It’s no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a rough time with the Multiverse Saga. Unlike the universally acclaimed Infinity Saga, the MCU’s last three phases have seen more than their fair share of ups and downs. While Marvel seems to be on its way back up, there is no denying that the franchise’s reputation has been shattered over the last several years.
Wonder Man is the latest smash hit from the Marvel Spotlight banner, which is used to denote MCU projects that remain mostly unconnected from the rest of the massive franchise and require little to no “homework” beforehand. They focus on more character-driven stories than other superhero projects, and tend to play much better with critics. Wonder Man‘s massive popularity proves that Marvel has grossly underused the Marvel Spotlight banner during the Multiverse Saga.
The MCU Needs More Marvel Spotlight Projects
Wonder Man is the final proof that fans need that the MCU needs more projects under the Marvel Spotlight banner. Apart from the more tied-in shows like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision, which have their own strengths, Marvel Spotlight is a better use of the Disney+ platform. It allows for more focused, character-driven stories that the television medium is made for, rather than the big-budget fanfare that usually plays better on the big screen.
Unfortunately, the MCU has used the Marvel Spotlight banner far too sporadically over the last several years. Echo is the only other Marvel project besides Wonder Man to be designated “Marvel Spotlight.” While the miniseries wasn’t the best-received, it showed promise in its smaller-scale exploration of a lesser-known character, which has traditionally been where Marvel Studios works best.
In retrospect, Marvel’s Special Presentations could easily be designated as “Marvel Spotlight” projects as well, though they came out before the banner was first coined with Echo. Werewolf by Night has all the elements of Marvel Spotlight, focusing on characters who aren’t part of the larger MCU and telling a standalone story that doesn’t require any homework from viewers beforehand. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, while tied to James Gunn’s Guardians trilogy, is also a side story that focuses on characters who don’t necessarily get an abundance of screentime in the films.
Marvel Spotlight realizes what the MCU’s television projects should have been from the start. Unfortunately, Marvel’s television projects have been either too ambitious or have failed to follow up on too many promises. Marvel Spotlight is a much more realistic approach to television in the MCU, and it should be the default setting for the franchise’s Disney+ projects moving beyond the Multiverse Saga.
What Other MCU Characters Could Get Marvel Spotlight Projects?
Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.Image via Disney
There aren’t any confirmed Marvel Spotlight projects on the horizon at the moment. However, given the success of Wonder Man, Marvel Studios needs to capitalize on this banner moving forward. Upcoming Disney+ series and Special Presentations should learn from the character-focused, standalone template that Wonder Man sets. There is no shortage of characters already introduced in the MCU who would make perfect subjects for the next Marvel Spotlight project.
Isaiah Bradley, who appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World, would be an immensely compelling character to lead his own Special Presentation or Disney+ miniseries under the Marvel Spotlight banner. His story of acting as the secret Captain America during the Cold War and subsequent betrayal by his own country would be excellent to see play out onscreen.
Aspiritual successor to Werewolf by Night could also expand the MCU’s growing supernatural side. Characters like Ghost Rider or even Lady Death would be excellent subjects for the Marvel Spotlight banner, allowing the MCU to explore their incredibly deep and complicated characters. The cosmic side of the MCU is also ripe for further exploration through the eyes of characters like Nova, Adam Warlock, or even Eros.
Audiences would also love to see more focused stories centered around street-level characters like Jessica Jones or Luke Cage. The upcoming Special Presentation following Jon Bernthal’s Punisher would be an excellent way to introduce the street-level side of the MCU to the Marvel Spotlight banner, potentially setting up more stories from this corner of the universe.
There is simply too much potential in the Marvel Spotlight banner for the MCU not to utilize it to its fullest extent. Shows like Wonder Man prove that Disney+ is a platform better used to expand on deeper character-driven stories that wouldn’t work as well on the big screen. This is a lesson Marvel Studios took years to learn, but it isn’t too late. Future Disney+ projects should focus more intensely on this banner, making the best use of the television format.
Wonder Man is now available to stream on Disney+.
