Here’s a shocking truth: even a Marvel movie can flop, and The Marvels is a prime example. Despite its connection to a billion-dollar franchise and critically acclaimed shows like WandaVision and Ms. Marvel, the Captain Marvel sequel barely scraped together $206.1 million worldwide, making it one of Marvel Studios’ biggest box office disappointments. Released during the tail end of 2023’s Hollywood strikes, the film earned mixed reviews, sitting at a modest 62% on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans are still scratching their heads over what went wrong—and this is the part most people miss: director Nia DaCosta’s absence during post-production. But here’s where it gets controversial: DaCosta reportedly left the project early to work on Hedda, a Prime Video drama starring Tessa Thompson, and later faced anonymous criticism for her decision. In a recent interview with The Guardian, DaCosta hinted at the challenges she faced, mentioning the 'shocking way people have talked to me in my position as a director' after Candyman. She also revealed that Marvel Studios was fully aware of her obligations to another greenlit project. Despite the drama, DaCosta insists there’s no bad blood—she even visited the Avengers: Doomsday set recently, maintaining her relationships within the MCU. Kevin Feige, Marvel’s chief creative officer, even wrote her a letter for her UK visa. Here’s the real question: Did DaCosta’s early departure doom The Marvels from the start? Or was it the lack of a solid script and Marvel’s reliance on reshoots that ultimately cost the studio $237 million? Some speculate her visit to the Avengers set might have been to oversee the post-credits scene tied to The Marvels, similar to how other directors have contributed to MCU stingers. What’s your take? Is DaCosta unfairly criticized, or did she drop the ball? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
