With the overwhelming success of X-Men ’97 and the recent releases of various animated shows like What If…? and I Am Groot, cinematic prospects for Marvel Animation projects seem like the next natural stage of progression. Hope is in the air, as there are plans to make the first leap over to the big screen — but only under the right circumstances.
Speaking to YouTube podcast channel Geekcentric on the future of its animated universe, Marvel Studios’ head of streaming, television, and animation Brad Winderbaum shared an optimistic update about a potential theatrically-released film in the pipeline, while detailing the differences between both mediums.
“We talk about it. I think it’s just about having a property that is a film. I think one of the things we’ve learned, going back to your previous questions — a film, to me, is two hours. It’s like a statement. You’re buying a ticket, you’re sitting in the theater, you’re with a crowd,” said the producer. “It’s a giant screen that is dominating you. It’s something to say to the world. You’ve got two hours to do it versus a television show, which is a longer form. It’s more of a conversation with an audience.”
“First of all, there are more people who are making it; usually, it’s a bigger ensemble. It’s more of a call-and response, I think,” he continued. “If you’re lucky enough to make subsequent seasons, it definitely is. Believe me, as we’re working on X-Men ’97 Season 2, we’re listening to the feedback from Season 1. As we did with What If. I think it’s a huge opportunity television has. That, to me, is the thing that tells us whether or not it should be a movie. Is it something that is definitely this world, this character, this moment? Is it a story that’s going to be best told in two hours like that?”
The response comes amid a strong 2025 slate for Marvel Animation, which includes Your Neighborhood Spider-Man, Eyes of Wakanda, and Marvel Zombies. Nothing has been cast in stone yet, but the impressive box-office performance of Sony’s Spider-Verse trilogy demonstrates the vast storytelling potential that follows the big screen treatment.
Still, it’ll likely be a few years before things come to fruition. Moving into 2025, Marvel Studios is looking to wrap up its Multiverse Saga, with Captain America: Brave New World kicking off Phase 6 on 14 February 2025. Fans can only wait and see on the animated feature front, though a Squirrel Girl or Jeff the Land Shark movie seem like strong pitches, considering the popularity of Marvel Rivals.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Natalie
