Disney is pinning its hopes on the upcoming second season of Loki to breathe new life into the Marvel Studios division, which has faced challenges in recent times.
Forbes recently disclosed that Disney allocated a substantial budget of $141.3 million (£110.6 million) for the pre-production and filming phases of the forthcoming installment of Loki. Disney is leaving no stone unturned, aiming to rejuvenate interest in the MCU series and invigorate its subsidiary. The investment in the second season surpasses even the production costs of central box office hits like Doctor Strange (£102.7 million), Thor 2: The Dark World (£99.4 million), and Guardians of the Galaxy (£91.1 million).
Scheduled for release on the Disney+ platform in October, the series, led by Tom Hiddleston, will continue to follow the exploits of the mischievous Asgardian god. Joining Hiddleston are returning cast member Owen Wilson and newcomer Ke Huy Quan. Marvel’s recent releases, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 have reported disappointing box office figures, falling short of initial projections and failing to meet the studio’s anticipated success. Similarly, despite high expectations from Disney, Secret Invasion received criticism from fans due to plot inconsistencies, subpar CGI, and a somber tone, resulting in a mere 7% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Since its launch in 2019, Disney+ has yet to generate profits, and its financial report for Q1 2023 revealed an operating deficit of $695 million. Given the widespread popularity of the Loki series, it is evident that Disney has placed significant reliance on its triumph.
In unrelated entertainment news, Dwayne Johnson attributes the cancellation of Black Adam 2 to a “shift in leadership.”
