The history of Phase 4 of the UCM advances little by little, between so many series and movies. Now, Marvel Studios has revealed what its central theme is.
Speaking with journalist Chris Hewitt during the podcast Spoiler Special from Empire Magazine, richie Palmerhead of production and development in all the projects of the MCU Phase 4addressed what unifies the current stage of Marvel Studios. That is, what is the central theme of the current cinematographic phase.
When asked if the main theme of Phase 4 of the MCU is guilt and its consequences, Richie Palmer confirmed that it was. The executive stated that the news of Marvel Studios is all a reaction of the characters to the events of Avengers: Infinity War Y Avengers: Endgame.
“Effectively, that’s right. Phase 4 of the MCU is a reaction in itself. And I am not referring to our figure as filmmakers, but to the characters. They’re reacting to the trauma of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. We’re still feeling those effects in these stories, years later.”
Richie Palmer said this was something they personally discussed with elizabeth olsenregarding the trip Scarlet Witch. «It’s something we talked about with Elizabeth Olsen, every step of the way for her. Wanda’s entire journey leads her to a moment of responsibility“, said. «We believe that he has arrived there after everything he has lived«.
Guilt and its consequences are the center of attention
The Marvel producer explained that Phase 4 of the MCU also explores many of the characters’ reactions after losing everything. It is the case of peter parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
“What happens when you lose everything? Some people handle it differently. Peter Parker dove into Spider-Man’s persona at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home. He let Spider-Man’s personality take over completely, as a response to losing him and trauma to him. Peter, of course, knows that Spider-Man means going out on the street and being the greatest hero of all time.”
For Wanda Maximoff, however, the Marvel producer said they went in the opposite direction. She became one of the worst villains in history by falling into the Scarlet Witch persona.
«The version of Wanda was inclined only to be Scarlet Witch. It’s the same thing we found out about Agatha Harkness and the Darkhold, but through Wanda’s self-discovery. She became the worst villain in history, the destroyer of worlds. She knows now. She tells herself that she must become this god of destruction. She has always known, actually, below the surface. But now they have been told. The way to deal with her loss and her trauma is simply to be who she truly is: the Scarlet Witch. And that’s what she becomes ».
In terms of the central leitmotif of the Phase 4 of the Marvel Studios MCURichie Palmer said that he felt it was about our heroes discovering reality, their place in the world, after the losses suffered in the previous phases.
“It’s interesting… Whether it’s Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch or even Black Widow after Civil War. This Phase 4 of the MCU feels like it’s about how our heroes come to be themselves. Everyone finds out their place in the world. And many of them feel alone now due to the losses suffered during all the Marvel Avengers movies.