Marvel has announced its upcoming slate of movies, as the Disney studio celebrates the box-office successes of final Avengers movie Endgame and latest release Spider-Man: Far From Home.
The so-called Phase Four of of the Marvel Comic Universe (MCU) was outlined by studio boss Kevin Feige at the San Diego Comic-Con convention, and also includes TV shows that will be available exclusively on new streaming service, Disney+.
Here’s what Marvel Studios has in store for fans in 2019 and beyond:
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The New Mutants
X-Men spin-off The New Mutants is being described as a “superhero horror” movie, an intriguing proposition.Like the latest X-Men release, Dark Phoenix, which finally hit cinemas in June, Mutants has suffered a series of delays. The film was originally due for release in April 2018, but was then pushed back to this February before being delayed once again, reports Collider.
“When the film was initially delayed, it was reported that Fox wanted to do some reshoots to make the movie scarier, even going so far as to add a new character. That still holds true, and while we hear the film tested well, it’s not ‘scary’ enough,” says the entertainment news site.
Release date: 2 August 2019
Black Widow
A staple of the Avengers series, ex-KGB assassin Black Widow has been given a spin-off movie of her own. Set before the events of the first Avengers film, the upcoming release will see Scarlett Johansson “reprise the role of the Russian spy turned superheroine”, The Hollywood Reporter says.
The movie has been shooting for about a month, according to CNBC, and will be Marvel’s second female-focused film, after Captain Marvel. Australian moviemaker Cate Shortland has been brought in to direct following an 18-month process that saw producers meet more than 70 potential candidates.
Release date: 1 May 2020
Eternals
Directed by Chloe Zhao (The Rider), Eternals centres around a group of immortals who have been on Earth for thousands of years and who have superpower abilities, including flight, mind control and shape-shifting. The diverse cast includes Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden and Salma Hayek.
Marvel Studios boss Feige says there will also be an LGBTQ+ character in the movie, which is an adaptation of Jack Kirby’s comics. Thanos, MCU’s villain in Infinity Wars and Endgame, is a mutated Eternal with genes from their enemies the Deviants in the original comic series, which suggests the new film may reveal more about his background.
Release date: 6 November 2020
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
The final scenes of Endgame saw Captain America passing on his shield to the Falcon, whose relationship with Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, is explored in this upcoming TV series.
Previous films have had Bucky and Sam Wilson butting heads, but over time the pair have learned to work together. The new show has been teased as a “spy thriller,” and is expected to pick up where Endgame left off.
Release date: autumn 2020
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
In the original Marvel comics, the Chinese-American titular character is a martial arts superhero who is raised to succeed his father but then learns that his parent is an evil mastermind seeking to take over the world.
The upcoming film about Shang-Chi’s journey of discovery will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Dave Callaham, while Chinese-Canadian actor Simu Liu will take the lead role.
Release date: 12 February 2021
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Marvel boss Feige finally named the Doctor Strange sequel at the San Diego Comic-Con convention. Benedict Cumberbatch will play the sorcerer, with Scott Derrickson once against directing.
British actor Cumberbatch has revealed that the new film will be far scarier than the first film, saying: “I think it’s vital to maintain the humor from the first film, with this twist of horror that I think will really have people gripped.”
Release date: 7 May 2021
WandaVision
The events of this upcoming TV show will tie in closely with those in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, reports MovieWeb.
WandaVision takes place after Endgame, and will feature characters including Monica Rambeau and her daughter from the Captain Marvel movie. Elizabeth Olsen is set to play Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch, and says the series is “going to get weird, we’re going to go very deep”.
Release date: spring 2021
Loki
In Endgame, Loki disappeared after he took the Tesseract. And while the Avengers were able to re-group and complete their mission, the movie did not explore what happens to Thor’s evil brother.
All should be revealed in TV spin-off Loki, however.
“There’s a lot of psychological evolution that is yet to happen,” Tom Hiddleston, who plays the villain, told fans at San Diego Comic-Con. “I cannot wait to get started.”
Release date: spring 2021
What If…?
The first animated TV series in the Marvel franchise, What If…? will explore key questions within the MCU, such as what would have happened if Peggy Carter had been given the super serum instead of Steve Rogers?
Jeffrey Wright will voice the all-seeing, all-knowing Watcher, while many actors from across the MCU will reprise their roles for this show.
Release date: summer 2021
Thor: Love and Thunder
After appearing in the first two Thor movies as Jane Foster, Natalie Portman was absent for the third installment: Thor: Ragnarok. But Portman is set to return in Thor: Love and will also have Thor’s powers, as the Goddess of Thunder.
Tessa Thompson will be back, too, as Valkyrie, who was last seen being given New Asgard by Thor in Endgame.
Release date: 5 November 2021
Hawkeye
Endgame saw Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, take on the persona of lone vigilante Ronin during the five years after the “snap” that erased half of Earth’s population.
According to Marvel boss Feige, spin-off TV series Hawkeye series will focus on Barton’s time as Ronin and will also feature comic character Kate Bishop, who was is protege.
Release date: autumn 2021
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Marvel’s other mega-franchise will return to our screens a bit later than expected, but James Gunn is now back on board after being fired by the Disney franchise over a string of old offensive tweets, for which he has apologised.
According to the Radio Times, the film is expected to deal with the fallout from Endgame, “which saw the Guardians help defeat Thanos before heading back into space, while also ushering in a more cosmic age for the Marvel Cinematic Universe”.
Release date: TBC
Black Panther 2
Chadwick Boseman’s return as Black Panther is “inevitable”, says MovieWeb, but so far there is no release date for the sequel.
“One of the favourite pastimes at Marvel Studios is sitting around on a part one and talking and dreaming about what we would do in a part two,” Marvel boss Feige told Entertainment Weekly in March.
“There have been plenty of those conversations as we were putting together the first Black Panther. We have ideas and a pretty solid direction on where we want to head with the second one.”
Release date: TBC
Captain Marvel 2
Carol Danvers will return in this follow-up, Feige has confirmed, although details are thin on the ground.
Release date: TBC
Logan spin-off
Released in 2017, Logan was a massive hit at both the box office and with critics. But as Collider points out, “while it brings the story of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine to a close, it’s also a beginning for his young co-star, Dafne Keen, who plays Laura a.k.a. X-23”. Her story is now to be explored in a new film.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director James Mangold said the success of DC Comics’ Wonder Woman last year “only solidifies more for studios that there’s less to fear with a female protagonist”.
Release date: TBC
Silver and Black
In a case of Sony “making the best of their Spider-Man licence”, the studio is set to follow up its Venom spin-off with Silver and Black, which sees a teaming-up of Black Cat and Silver Sable, says Den of Geek.
In the comics, Black Cat is the alter-ego of Felicia Hardy, the daughter of a famous cat burglar, and has the ability to bring bad luck to her adversaries, while Silver Sable is a mercenary who hunts Miles Morales.
Release date: TBC
Blade
During the San Diego Comic-Con, Luke Cage actor Mahershala Ali appeared on stage wearing a black cap with the word “Blade” on it - indicating that he is taking over the role of the vampire-hunting vampire from Wesley Snipes.
Release date: TBC
Fantastic Four rebooted version
Marvel boss Feige has confirmed plans for a reboot of Fantastic Four, but is keeping quiet about what might be involved, reports MovieWeb.
Release date: TBC
X-Men rebooted version
Feige also told San Diego Comic-Con attendees that X-Men was set to return, though in what form or when is unknown.
Release date: TBC
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