Marvels Biggest Missed Opportunity: The Inhumans in the MCU
A power struggle within Marvel Studios served to be the catalyst behind Marvel’s biggest missed opportunity: The Inhumans in the MCU.
There have been few missteps within the decade-plus long history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; with the architect of it all, Kevin Feige, acting as the steady hand that has guided the ship towards the prosperity it currently embraces.
Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
Yet, this doesn’t mean that there weren’t turbulent waters during its journey to reverence atop the cinematic world.
Many are aware of the power struggle that existed between the Kevin Feige-led Marvel Studios, and Marvel Entertainment; the other branch of the company that crafted the various television series and other projects.
Source: Marvel Studios
It was this power struggle that led to what is perhaps Marvel’s biggest missed opportunity: the chance for Feige to introduce the Inhumans into the MCU.
Prior to Eternals’ development and release, it seems a more appropriate plan for expansion for the Marvel Universe didn’t include the Celestials and their creations on earth; the story was given to fans during the 2021 Eternals film.
Source: Marvel Studios
It should have been, in fact, The Inhumans who were supposed to be the cosmic-centered superfamily of near-immortal beings; a story that would’ve kept all of the brilliant super-powered action of the Eternals, with a more centered emotional core.
The Inhumans are, first and foremost, a family, but what makes them more interesting as an entity is that they are a royal family.
Source: Marvel
Marvel Entertainment, in search of a series that would continue to benefit from the Marvel brand success thanks to Feige and the MCU, got to the characters first; with rumors of the branch of the studio cutting Feige off at the knees to develop a project centered around these characters.
The Inhumans would’ve been more relatable, with the source material boasting a much larger fanbase, and would’ve acted as a much easier sell than the more obscure Eternals.
Source: Marvel
Black Bolt is an iconic Marvel comics character, and the journey of his family would’ve been a better film for the MCU in 2021 than Eternals, and it will be Marvel’s biggest missed opportunity yet.
