Thomas Roach on the rumours that Marvel might split The Avengers 3 into two movies….
Even though Avengers: Age of Ultron is yet to be released, or even have its first trailer, many Marvel fans are speculating into what may be included in Avengers 3. Without a doubt Marvel is currently on a roll with their movies. They are both loved by fans and critics alike and making a splash at the box office. The trend with some successful movies at the moments in to split them into two. This allows the studio to make more money, which many people will call selling out but sometimes it can be justified. Sometimes a film can’t be long enough to explore everything the filmmakers want to explore so splitting the film in two helps.
Many people will go on to say that they disagree with Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows being split in two, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay being split in two, and The Hobbit being split into three movies. This appears to be happening with book adaptations a lot now and I’m afraid this will keep happening. The problem with splitting movies is that it means the audience needs to pay twice as much. Hollywood should not exploit its already dying audience due to the greed of the studios.
There has been rumours this week that Avengers 3 could be split into two movies, which certainly is a possibility. After announcing five release dates, Marvel subsequently added another. If Marvels plan ahead so much surely they would know each release date well in advance. The single addition may have been the studio saying that one of these films will be split in two. That is nothing more than an assumption so this should not be taken as fact. With Robert Downey Jr. expected to leave after Avengers 3 Marvel may want to use him as much as they can without breaking their current two picture deal. I’m not entirely sure if Marvel could get away with paying Robert Downey Jr. one pay cheque for two movies but I am sure they will certainly try.
Comic books tend to be in several different parts, so splitting a comic book movie will be appropriate. Though it was only an animated film Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Part 1 and Part 2 worked really well. The film continues in part two but tackles a completely different narrative. Maybe Part 1 of Avengers 3 could follow some of Civil War, whilst dropping hints about Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet in order for Part 2 to pick up with that story? Who knows though? Civil War is wanted by fans, but realistically it probably won’t happen. Its more likely that The Infinity Gauntlet storyline will be split in two. Maybe with one part focusing on the Guardians of the Galaxy and Thanos, and the second part being the Avengers and Thanos.
Rumours are nothing more than rumours and I would hope that Marvel keep doing films on their own and not split them into two parts. If it is necessary though I will have to accept it. The adding of another date is certainly cause to believe that Marvel could be planning to split a movie in two. I think it can work and will work if it has to, but obviously fans will likely feel cheated. If Marvel is going to start releasing 3 films a year, then we don’t want two of those to be the part of the same movie.
Do you think Avengers 3 will be split into two movies, and how would you feel it if was? Let us know…
Thomas Roach
Originally published September 28, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
