Regardless of the project output in any given year,Marvel Studios is an ever-churning machine with little to no time to stop.Whether it’s a film or a TV show, something is always at some stage of development, intending to meet their pre-established deadlines.Brie Larson—Captain Marvel herself—fell victim to this unstoppable machine as soon as she started impersonating Carol Danvers. Ina 2019 interviewwithJimmy Fallon, Larson detailed how she didn’t know anything about her solo film’s storyline while filming herAvengers: Endgamescenes—one of which ended up beingCaptain Marvel’s post-credits scene.
By having to overlap the filming of both movies,Larson went blind into the first scenes of her MCU starring role.Her admitting this is a funny bit, but it also doubles down on two of Marvel’s signature moves. The first is how the studio’s shroud of secrecy is aimed towards everyone, including their actors. The second is how the studio is willing to work on the go, with the priority being releasing their movies on the fixed date—regardless of the time crunch or the quality of the end product.
Marvel’s Shroud of Secrecy Led to Brie Larson Filming ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Without Context
In MCU chronology, Carol leaves Earth at the end ofCaptain Marveltohelp the Skrulls find a new home. Years later, she shows up looking for Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) but gets to meet the Avengers instead. This sets in motion a chain of events that ends with them finally killing Thanos (Josh Brolin). In actual world chronology, Larson filmed herAvengers: Endgameappearances before even having a completed script forCaptain Marvel.
Marvel Studios is famously known for its hermetic tactics to avoid spoilers getting out. Plus, followingTom Hollandfamouslyrevealing bits and pieces of his filmsthrough “accidental” leaks, by the time Larson stepped into the MCU, the studio’s secrecy tactics were already upped.HerAvengers: Endgamescript was redacted in order for her to know the bare minimum. Stepping into the set where she famously asks, “Where’s Fury?” was a context-less and people-less situation that she was able to carry out with just the basics of both her character and the story.
Marvel Studios’ Priority on Release Dates Has Led To Filming Overlaps
Larson was billed as part of the main cast ofAvengers: Endgamebut then was absent for most of the film. The only way aroundCaptain Marvel’s unfinished script was to have her appear in key moments ofAvengers: Endgame. At the beginning, she saves Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Nebula (Karen Gillan). At the end, she arrives just in time to turn the tides ofthe Battle of Earth. It’s clear they wanted to have her there as part of the team, but the uncertainty of where her solo story would take her limited the possibilities of her involvement.
This move is a reflection of howMarvel Studios prioritizes making the deadline of their release dates.Captain Marvel’s unfinished script wouldn’t and shouldn’t affect their sacred timeline, a.k.a. the studio’s release slate. In the last few years, the goal changed significantly. A collision of issues that included thedeclining quality and box office of Marvel projects—plus the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes—pushed the studio to finally take a breather in 2024 to rethink their direction and strategy. Thus, that year only saw the release of one film,Deadpool & Wolverine.
Marvel Studios’ Signature Moves Have Resurfaced for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Both of Marvel’s strategies have resurfaced with the filming ofAvengers: Doomsday. With a huge castthat’s still incomplete, there’s bound to be some actor who just flies in and films context-less scenes. Also,Thunderbolts*directorJake Schreierhas revealed that his movie’s post-credits scene wasfilmed on theAvengers: Doomsdayset—and wasn’t directed by him!
Superhero Fatigue? If Marvel Has Lost Its Spark, Why Were We All Watching Chairs for 5 Hours Today?
More like Avengers: Chairs Day.
Ultimately, it’s clear the priority forAvengers: Doomsdayis meeting the July 14, 2025, release deadline. Withfilming having just begunand the movie releasing a year from now, it’ll be interesting to see how Marvel juggles the script, the actors, and the post-production to be able to make it. But apparently,that won’t be a problem this time around for Larson, as she’s still unattached toAvengers: Doomsday’s production. Still, should Marvel decide to add her last minute, she’s got what it takes to become Captain Marvel once again and save the day.
Captain Marvel
