The Marvel Comic Universe’s Newest Chapter: The Sprawling Spectacle of Phase 4

What superheroes are getting their own movies? Which franchises are being rebooted? What should we expect next from the Marvel universe?

Marvel takes over the movie industry

Over the last 20 years or so, The Marvel Comic Universe has motivated a shift in the public’s opinion of fantasy. They have taken over the movie industry with their fims, featuring an ever-expanding cast of characters and fast-paced adventures.

Their stories and their place in our culture are anchored in society, thanks to the innovation and inherent humanity of the, often flawed but sentient, and evolving super-humans. Phase 1-3 of the intended storyline––native to this universe––introduced us to the characters we are now familiar with through solo films (Spiderman, Iron Man, Thor etc.) and films like Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers franchise.

With Avengers: Endgame behind us, many fans of the MCU have felt a bit of a void; so many of our favorite characters are gone forever, and though we mourn their loss, most of us are ready to see what Phase 4 is cooking up. If you are one of the many fans DYING to know what’s in store for the sprawling universe of colorful characters who’ve captured our hearts, I am happy to say the wait is over. Here are (from what we’ve gathered), the films & series’ that will be rolling out the next leg of the franchise.

The recent Spiderman: Homecoming film (which is considered the last film of Phase 3 or the first of Phase 4, depending on who you speak to) opened to critical and popular praise, introducing Jake Gyllenhal as “Mysterio” (who is presented as a sort of anti-hero, as opposed to an outright villain). This being the first film to take place after the events of Avengers: Endgame means that its success as a segue will have a huge impact on the approach the franchise takes as it moves forward with a myriad of plotlines and character-arcs.

So, what’s next?

For better or worse, the lineup of sequels, prequels, and spin-offs––a long and tantalizing list––have been carefully constructed on a dizzying timeline that will keep our mouths wet and our hearts palpitating for years to come. The first release will likely come in the form of a Black Widow origin film in May of 2020 where we will find Scarlet Johansen reprising her role as the titular character. She will be joined (presumably) by Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye. Rachael Weisz (The Mummy) is set to be the villain alongside David Harbor (Stranger Things). Though there isn’t much known about the plot yet, it has been confirmed that it is a prequel, most likely to explore the personal history between Black Widow and Hawkeye.

Next up on the MCU roster is The Eternals, coming out November 2020. It will explore the advanced beings known as “the Eternals,” and their relative counterparts “the Deviants.” Both races were created by a parent race (“the Celestials”), and will be in conflict with each other over concerns with the fate of humanity and the earth itself. This film will explore both epic and fantastical entities that defy the logic and confines that govern humanity (along with the majority of earth-bound mutants), and will likely span thousands of years. It will feature a fresh cast of characters (some hinted at in earlier MCU cameos, while others remain unknown to audiences). Angelina Jolie and Selma Hayek will play as two of the lead characters: Thena and Ajak.

The next entry in the MCU will be a series on Disney+ called The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. This is supposed to premier sometime in the fall of 2020, and it will be Disney’s first show since taking over the rights to the Marvel franchise. It will feature both Anthony Mackie and Sebastien Stan (Falcon and Bucky Barnes), and will be taking place after the events of Endgame. Emily Van Camp (Revenge) and Daniel Bruhl  (Inglorius Bastards, Captain America: Winter Soldier), will round out the cast. 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will follow Shang-Chi (who is a master of every style of martial arts) as he embarks on a heroic journey. It will feature a mostly Asian cast, and it will be the first time this dramatic, fairy-tale graces the silver screen. It will also be the first time that we are introduced to the villian, Mandarin (not counting the lunatic imposter who stood against Iron Man in the 3rd installment of that trilogy). You can expect this to be released right before Valentine’s Day 2021. 

In Spring 2021, we should expect the mysterious Wandavision (Elisabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany) to make an appearance, and will be directly related to the Dr Strange and the Multiverse of Madness film coming to theaters in May 2021. The latter project, has been described as the first horror movie to be created and included in the MCU. It should deliver quite a few chills, as it is set to feature none other than Nightmare, a treacherous and extremely powerful villain who preys on victims in their sleep (imagine A Nightmare on Elm Street meets Inception). The film will also feature Scarlet Witch and takes place after the events of Endgame. Details on how Vision’s character has been resurrected remains under wraps. Even more bizarre is the fact that this spinoff series has been described as a twisted and very different sort of love story.  

Spring 2021 should also see the return of Thor’s no good trickster brother, Loki. Tom Hiddleson is, yet again, the Loki we’ve come to love to hate, and whose familiarity with loyalty is minimal at best. The spin in the Disney+ feature is that this character is the same Loki as the one who stole the tesseract earlier in the Avenger series as he journeys through a––wait for it––ALTERNATE TIMELINE! 

Next, during the Summer or 2021 will be an animated series on Disney+ (that seems to hold more than a fleeting resemblance to the unexpected smash hit Spiderman: Into the Multiverse) called What If? It will tout multiple quantum universe versions of familiar stories. Rumor has it that voice acting will be provided by the actors we have grown to love in their familiar roles. After that, we have a Hawkeye series to premier in fall of 2021, where we’ll see Jeremy Renner again in his iconic role; only this time he will be mentoring Kate Bishop, who will eventually become his successor.

Possibly the most anticipated film in this leg of the franchise will be a fourth installment of the Thor series, currently titled Thor: Love and Thunder. From what we know so far, Director Taika David Waititi (of Thor: Ragnarok) is back behind the camera, which should be a relief to fans everywhere seeing as the last film he directed was such a well-crafted spectacle. This outing will also see the return of love interest and astrophysicist Jane Foster, played once again by Natalie Portman. Even more exciting than her return to the role, is the promise that the plot is going to be borrowing a great deal from its source materials. We’re eager to see how they tie in Jane’s elevation to the status of Goddess as she gears up to become the Mighty Thor.

Much to look forward to

These are the projects that were introduced and discussed in detail at the San Diego Comic Convention 2019. But this will not be the end; there is still a bevy of films a bit farther off that will round out the MCU’s Phase 4, and lead us into the future toward a 5th Phase, teasing us ever so smugly with an even more audacious compilation of stories beyond our wildest imaginations. Here are the tentative properties that are set to follow the aforementioned additions:

Black Panther 2: (2/2022)

Guardians of the Galaxy 3: (5/2022)

Spiderman 3: (Summer 2022)

Captain Marvel 2: (11/2022)

Fantastic 4 Reboot (Release date rumored to be Summer 2023)

A new X-Men (Details are scarce but it should also be out around the Summer of 2023)

Blade Reboot (w/ Moonlight’s Mahershala Ali as the titular Vampire Hunter)

And finally, we can expect (though unconfirmed) a Young Avengers film, as well as a project that seems to be related to the limited comic series known as the A Force (which consists of an all-female team of Avengers). To keep up to date with all the excitement, wonder, and spectacle the MCU has in store, check in periodically with us at Iconic Youth for upcoming details.