- The 2023 industry-wide strikes basically delayed all movies and TV by an entire year.
- The streaming bubble popped around the same time, leading to cuts/delays in production.
- Paramount Pictures just went through a year-long sale process, wherein the old guard curtailed production significantly on their movies/franchises, knowing they wouldn't be around much longer.
- Warner Bros was bought by Discovery, at which point all kinds cost-cutting measures were taken, all to prepare WB for yet another sale next year. In other words, years of instability have curtailed production.
- During that time, Warner Bros also scrapped the DCEU and it took a couple years to then ramp up the DCU in its place.
- Disney basically ruined the Star Wars franchise, to the point where we haven't had a SW movie in six years (a drought which finally ends next year).
- Superhero fatigue also kicked in, significantly affecting the amount of Marvel movies Disney produces.
- In the case of The Batman, the aforementioned strikes delayed the movie by a year, and then writer/director Matt Reeves dealt with an unknown "personal issue," which then delayed the movie by another year. Not to mention he's uber-meticulous and is know for taking his time.
All of that said, 2026 finally looks to see a return to form, volume, and pace across both film and television. We still won't be at pre-Covid levels (and likely never will be again), but it at least looks like we're finally entering a new normal/equilibrium going forward, as all of the dust settles from the above chaos (save for the impending Warner Bros sale, which feels like it'll be the last major piece to fall into place).
