Arguably two of the biggest film franchises of all time are the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars. While Star Wars has been around longer, the MCU has created a fanbase that is just as dedicated and passionate thanks to its roots in the classic Marvel Comics. Each franchise has seen its fair share of ups and downs as is normal with large cinematic universes. Recent projects from both groups have been much more divisive among fans, and some of the problems fans have are rooted in ignorance and outdated views, some genuine issues are plaguing the MCU and Star Wars. As the franchises continue to age, it seems as if many shows fall into the trap of relying on nostalgia.

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, it creates warm feelings and will allow fans to forgive many things about their favorite shows and films. Nostalgia can be wonderful, but it begins to feel lackluster and without a heart if overused. The same can be said for another huge trend in the MCU and Star Wars, cameos. Both these franchises have a rich history of characters that all have an important role to play in the right stories, yet as the franchises grow larger, it seems that some properties rely more and more on cameos to drive excitement and nostalgia to drive interest. Both the MCU and Star Wars have taken some steps to break away from this trap, but there is still a lot of work left to do.

The MCU Is in Danger of Becoming a Parade of Cameos

• As the MCU explores the Multiverse, more and more fans expect to see heroes and villains from Marvel movies before the MCU.
• Hugh Jackman's Wolverine is not necessarily a cameo, since he is a main character in the film, but he does represent the same problem.

Even before the MCU began, there were lots of Marvel movies, most famously Spider-Man and Fox's X-Men. As the Multiverse Saga got underway though, more and more characters from both within the MCU and beyond it began popping up in the movies and shows. Daredevil was in She-Hulk, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield were both in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and a plethora of X-Men characters are appearing in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine movie. Some of these appearances are essential to the plot of their film, yet many of them seem to be purely for fan service. Fan service doesn't make them inherently bad, but too many cameos or old characters appearing can overshadow what is new and exciting in the movie or show. Many fans spent each episode of She-Hulk waiting for Daredevil to appear and were upset when he didn't. Then they were also upset that he didn't have a bigger role. The anticipation of Daredevil's appearance overshadowed the story that She-Hulk was telling.

The previous Spider-Men and Wolverine's appearances in the MCU are a little different since they are essential to the film and the story couldn't happen without them. Yet, these characters are still indicative of the problem that plagues the entire MCU. Too much reliance on previous characters and past nostalgia creates more excitement for old characters than for the new stories that the MCU is looking to tell. As wonderful as it is to see Hugh Jackman back with the claws, it makes it even harder for the MCU to introduce a new Wolverine, unless they use Laura Kinney or Daken. Tom Holland's Spider-Man was already well-established before Maguire and Garfield returned, but their reappearance created a desire to see more of them in their movies and the upcoming Avengers movies.

Fans complain that the MCU has lost its magic and that it is failing to make movies and shows that excite people. The magic of the Infinity Saga is that it was all new. New characters, new stories, and a new experience for fans to enjoy. Recreating this magic by bringing back old characters and nostalgia will never be able to compare to the feeling of seeing something fresh and new. Relying too much on cameos can tide people over for a while, but it will never be as satisfying as seeing new characters come on screen for the first time.

Star Wars Can Never Escape the Allure of Nostalgia

• Star Wars began in 1977 and since then has had 9 films and multiple massive TV shows, both in animation and live-action.
• Each successive story seems to always want to emulate what came before, creating a need for fresh ideas within the franchise.
• Projects like The Last Jedi, Andor, and The Acolyte have all tried to break away from the nostalgia of the franchise.

Nostalgia is a powerful storytelling device because it always helps the audience connect with a new story. The Prequels used nostalgia masterfully by barely using it at all. Seeing the story of Darth Vader's fall to darkness was nostalgic in and of itself, but overall the Prequels showed new characters, new places, and fresh stories, while still feeling connected to what came before. The Sequels also used nostalgia but was very heavy-handed with its use. The Force Awakens was criticized by many for almost being a remake of A New Hope, just with new characters. This is an extreme comparison, but it does have its merits. Starkiller base and the new trench run, as well as the First Order and the Resistance, were all meant to imitate the strongest aspects of the Original trilogy. Bringing back Palpatine in Rise of Skywalker also was meant to connect all the saga, but ended up being more divisive. The strong use of old themes and stories left the Sequels looking beautiful, with characters that had so much potential but were put in stories that felt lacking.

The Last Jedi tried to break away from nostalgia and was attacked for it by audience members who were all too eager to attack the franchise they claim to love. The Last Jedi took the themes of Star Wars and the Jedi and placed them under a microscope. The movie showed Luke as a broken hero who was beaten down by his legacy and the legacy of the Jedi. The movie gave an in-depth look at the Force, the Jedi, and their relationship to the state of the galaxy. It was also the film that established Kylo Ren and Rey's Force Dyad. The movie had fresh ideas and concepts, but it still felt authentically Star Wars. Andor and The Acolyte are both in this same category. Both shows offer a different view of the familiar galaxy, with the outings even feeling darker and more focused on the adult audience. Andor was very well received by fans, but the other two projects were attacked upon release. Nostalgia creates a bubble for fans to exist in and some people don't like to expand beyond their safety net.

Both the MCU and Star Wars have given so much to pop culture, but the franchises are struggling to carry their legacies. Either the fans are attacking all new projects because they are "too different" or "not different enough." Audiences are also spending more time looking forward to old characters that they miss the magic of new characters and stories. Both fan service and nostalgia can be great in small doses, but too many cameos or too much nostalgia can leave a project feeling stale.

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  Star Wars

  The original trilogy depicts the heroic development of Luke Skywalker as a Jedi and his fight against Palpatine's Galactic Empire alongside his sister, Leia. The prequels tell the tragic backstory of their father, Anakin, who is corrupted by Palpatine and becomes Darth Vader.

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  Marvel Cinematic Universe

  Created by Marvel Studios, the Marvel Cinematic Universe follows heroes across the galaxy and across realities as they defend the universe from evil.

  First Film

  Iron Man

  Latest Film

  The Marvels

  First TV Show

  WandaVision

  Latest TV Show

  Loki

  Character(s)

  Iron Man , Captain America , The Hulk , Ms. Marvel , Hawkeye , Black Widow , Thor , Loki , Captain Marvel , Falcon , Black Panther , Monica Rambeau , Scarlet Witch