World
What Time Does The Captain Marvel Review Embargo
Captain Marvel Review Embargo, starring Brie Larson, will have its review embargo lifted later than other MCU films. But there’s a reason behind it.
The review embargo for Captain Marvel is lifting later than normal for a Marvel Studios film, but there’s a solid reason for it.
The next film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will officially introduce Carol Danvers, starring Brie Larson as the titular hero. Captain Marvel, billed as the series’ future, will take the place of founding members Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Captain America (Chris Evans), all of whom are expected to depart following Avengers: Endgame.
The Captain Marvel review embargo
Captain Marvel, set in 1995, will take place before the events of 2008’s Iron Man and will follow Nick Fury (Sam Jackson) and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) when they confront Carol Danvers.
Her travels on Earth are tied to the continuing Kree-Skrull war as individuals from both sides of the fight such as Yon Rogg (Jude Law), Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), and the Supreme Intelligence (Ben Mendelsohn) appear (Annette Benning).
The film is highly awaited by fans as a crucial element of MCU heritage, not to mention the fact that it introduces the franchise’s first female lead hero. However, unlike its predecessors, the film’s review embargo will be lifted a little later, which may cause some concern.
On Tuesday, March 5, at 6 a.m. PST/9 a.m. EST/2 p.m. GMT, the Captain Marvel review embargo will be lifted, just two days before the first public screenings.
Lifting review embargos early is interpreted as an indication that studios are confidence in the quality of their latest release, whereas lifting an embargo days or even hours before a film’s public release is interpreted as a gesture to avoid disaster.
The MCU, being the powerhouse that it is, is known for lifting review embargos at least a few weeks before a film hits theatres. This has become more apparent in recent years, with Thor:
Ragnarok being released two weeks ahead of schedule, while Black Panther being released 18 days ahead of schedule. The reviews for Captain America: Civil War were released three weeks before the film was released to the general public.
The fact that Captain Marvel’s reviews aren’t starting to fall until Tuesday of its opening week could be interpreted as a sign that Marvel isn’t completely confident in their latest film.
Granted, Avengers: Infinity War had a late embargo as well, but that was to keep spoilers at bay; in fact, the Joe and Anthony Russo-directed film didn’t get a complete release until its Los Angeles premiere.
Unlike Captain Marvel, which had already screened for press doing interviews for the film prior to its global premiere, this film had already screened for press doing interviews for the film prior to its world premiere. Is there any reason to be worried about the movie?
Not at all. After junket press screenings, the social media embargo on Captain Marvel has been broken, and the overall impression is that it’s a worthwhile addition to the MCU portfolio, with strong performances from Larson and Mendelsohn. While these tweets can’t give you a complete picture, it’s safe to say Marvel Studios has another another hit on its hands (and definitely not a dud). The delay in lifting the review embargo is so unlikely to be due to concerns about quality.
The film’s launch date appears to be the primary stumbling block. The premiere of Captain Marvel will take place on March 4th (with many press screenings around the world happening the same day).
It’s logical to presume that Marvel Studios wants the review embargo to be lifted after that event, and that as many critics as possible have reviews ready for the embargo to be lifted.
That, of course, begs the question of why the premiere wasn’t pushed back, and the Oscars are to blame. The 91st Academy Awards were held on February 24 at the Dolby Theatre, leaving limited room for the L.A. Film Festival. Due to the cleanup, the premiere of Captain Marvel will be delayed until next week.
While typical embargo fears suggest that Captain Marvel’s reviews have been delayed, the truth is that it’s completely out of Marvel’s control and far from a cause for concern.
Also Read: