By now there are already a million and a half articles and Youtube bloggers talking about what is yet to come in the highly anticipated Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After Spider-Man: Far From Home closed out The Infinity Saga, or the first 23 interconnected films of the MCU, tension was at an all time high to answer one question: What comes next? Now that Kevin Feige and a multitude of guests have rocked the Hall H stage at San Diego Comic Con and released a timeline of the next two years, let’s dissect what we learned. BLACK WIDOW – May 1, 2020 This may have been the least shocking reveal, but our next adventure into the Marvel-verse will be a prequel set in the time between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. Audiences will catch up with Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow to learn a little more about the trained assassin who fell on Volomir. This will likely be an action spy thriller with David Harbour as Taskmaster, but what this film is going to bring to the table is still unknown. However, I wouldn’t be shocked if something extremely minute shows up in the end credits of this film that sets up the next 10 years of movies. THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER – Only on Disney+ Fall 2020 Honestly, I didn’t expect to see any Disney+ announcements at Comic Con, but I’m glad we finally have a time table for some of these new shows. Seriously, looking ahead at 2021, the first part of Phase Four is going to be HUGE. Our first ever glimpse into what a Marvel-Disney+ Show looks like comes in the form of Bucky Barnes and the new Captain America, who seems to still be going by Falcon, Sam Wilson. With details still pretty tight-lipped, I hope we get one more outing with Old Man Cap. ETERNALS – November 6, 2020 Rounding out next year, the next big thing of the MCU is going to be The Eternals. This space adventure will star Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Salma Hayek Lauren Ridloff and Brian Tyree Henry. Ridloff will play the first deaf character in the MCU. If I am wildly speculating, I hope we see a young Thanos in this movie. It is likely going to take place partially on Titan and I would love to see more of the Mad Titan. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS – February 12, 2021 I’m calling it now, this movie is going to be the highest grossing Marvel film of all time due to international box office. Awkwafina and Tony Leung are set to star in the film and will go up against the REAL Mandarin. I only hope this means Ben Kingsley will be back as Trevor. The ties to Iron Man 3 is a great way to get domestic movie-goers to check out a martial arts film and I am willing to bet a hint at a lot of what’s to come will show up here, just to make it essential viewing. WANDAVISION – Only on Disney+ in Spring 2021 While we know Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen will both be staring in this limited series, it is unclear how Vision will be brought back from the dead. However, I am certain this will include a grieving Wanda and some crazy witchy powers. I hope we see the twins being born here too. The character of Monica Rambeau will be played by Teyonah Parris. DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS – May 7, 2021 First, let me just say that this is the first of two really great upcoming MCU titles. Following the events of WandaVision, Doctor Strange and Scarlett Witch will go on a haunting adventure. Scott Derrickson will return as director. I’m guessing we will get confirmation of demons in the MCU. LOKI – Only on Disney+ in Spring 2021 Following the events of Avengers: Endgame an alternate version of Tom Hiddleston’s Loki will go on a time-hopping adventure. I don’t even know what to speculate about here. Maybe we will see the Savage Land? WHAT IF…? – Only on Disney+ in Spring 2021 This will be the first animated series of the MCU which tells alternate stories about what could have been in Phases One through Three. Basically, all of the well-known actors and actresses of the MCU are lending their voices to this series and there’s no need to speculate because it won’t have ramifications for the universe. HAWKEYE – Only on Disney+ in Fall 2021 The fifth and (not really) final Marvel series to hit Disney+ in the next two years is Hawkeye which will see more of Jeremy Renner’s Ronin give up the mantle of Hawkeye to Kate Bishop. I hope Clint Barton actually retires this time. THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER – November 5, 2021 Possibly the most anticipated movie and second-best title announced at San Diego Comic Con is Thor: Love and Thunder, the fourth installment in the Thor franchise and a return for Natalie Portman’s character, Jane Foster. Portman is expected to wield the powers of Thor and Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie is also expected to return. It’s probably too much to expect the Hulk in this film but Banner is the only original Avenger that doesn’t seem to have any plans beyond Endgame. I’m sure I’m wrong about that, though. Taika Waititi is returning to direct this film. Will the Guardians of the Galaxy show up? Only time will tell. THE FUTURE
Various other films were announced but not officially put on the slate. However, since Phase Four is only planned out for two years so far, and all the other previous Phases have had three of four years, I expect there to be a second half of this phase announced soon. Possibly at D23 Expo in August? Rounding out the night, Kevin Fiege also announced that Mahershala Ali will star in a reboot of Blade and more movies are on the way. Fantastic Four, Captain Marvel 2, Black Panther 2, Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 and Mutants were all name-dropped by Feige. One film that was notably absent was a third Spider-Man film. Part of me is expecting that film to slide into a July 2021 spot or somewhere in the unannounced 2022 timeline. WHAT’S MISSING? So now that we know what I’m calling HALF of Phase Four, what comes next? Marvel still has Feb 2022, May 2022 and July 2022 open for more films. I expect these will be filled with Black Panther, Captain Marvel and Guardians sequels respectively. I also think Young Avengers, Ant-Man 3 and Blade will come out in 2023, finishing Phase Four. Fantastic Four and Mutants will start Phase Five in 2024. (Remember, these are just my guesses.) What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!
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Erick L. Graham Wood
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