The Marvel Cinematic Universe, once the mightiest film franchise in the galaxy, could use a break.
The last three MCU movies all under-performed in theaters:
- "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" ($274 million US)
- "Thunderbolts" ($190 million US)
- "Captain America: Brave New World" ($200 million US)
Those numbers are big, no doubt, but MCU films have massive budgets and routinely earn far more than that at the US box office. Even the mediocre 2019 "Captain Marvel" made an astonishing $426 million stateside.
That means "Avengers: Doomsday," in theaters Dec. 18, is the saga's best chance to get back in the win column. Maybe its last chance.
The film assembles just about every hero under the sun to defeat Doctor Doom, played by former Iron Man star Robert Downey, Jr. And along comes co-star Ian McKellen to put his Magneto-sized foot in his mouth.
The veteran actor has played the evil mutant for decades, and his acting has never been in dispute. Still, he used a film festival event to virtue signal against roughly half of America in ways that would make Rachel Zegler blush.
The 87-year-old actor shared an anecdote from the film's set to describe how he channeled his character's rage for a pivotal sequence. The actor struggled to rise to the occasion initially, so directors Joe and Anthony Russo egged him on. Try harder, they cried.
'Make it look as if you hate what you’re destroying.' So, I stood there and I shouted: ‘Mar-a-Lago!'
Yuk yuk.
Now, it's a silly, throwaway comment, but one that will catch fire on social media no doubt. It's also an ugly thing to say, especially given the multiple attempts on President Donald Trump's life in recent years. He could have simply said, "Pineapple on pizza" and gotten the same results, no?
McKellen tried to gain a snicker. Instead, he likely threw fuel on the culture war fires. It's exactly the kind of negative publiclity the MCU doesn't need at this critical juncture.
It also reminded many of comments Madonna made early in the first Trump administration. Those were far more troubling, a premeditated rant that captured the Left's rage toward the real estate mogul. It's a rage that has yet to ebb.
Just ask Robert De Niro.
“Loving our country is starting to sound like an abused spouse saying they love their abuser.”
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 15, 2026
That was Robert De Niro’s message as he took aim at President Trump during a First Amendment fundraising event in New York City on Sunday, arguing that America is “not so lovable right… pic.twitter.com/PmN8zIudoC
Madonna was one of many stars to speak at an early Women's March early in 2017, a time when feminists pretended to care about politicians who may have treated women badly. Call it the pre-Platner era.
Madonna took the stage and shared this ghoulish thought with the crowd.
Yes, I'm angry. Yes, I am outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House, but I know that this won't change anything. We cannot fall into despair.
The singer faced no repercussions for her threat. After all, it's not as if she posed for pictures with a member of the Trump administration. According to our not-remotely-corrupt media, that's a bridge too far.
Fans are expressing disappointment and disillusionment at their one-time favorite comedian’s attendance at Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebration. https://t.co/J85oyP4zf4
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) June 16, 2026
