After tomorrow (which, as of writing, is August 25), the MCU will be changed forever with the release of a trailer for an upcoming film, but that film is not Avengers: Doomsday. Marvel Studios forced the MCU to follow a rather tried-and-true formula since the franchise began in 2008. Essentially, movies and TV shows have always gone through initial theater releases, then been made available for digital purchase, followed by DVD/Blu-ray releases. More recently, the MCU also added films to Disney+ following their theatrical runs. However, that is about to change.
On August 25, Marvel Studios will release the main trailer for Avengers: Endgame Encore, marking a shift for the superhero brand and opening up a door that the franchise can freely walk through in the future, but it isn't necessarily a good one. For reference, Avengers: Endgame Encore is a re-release of the original Avengers: Endgame movie from 2019, with around four minutes of extra, never-before-seen footage that will directly lead into Avengers: Doomsday.
When the official trailer for Avengers: Endgame Encore is publicly revealed tomorrow, it will market this altered version of the original Endgame film and ultimately run the risk of degrading the value of future MCU movies, especially the big films under the Avengers banner.
With the release of Avengers: Endgame Encore, fans will now be under the impression that Marvel Studios can take any future MCU movie and re-release it in theaters as a way to solely market another release within the franchise.
For example, Avengers: Endgame Encore would never be a reality if it weren't for the existence of Avengers: Doomsday. More specifically, it is likely that Endgame Encore wouldn't be happening if Chris Evans weren't returning as Steve Rogers, since it will most likely extend Endgame's original ending to tie it into Doomsday.
Therefore, whenever an MCU movie comes out, fans will recognize that the same movie could be released again in theaters sometime down the road, making its original release feel less integral and less like a must-see event.
Essentially, Marvel Studios is saying that Avengers: Endgame Encore is a better version of the original film, which will undoubtedly make many fans look at it and feel as though they were cheated by Marvel and initially given an inferior version of the movie. In the future, this could lead some fans to avoid seeing the initial releases of upcoming movies, especially if they think a better version will come out later.
It is also worth mentioning that Avengers: Endgame Encore could open another door for Marvel Studios that could be dangerous for the future, especially if it performs well in theaters. Specifically, if the movie sells a lot of tickets, it could lead Marvel to rely on past MCU movies rather than create new stories and flesh out fresh characters. Fans are already familiar with Endgame and the characters from the Infinity Saga, so if Endgame Encore does well, Marvel may be more willing to bring old stories and characters back, which could be detrimental in the long run.
Additionally, the existence of Avengers: Endgame Encore could also mark the beginning of a slippery slope for Marvel, as the studio could release movies it knows could be updated in the future. If that is the case, it could cause Marvel to release movies simply to get them out, leading to an initial dip in quality that wouldn't be resolved until the movie's re-release. In turn, fans would then get upset that Marvel would have them going to the theater multiple times for the same story.
If Endgame Encore is successful, it could also lead Marvel Studios and Disney to believe that they could make a quick buck by re-releasing older movies in theaters. That could also leave a bad taste in fans' mouths, as they would likely feel betrayed by Disney and Marvel and be under the impression that the MCU was only being used as a financial tool.
For a long time, Marvel Studios has prided itself on being a quality franchise. By following the formula it set up many years ago, it became one of the most profitable franchises of all time. There is no reason to go back on that now and change things up, but Avengers: Endgame Encore could spell trouble for the future. Marvel just needs to be careful and disciplined.
Is Avengers: Endgame Encore Necessary?
Considering there is only a few minutes of extra footage in Avengers: Endgame Encore, a lot of fans think Marvel is just trying to make a quick buck.
That is likely part of the reason the movie is being re-released, but to be fair, Avengers: Doomsday wasn't supposed to happen when Endgame was first released, and Steve Rogers wasn't supposed to come back. Initially, the next Avengers movie was meant to revolve around Kang the Conqueror and the Multiverse, and Steve Rogers was going to be left in the past, so there wasn't a need to bring Endgame back.
Now that Doomsday is going to be directly connected to Endgame, it can be argued that there will be some content to really tie the two together, and that the best place for it to happen would be in a re-release of Endgame.
Most likely, this is a one-and-done thing for Marvel Studios, and no other MCU films will be re-released with extra footage. Marvel wouldn't want to risk upsetting fans and losing its core fanbase in the future.
