Is the MCU becoming too reliant on connectivity?

Loki, WandaVision, Doctor Strange and now Spider-Man

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going on for 12 years now, and after Endgame it seems things are going to be a little bit different. Now that Disney has their own streaming service and Marvel Studios is producing original MCU television series for the service, we will be getting more content from Marvel Studios than before with multiple films and tv series being produced each year.

Last year, at San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Doctor Strange would be getting a sequel and that there is going to be some story arc that involves Scarlet Witch and Loki. This means that there may be a necessity to watch the Loki series as well as the WandaVision series to get a more enriched experience when Doctor Strange 2 comes out.

Having an interconnected story throughout multiple films is not new to the MCU. They have been doing it quite successfully for 12 years. But with the addition of MCU TV series on Disney Plus, it might get to the point where it is becoming a chore to keep up with the story instead of just watching each film or series as its own thing.

Now we know that there may be one more piece to the puzzle which fans and viewers will have to pay attention to. It was recently reported that Benedict Cumberbatch would be reprising his role as Doctor Strange I the upcoming sequel to Spider-Man: Far From Home. This news in it of itself is pretty intriguing as it is hinted that Doctor Strange will be playing a mentor role to the web-slinger. A role that has been vacated by Tony Stark after his death in Avengers Endgame. But what makes it more interesting is the news that Jamie Foxx will be reprising his role of Electro from Andrew Garfield’s Amazing Spider-Man 2, which is of a completely separate franchise and continuity.

However, we know that Doctor Strange 2 will be exploring the Multiverse in some capacity hinted at by the title, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This has made fans ask: How does Doctor Strange role in the Spider-Man film connect to the appearance of Jamie Foxx as Electro.

It seems as if Marvel Studios want fans to enjoy an expanding universe across multiple mediums of storytelling. The question is, how will this impact their experience? Will they have to watch Loki and WandaVision for them to understand Doctor Strange 2? Will there be events referenced in the films that can only be fully understood when they watch the television series?

I’m sure that Kevin Feige and the team at Marvel Studios are asking these questions and how they can let fans enjoy the experience without these other experiences becoming necessary.

Marvel Studios is continuing to do something unique and they should be applauded for the effort. But, they shouldn't be relying too much on telling one story across multiple franchises.