Shared cinematic universes have become the holy grail of modern filmmaking: think Marvel, Star Wars, and even Godzilla. But why do some of these expansive story worlds succeed while others fall flat?

Dr Vincent Tran, Academic Tutor in the Department of Media and Communication at Swinburne University of Technology, joined us to explore the secret behind Marvel’s enormous success and why so many cinematic universes fail to launch. He discussed the importance of carefully planned world-building, the role of compelling characters, and how media convergence has changed the way we experience interconnected stories.

As audiences grow more invested in immersive storytelling, the challenge for filmmakers is no longer just making a great movie—it’s crafting a world that audiences want to return to, again and again.

Article on The Conversation: How to build a cinematic universe: the secret to Marvel’s enormous success among a history of failures