement offer interesting and insightful adaptations of the characters and stories of Marvel Comics . Themovies of the MCUhave leaven hugely popular , with a good deal of its succeeder add up as a result of the dealership ’s willingness to take major risks either on - screen or behind the scenes .

Many potentially risky decisions have really paid off fabulously well for the enfranchisement , but sure enough not all of them . Throughout the ever - growingmovie timeline of the MCU , Marvel Studios has made a number of gambles on Modern or unexpected approximation that may not have work as expected , as well as some that appear to work out far better than the studio could have ever hope . Such risks have largely contributed to the franchise ’s landmark winner , but they could just as easily have proved its untying .

Related:10 Risky MCU cast Decisions That Completely Paid Off

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man upset and determined in No Way Home

10Replacing Rhodey

Iron Man 2 Swapped Out A Key MCU Hero

The first movie in the MCU , 2008’sIron Man , introduced a number of long - lasting characters to the franchise . One of them was James “ Rhodey ” Rhodes , Tony Stark ’s booster who was destined to become his fellow Avenger War Machine . Terrence Howard played Rhodey in the character ’s first junket , but Marvel was forced to take a risk in replacing him for the subsequence due to contract way out . Thoughreplacing an important Marvel torpedo after just one appearance could have been black , Don Cheadle was able to make the role his own and became one of the franchise ’s best hero , having since appear in multipleMCU TV showsand picture .

9A Huge Ensemble Cast

Eternals’ Massive Cast Introduced Too Many Characters

Phase 4’sEternalsdemonstrated that even in the position - EndgameMCU , the dealership was still unforced to take risks . One such risk involved the nature ofEternals ’ cast of grapheme , which comprised a squad of 10 central heroes and several other important heroes and baddie introduced . Bringing so many potentially important characters into the franchise all at once came with the potential to move the MCU ’s wider tale forward , but the risk recoil : Eternals ’ huge ensemble stamp proved a little too big , and the film was criticized as overstuff and lacking a compelling villain .

8Bringing Back Non-MCU Characters

Linking Continuity To Other Marvel Movies Could Have Been Messy

With the introduction of the MCU ’s Multiverse Saga came an entirely new sorting of narrative peril . As the MCU start out exploring the Multiverse , it commence to bestow in characters from previous Marvel movies and television shows , key out them as form from other universes . The risk in doing so is subtle but undeniable , asit make inescapable comparisons between unrelated fib and potentially cave the MCU ’s own charactersand stories . Thankfully , these crossovers and cameos have for the most part been well - received and do n’t seem to have spite the Multiverse Saga whatsoever .

7Introducing Legacy Heroes

Replacing Original Avengers Is Always A Gamble

As the MCU ’s story has get along , its quality have undergone their own tale discharge . This means that many of the franchise ’s original heroes are now aging , and the MCU has begun to usher in replacement heroes . The like of Sam Wilson , Kate Bishop , and Yelena Belova being indite in to take the mantles of the original Avengers is a risk , asit comes with inescapable comparisonsthat may not always try out favorableto the New character . Though it ’s an authoritative part of the MCU ’s advancement , it ’s still something of a hazard that may yet backlash . It ’s still too former to say if the move will pay off .

6Killing Off Half The Avengers

Infinity War Risked Breaking The MCU

As the beginning to the conclusion of the MCU ’s Infinity Saga arc , Avengers : Infinity Warwas an authoritative tale moment in the franchise . The film ’s scandalous remainder take care half of the franchise ’s heroes killed in the winking of an eye by Thanos ’ snap , and it was really a vast potential risk . have half of the Avengers killed leading into the biggest MCU movie to dateruled out multiple important part for the Infinity Saga ’s close , and the intent to bring in them back was n’t entirely clear from the outset . Killing so many dear characters at once could have sparked huge repercussion , but thankfully , it turn absolutely to set upAvengers : Endgame .

5Guardians Of The Galaxy’s Genre Shift

Guardians of the Galaxy’s Sci-Fi Was A Huge First

Back in the MCU ’s Phase 2 , the dealership took a immense peril pop off in an altogether novel direction withGuardians of the Galaxy . The film focus on on a team of lesser - love characters and took its action as far from Earth as possible . Thoroughly embracing the outlandish nature of the sci - fi genre and moving away from the somewhat more grounded stories of Phase 1,Guardians of the Galaxycould have been a immense tonal disconnection from the wider MCU . As it hap , James Gunn ’s movie prove one of the MCU ’s best , introduce an entirely newfangled dimension to the fabric of the franchise .

4Recasting Hulk

Replacing Norton With Ruffalo Could Have Backfired

The MCU ’s second movie , The Incredible Hulk , may still be one of the enfranchisement ’s more factious films , but it innovate one of the stigma ’s most important heroes . As one of the biggest stars in the world at the metre , Edward Norton seemed an fantabulous choice for the role of Bruce Banner , but the news that he was being replaced forThe Avengersseemed unwise . The then - comparatively unknown Mark Ruffalo seemed a risky pick to replace Norton , but the hazard paid off : Ruffalo ’s dual function of Hulk / Banner has made him one of the franchise ’s most beloved heroes .

3Killing Iron Man

The Death Of The MCU’s Biggest Hero Could Have Caused Major Issues

Arguably the biggest and most significant moment in the MCU to date come at the close ofAvengers : Endgame , when Iron Man sacrifice himself to stop Thanos . drink down off such a pivotal and well - love case was a risk , as his function in the franchise was key to many stories , and even though it proved a fitting close to his narrative arc , whether it worked remains to be seen . Upcoming Marvel movieswill further establish the MCU post - Endgame , but the absence seizure of Iron Man is still being keenly felt geezerhood after his destruction .

2Early Shared Universe Teases

The MCU Banked On An Uncertain Future

The very first film in the MCU ended with a speculative option : a post - credits scene teasing the presence of other heroes in a wider shared universe . At the time , Marvel could n’t screw how successful the film would be , and so teasing a future that may have never come to pass come with an inbuilt risk . Luckily , Iron Manwas staggeringly successful , and later moving-picture show established these tease sub in the MCU , think that the risk pay off in the most substantial way possible .

1Casting Robert Downey Jr

Downey Jr’s Career Made Him The MCU’s Biggest - And Best - Risk

Though it seems unthinkable by today ’s standards , casting Robert Downey Jr. as the trail in a superhero film was considered a immense risk in 2008 . The actor had get important personal hassle and a marked career decline , socasting him as Tony Stark could have been disastrous . As it turned out , Downey Jr. was in reality born to play the office , with the MCU prove the jumping - off point for a massive career resurgence . Downey Jr. ’s role in the dealership help make it the unprecedented success that it is today , meaning that he was the large and better risk ever taken by theMarvel Cinematic Universe .

Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter fighting in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Spider-Man in the MCU and Jean Grey in Marvel Comics

Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy and Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark in Iron Man 2

The Eternals stand in a line on a beach in their MCU Phase 4 movie

Spider-Man turns to dust in Avengers: Infinity War

Guardians of the Galaxy - Prison escape

Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner in The Avengers (2012)

Tony Stark/Iron Man snaps his fingers in Avengers Endgame.

Samuel L Jackson appearing at the end of Iron Man as Nick Fury

Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark sits on the ground at a press conference at the end of Iron Man.

Marvel Cinematic Universe