Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of Avengers: Endgame, think generational divides are the cause of the latest box office disappointment.

The directors of Avengers: Endgame, Joe and Anthony Russo think that the generational divide has affected the world of entertainment.

Is there really a superhero project exhaustion?

In an interview with GamesRadar+, the Russo brothers, known for directing the latest Avengers films, discuss why changing public tastes are part of the reason for some of Marvel’s recent failures, shrugging off the typical argument of perceived superhero fatigue. Below, we share the interesting words of Joe Russo.

“I think this is a reflection of the current state of things. It is difficult now, it is an exciting time. “I think we’re in a transition period and people still don’t know how to receive stories in the future or what kind of stories they want.”

“There’s a big generational difference in how they consume media. There’s a generation that’s used to seeing a movie by appointment, and a generation that’s used to going to the cinema on a certain day to see something. Meanwhile, the new generation says, ‘I want it now, I want to edit it now,’ and then they move on to the next thing, which is at the same time other things.” It does two things. It’s a very different time than it was in the past. That’s why I think that’s probably what everyone is going through, including Marvel.

According to Joe, most people now communicate through memes and headlines. In addition, the directors of Avengers pointed out that the much-discussed superhero fatigue is simply general fatigue. Anthony also said complaints about superhero movies have been going on for years.

“The issue of superpower fatigue preceded our work. So we always mention this in heroic deeds in our past as an eternal complaint. People complained about the West in the same way, but it lasted for decades and decades. They were continuously reinvented and their development was taken to new heights.

Are the days of superheroes numbered?

It’s common to find a lot of users online claiming that there is a lack of superhero projects (often fueled by influencers who want to exaggerate the news, especially if it’s from Marvel), but the reality is that the current situation in the entertainment world goes beyond the Avengers, and superheroes in general. Looking at the comments online, it is clear that a large number of fans do not understand that the cause of certain failures does not go in one direction.

Although it is true that the quality of some products (as well as some questionable decisions) affects their performance, it has been shown in the past that projects that are highly criticized are successful. For example, I personally think that Marvel’s problem with the Marvel Cinematic Universe has more to do with its current unclear direction than the quality of its products (many fans don’t understand the purpose of making series and movies starring Marvel characters who haven’t really integrated into the MCU yet and have nothing to do with the Avengers).

It’s true that a lot of failed projects don’t get released (like Secret Invasion), but we only have to wait two years after Marvel releases a critically-acclaimed fourth Thor movie and see the God of Thunder again. Better written by Avengers 5, fans will forget about his previous involvement in the MCU.

This point reflects the other big problem that Marvel has at the moment, they are taking too long to release important projects, and they continue the arcs of the most popular characters, this is mostly done by making series and non-important movies. Some of the heroes of the Echo program do better in supporting roles, as seen in previous Avengers films.

Now, as for what the Avengers: Endgame directors said, I think they are partially right. The decline of Marvel is always talked about, but the truth is that entertainment is not at its best.

Everyone celebrated Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, which proved that Tom Cruise was synonymous with success, however, when the seventh Mission: Impossible movie was released in 2023, it turned out to be a disappointment at the box office. Likewise, movies like Ghostbusters Ultimate (2024), Transformers: The Beast Rises (2023), Indiana Jones and the Dialer of Destiny (2023), Fast X (2023), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2023). Killers of the Moon (2023), The Creator (2023), among many others, failed or failed to live up to expectations.

Moving on to the series, we simply need to remember that the second season of Invincible (a program with excellent reviews) passed without much fanfare. Also, let’s think about all those canceled series in recent years.

The House of Avengers may not be making the best decisions, but the reality is that the world of entertainment is at a complicated level.