Art has been patriarchal, and that cannot be ignored. However, during the early 19th century, it started to change as the era began to see the rise of female writers, painters, and artists. This wave entered the realm of entertainment as well, and fans started to get used to the change.
We began to see characters such as Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel. Although there have been instances of overly sexualizing female characters, that is not our focus here.
With the wave of feminism, a new normal emerged. Recently, Marvel and DC have been giving the right amount of exposure to their female characters.
We have had solo movies like Captain Marvel and female teams like The Marvels and Madame Web. Though the quality of some of these titles is questionable, it highlights the problem: the studios are making female-led films as gimmicks.
Fans have a big problem with this.
Films like Black Swan and Piku prove that female-led films can work with the right ammunition, writers, and directors. However, the superhero franchises often make mistakes by forcing these films upon audiences.
Fans were joyous about the iconic scene during ENDGAME when all the lead female stars teamed up against Thanos. It was something they loved. But later in the Marvel Universe, films like The Marvels annoyed fans, and you can’t really blame them.
One major problem with this initiative is the lack of character build-up, which makes the storylines seem choppy. Additionally, the writing is often poor, and even good acting can’t make up for it.
Recent Star Wars fans share the same fear—that the studio will force female characters upon them.
During an interview, Kathleen Kennedy stated-
“I think a lot of the women who step into Star Wars struggle with [toxic fandom attacks] a bit more.”
“Because of the fan base being so male dominated, they sometimes get attacked in ways that can be quite personal… Operating within these giant franchises now, with social media and the level of expectation — it’s terrifying”
From The Acolyte to Ahsoka, the Star Wars universe is introducing more female characters, which is beneficial for the franchise. It will not only give exposure to new fans but also help address the plateau in the fanbase.
However, they must ensure that Star Wars does not force these characters upon the audience. They need to be patient with the build-up and take their time on the screens.