Why WandaVision’s Trailer Beat Avengers: Infinity War

Forum 3 years ago

Why WandaVision’s Trailer Beat Avengers: Infinity War

In a surprise move, Marvel dropped its WandaVision trailer during the 2020 Emmys, and it surpassed even Avengers: Infinity War with its number of views in the first 24 hours. Due to a string of unfortunate delays, the studio intends for this mysterious MCU Disney+ show to kick off the Marvel Cinematic Universe's new post-Infinity Saga era and, judging from the trailer's performance, fans are eager to dive back into the franchise after over a year of waiting.

With a whooping 53 million views within the first day of its release, the WandaVision trailer has surpassed all others for Disney's already-successful streaming service. In addition, the show's trailer blew the Black Widow Super Bowl spot's mere 18.7 views out of the water. Even the Avengers: Infinity War Super Bowl trailer didn't fare as well as the upcoming Disney+ series, garnering only 30.9 million views after 24 hours. These numbers are significant and point to the viability of Marvel's new method of bringing heroes - even ones long considered "B-list" - directly into the homes of clamoring fans.

And after a year filled with the uncertainty, filming delays, and closed movie theaters that come with a world-altering global pandemic, the fandom's excitement is understandable. With Black Widow's theatrical release already pushed back a handful of times and the recent adjustment of the upcoming MCU movie release schedule, it appears as though audiences will have to wait until at least May 2021 to see Marvel's heroes on the big screen. Considering the last chapter in the MCU's sprawling super hero epic, Spider-Man: Far From Home, came out in July 2019, the anticipation for what's next for the multi-layered universe and its characters has been palpable.

This is hardly the first time MCU fans have displayed an eagerness for content. After Kevin Feige and crew left their heroes' fates uncertain with Avengers: Infinity War's emotional cliffhanger of an ending, many consumers of the franchise found themselves in a similar state of limbo. The readiness for Avengers: Endgame - which was likely to be a swan song for many of the series' beloved characters - helped contribute to success of the film's record-smashing trailer, which was viewed an incredible 289 million views in its first day. While WandaVision's trailer pales in comparison to Endgame's, the fact remains that the desire for MCU content (released on Disney+ or elsewhere) isn't going anywhere.

Contributing to the hype and anticipation, the WandaVision trailer is well-crafted and intriguing, characteristics which likely inspire multiple viewings. With a handful of Easter Eggs and a style that often borders on psychedelic, the streaming series seems poised to offer a strange and new flavor, even while following some of the MCU's familiar characters. Despite their relative longevity in the franchise and the immense power demonstrated by both characters, Wanda and Vision have had far less screen time than many of their fellow heroes. With the time and space that comes with an hole season, it looks as if that will change - and alter the universe's status quo in the process.

The success of WandaVision's surprise trailer is telling, as it confirms just how hungry Marvel's audience is for new stories set in their record-breaking cinematic universe, especially when considering its out-performance of Avengers: Infinity War's. Moreover, the statistics may well foreshadow the viability of the studio's plans, which involve a lineup of Disney+ series set in the MCU and following a wide array of characters ranging from the well-known to the obscure. With interest peaked after a long period of waiting, Marvel's next great cinematic experiment will likely go off with bang when WandaVision releases in December 2020.