With Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe still ongoing, San Diego Comic-Con has already shed some light on the future of the MCU. Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, gave insights into phase 5 and an outlook on phase 6, which should end in 2025 with two “Avengers” films. That’s what’s coming for Marvel heroes in the months and years to come.
Marvel fans continue on August 17 with the start of the Disney series “She-Hulk: The Lawyer”: It is about Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany), who masters the complicated life of a single lawyer in her thirties and is also a green, seven-foot-tall Hulk with super powers. The nine-part series sees a number of MCU character reunions, including Mark Ruffalo as Hulk, Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/Abomination, and Benedict Wong as Wong.
Then a highlight awaits in the cinema: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” will run from November 9th. Since Comic-Con it has been clear: Namor (Tenoch Huerta), king of a hidden underwater nation, has entered the MCU as a new villain. Also joining the cast is Dominique Thorne (as Riri Williams aka Ironheart). This film is intended to close phase 4. So far the content is known: Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight after the death of King T’ Challah about protecting their nation from intervening world powers. As the Wakandans scramble to begin their next chapter, the heroes, with the help of elite warrior Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), must band together and chart a new path for the Kingdom of Wakanda.
The next phase will begin on February 15, 2023 with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) then apparently meets Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) in the quantum realm. Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) will also be there. According to US media reports, Bill Murray has a cameo appearance. And alongside Kang, another super villain is set to appear in the film: Modok.
For spring 2023, Marvel has also announced “Secret Invasion”: A series that is said to come in the form of a dark thriller, with Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Also starring are Ben Mendelsohn (Skrull Talos), Don Cheadle (James Rhodes) and Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross). The likes of Kingsley Ben-Adir, Olivia Colman and Emilia Clarke are also said to be starring in the series.
More Marvel stars will follow with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” in cinemas from May 3, 2023. According to reports, director James Gunn and his actors, including Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff and Will Poulter, gave a first look at the film at Comic-Con. It apparently shows, among other things, the origin story of Rocket. The group of outsiders also looks a little different than usual in the new strip. Still suffering from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill aka Star-Lord must rally his team to defend the universe while protecting one of their own.
The theatrical releases of Phase 5 also include “The Marvels” directed by Nia DaCosta, the strip will be released in German cinemas on July 26, 2023. It is a sequel to “Captain Marvel” and the series “Ms. Marvel”. Brie Larson will star.
Hawkeye’s spin-off series, Echo, is set to be released in the summer of 2023. The focus is Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox). The second season of “Loki”, which is currently being filmed, has also been announced for the summer of next year. Tom Hiddleston reprises his role as Loki, and he is joined by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Eugene Cordero, Owen Wilson and Sophia Di Martino.
Another highlight: In November 2023, the film “Blade” will be released, as announced at Comic-Con. Filming will begin in October 2022, starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (48).
A new Marvel series is also expected for the end of 2023: “Ironheart”. Following her appearance in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) will be starring in it. Apparently six episodes are planned.
Another series is to follow in winter 2023: “Agatha: Coven of Chaos” – a spin-off of “Wandavision”. The focus is on the character Agatha Harkness, played by Kathryn Hahn, a powerful witch.
Daredevil: Born Again is slated for spring 2024. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) will thus receive a Disney series with an initial 18 episodes. Cox’ Murdock first appeared in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, and his nemesis Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) starred in Hawkeye. Both characters are set to appear in “Echo.”
Marvel also announced the title and release date of the fourth “Captain America” ??film at Comic-Con in San Diego. The strip is called “Captain America: New World Order” and will be released in cinemas on May 1, 2024. The film is set after the events of the Disney series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, in which Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, assumes Captain America’s shield and suit.
The end of phase 5, the movie “Thunderbolts”, is announced for July 24, 2024. Not much is known yet, only that the focus should probably be on the MCU anti-heroes.
Apparently, phase 6 of the MCU will be a lot shorter. On November 6, 2024, this should start in the cinemas with the “Fantastic Four” strip. The film, “which introduces Marvel’s most iconic family,” begins production next year. Phase 6 will end a year later with an “Avengers” double pack. In “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”, planned for May 2025, the eponymous villain will play the main role, “Avengers: Secret Wars” will follow at the end in November 2025.
