“`htmlJuly is a pivotal month for both Marvel and DC. If everything goes as planned, fortunes may shift for the two competing superhero studios that have been striving to find success in their respective universes. While DCU discovered its revival formula with Superman a week ago, MCU is now seeking a revival with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in the upcoming days. Notably, there is a common theme between both films – a recall, a reboot. Superman
has been around for as long as we can remember. Similarly, there have been numerous attempts at Fantastic Four as well. As DC and Marvel reintroduce their superheroes who have always existed, they are not focusing on their origin stories. They have been present, actively engaged in their superhero responsibilities in a world that coexists with super villains. After Superman
initiated the momentum, can Fantastic Four follow suit?
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July – month of recalls and reboots
It’s been some time since Hollywood provided us with a genuine summer release that has been highly anticipated. However, this time, we are fortunate to have two, and even more! The month commenced with Jurassic World Rebirth
, which took a step forward in its iconic dinosaur universe. The fourth Jurassic World film and the seventh installment overall in the Jurassic Park franchise, it performed well, having crossed $545 million globally so far. While this film belongs to a different genre, reviving the bloodthirsty creatures from the fossils allowed it to maintain a strong position in its sci-fi category.
Two comic book movie franchises facing-off
The real competition remained between DC and Marvel. The clash between the two began long before the ticket counters opened. Two comic book movie franchises going head-to-head amid high expectations from fans. In fact, the test screenings of both received mixed feedback. Now, with pre-sales of tickets for The Fantastic Four: First Steps
starting, things may appear promising for the MCU, but it is still trailing behind Man of Steel.
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James Gunn: From Marvel to DC
Kevin Feige has repeatedly shown confidence in the new MCU team-up. However, he is up against James Gunn, a filmmaker who ironically gained his fame within Marvel. Now, he is advancing his vision that was validated in Guardians of the Galaxy
, ushering in a new era for the DC Universe. Although the current box-office performance of Superman could pose a challenge to The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Fantastic Four lags behind Superman in presale of tickets
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently targeting an opening between $100 million to $110 million upon its release on July 25. Should Marvel and Disney be concerned? With $13 million in presales as of Monday, Fantastic Four
is ahead of MCU’s recent films Thunderbolts* ($74.3 million) and Captain America: Brave New World ($88.8 million 3-day). However, a significant concern for Marvel is that despite a positive sign, it is still trailing behind Superman by 20%, as reported by Deadline.