Part 5/9:
Proponents argue that The Marvels is being unfairly scrutinized or protected because it features a predominantly female cast and is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which historically continues despite flops. Stephen King publicly defended The Marvels, calling out the attacks and sexism present in much of the outrage—arguing that blame is often misplaced or gendered. Critics of the media narrative suggest that there’s a double standard at play: movies like Aquaman 2 are vilified without much media pushback, while The Marvels is shielded in the name of diversity and progressive representation.