Should the Marvel Cinematic Universe pursue a hard reboot after Avengers: Secret Wars, or continue building on its existing continuity?
Yes
A hard reset after Secret Wars would be the most effective way to restore clarity, accessibility, and creative momentum to the MCU. After more than 30 films and numerous Disney+ series, the franchise has become narratively bloated, requiring audiences to track sprawling multiverse logic and hours of supplementary content just to stay engaged. Phases Four and Five have struggled with coherence, with projects like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels underperforming both critically and commercially.
A reset would allow Marvel to reintroduce iconic characters, (like the X-men), streamline storytelling, and lower the barrier to entry for casual viewers who feel left behind. They could even recast iconic roles to allow for continued storytelling with characters like Iron Man and Captain America. Comic-book history shows that reboots often revitalise interest rather than erase legacy. Secret Wars offers a rare, organic opportunity to simplify the universe, refocus on character-driven stories, and rebuild trust with audiences who feel the MCU has lost direction.
No
A hard reset risks discarding the MCU’s greatest strength: long-term emotional investment. The shared continuity that began with Iron Man created a sense of payoff unmatched in blockbuster filmmaking, culminating in Avengers: Endgame. Abandoning that foundation could undermine what differentiates Marvel from other franchises and alienate fans who remain invested in characters like Loki, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange.
The MCU’s recent struggles are not proof that continuity itself has failed, but that quality control has slipped. Films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and series like Loki demonstrate that strong storytelling still resonates within the existing framework. Rather than resetting everything, Marvel should focus on fewer projects, clearer creative vision, and better execution. The problem is not the universe — it’s how inconsistently it has been managed.
