The world of mass media is constantly changing. Thanks to apps, livestreams, microblogging, and various other social media platforms that bring entertainment right to your fingertips, the public consumes their favorite TV shows, movies, and books in some rather unorthodox ways. And if companies or brands don’t keep with the times, then they may be left in the dust as technology advances lightyears ahead of them. Luckily, it sounds like Marvel Studios and the Russo brothers are looking at ways to expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe beyond its current borders.
Ahead of their highly anticipated Phase Three film ‘Captain America: Civil War’, Joe and Anthony Russo have been doing a ton of press where they talk about the Sentinel of Liberty’s upcoming adventure. However, in a recent interview with Forbes, the directing duo touched on their next project ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and the massive roster of characters involved. After revealing that many new faces would be introduced in the epic two-part extravaganza, they mentioned that one way that the world could get to know these other inhabitants of the MCU outside of the shows or films could be with the Marvel One-Shot short films. But with the rise of digital releases and the decline of physical media like Blu-Rays and DVDs, where could these popular extras that once gave additional life to characters such as Peggy Carter, Phil Coulson, and Trevor Slattery find a new home? Anthony Russo said that they’ve got a few ideas:
“We can’t go into too many details about this, but we are thinking, very specifically, about to do new ways of what you are talking about with ‘Avengers: Infinity War’. We’re just in the beginning phases of figuring them out. Yes, DVDs are gone but there is this wonderful internet platform out there called YouTube. It can make money by creating anticipation for a movie in the same way that a trailer does. There could do more elaborate versions of trailers, for instance, that are shot specifically for online that will never appear in the movie but that may appear as a kind of short film.”
Joe Russo continued by saying that they’re not limited to YouTube or other conventional video streaming services. They’re even looking at various social media platforms to unveil additional content featuring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes:
“We’re also talking to Facebook and Twitter and Instagram about ways to feed ancillary content to them and to viewers because it’ll go viral there and you can reach millions of people. The platform is changing but it is a lot easier to sit on your couch and Apple TV pops up rather than you having to get up and find a DVD, so it is what it is, and there are always new and different ways to reach the audience.”
With so many Avengers presumably joining the cause to take on Thanos and his Infinity Gauntlet and so little screen time in movies like ‘Doctor Strange’ and ‘Black Panther’ or shows like ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ and ‘Daredevil’, this plan of action definitely doesn’t sound like a bad way to proceed. Fans have also welcomed the first five shorts with open arms and are very receptive to see more. Hopefully the Russos and Marvel find a way to make them live on outside of physical media extras, especially if they’re just being set up to preface ‘Infinity War’ and other films down the line.
How do you think Marvel Studios should utilize their One-Shot short films in the future? Are you in favor of the Russos’ plan of action to use them ahead of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ to potentially expand or continue story elements outside of the theater? Sound off in the comments.
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Parts I and II are respectively set for release in May of 2018 and 2019.
