Why did Elektra get a movie in 2003 ?

Why did Elektra get a movie in 2003 ?

Why Jennifer Garner's Elektra Got Her Own Movie Despite Ben Affleck's Daredevil Failure
Despite the perceived failure of Ben Affleck's Daredevil, Jennifer Garner still received an Elektra solo film from 20th Century Fox. 2003's Daredevil starred Affleck and Garner as Daredevil and Elektra, Marvel's tragic lovers and vigilante duo. While many considered Daredevil a disappointment, including some of the stars themselves, it was nothing like the spin-off Elektra, which boasts one of the worst reputations in the history of superhero films - sparking speculation as to why it was made in the first place. place.

Daredevil and Elektra were produced by 20th Century Fox in the early era of Marvel films. As such, they helped pave the way for the MCU timeline and the modern era of comic book movies. That legacy is celebrated by Deadpool & Wolverine, which pays homage to the legacy of Fox's Marvel films. Deadpool & Wolverine says goodbye to Fox's Marvel franchise and, in the process, redeems Garner's catastrophic Elektra film.

Daredevil had a strong opening weekend in 2003 and made back its budget
Daredevil is often retrospectively considered a failure, but his initial performance was relatively successful. Despite its mixed reviews, Daredevil opened to a strong $40.5 million in its opening weekend - $45 million including Presidents Day the following Monday. Daredevil grossed $179.1 million worldwide against a production budget of $78 million.

While these numbers may not seem impressive by today's standards, especially when compared to the monumental successes of the MCU films, they were quite respectable at the time. Daredevil managed to gross more than double its budget, which is a key metric for determining a film's financial success. However, it's also not enough to justify an expanding franchise.

Critics were similarly vague, with an overall lukewarm reception for Daredevil. Many praised Daredevil for its dark tone and mix of humor and action. Others cited the central performances of Garner, Affleck and Michael Clarke Duncan, along with a handful of specific scenes as notable highlights.

On the other hand, some unfavorable critics pointed to Daredevil's tonal inconsistencies and lackluster execution. Ben Affleck himself even declared that he hated Daredevil so much that it encouraged him to play Batman in the DCEU. However, this small success was enough to warrant some form of sequel.

Fox greenlit Elektra over Daredevil 2, but it was a bigger flop
Following the release of Daredevil, 20th Century Fox faced a decision regarding the future of the franchise. In 2004, Ben Affleck expressed a willingness to return for a sequel only if it adopted a darker tone, which he noted would require a lot of negotiation (via IESB). Instead of moving forward with Affleck's plan for Daredevil 2, Fox opted to create a spin-off centered on Jennifer Garner's Elektra.