With AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR now officially out in the world, Marvel Studios can look towards the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that future is damn near overflowing with potential projects. However, one element of the MCU which we shouldn't get our hopes up in regards to are the Marvel One-Shots. If you need a refresher, these were short-films included on Blu-ray releases of certain MCU movies which could expand on the plot of the features, introduce new characters, and explore unseen aspects of the franchise. To date, there have been five Marvel One-Shots, including THE CONSULTANT, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THOR'S HAMMER, ITEM 47, AGENT CARTER, and ALL HAIL THE KING, but it's been over four years since the last one was produced.
The lack of further Marvel One-Shots has been addressed over the years, but while speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Marvel Studios co-president Louis D'Esposito said that it isn't because they don't want to make more, they're simply too busy.
We’re just so busy. Disney wants us to do it, we want to do it, and I keep telling them, ‘I’ll do it on the next film,’ but I keep breaking my promise.
As Disney usually gets what they want at the end of the day, it's probably safe to say that the Marvel One-Shots will return…at some point. I get that there's only so many hours in the day, but I feel like they were just on the cusp of unlocking the potential of the One-Shots. Imagine the characters which could be introduced, the smaller stories which could be told, and, perhaps more importantly, the One-Shots could be used as a proving ground for young writers and directors to cut their teeth on before possibly moving up the chain to Marvel features. It could be like Marvel's own little film school.
Meanwhile, now that AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR has been released, be sure to let us know what you thought ot it!