Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is already in play with Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios producing, being part of the production in all the releases in the phase. The calendar had been set out before the coronavirus hit and shifted all plans, leading to delays in intended release dates.
After 12 years and 23 movies of The Infinity Saga, phases 1 to 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were completed in 2019, and they were incredibly successful. Through the past decade, the popularity of Marvel Comics characters has grown so much that they are being adapted in tons of other industries. Online gaming enthusiasts, for example, can currently enjoy playing Marvel-themed slots on top-rated platforms like VulkanVegas EU to relive the excitement of the record-breaking films.
The new chapter has just begun, and we are looking at an electrifying season that will run from 2021-2023. We have already seen the release of WandaVision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki, all of which are TV shows in the series. For big-screen cinematic releases, here’s what awaits us for the next two years:
Black Widow – July 2021
Director Cate Shortland has a particular leaning towards female-led films, as evident in her previous works. This is a flashback of Natasha Romanoff’s past life before her untimely demise in Avengers: Endgame. It was high time we had a Black Widow solo, and after multiple postponements due to Covid-19, it’s finally coming!
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – September 2021
Marvel is finally releasing a Shang-Chi-based film after years of trying to bring the concept to fruition, reportedly since 2001. Simu Liu will assume the role of Shang-Chi, Tim Roth as the supervillain Abomination, and Tony Leung plays the Mandarin, another supervillain. It is one of the most anticipated releases of the series, especially since we will be introduced to Marvel comics heroes who had sort of been sidelined when it came to TV and cinematic productions.
Eternals – November 2021
Marvel is bringing out their big guns with an ensemble cast comprising Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Kumail Nanjiani, Kit Harington, and Harish Patel. The Eternals are an immortal team of heroes with special powers, and they are supposed to battle it out with ‘the Deviants’ to save Earth, where they’ve stayed hidden for a while. This will most likely be an epic hit given that it has such a breathtaking story concept, and the cast is packed with stars that many of us have adored for ages.
Spider-Man: No Way Home – December 2021
The third of the Spiderman sequel is set to soon hit theaters, with Jamie Foxx joining the cast as Max Dillon and Zendaya resumes her MJ role. It will finally be released after a long tussle between Sony and Marvel Studios. Rumor has it the fourth film in the sequel is already in production. If you loved the first two installments – Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home, then you should certainly catch this third installment in the cinemas.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – March 2022
Since the 2016 Doctor Strange movie, the new release scheduled for early 2022 has seen some behind-the-scenes actions, with Derrickson resigning as director and the pandemic constantly interrupting production. In the film, Dr. Strange carries on with his research on the time stone, following the Avengers: Endgame. WandaVision’s plot also feeds into this, and Wanda (played by Elizabeth Olsen) is a significant part of the movie.
Dr. Stephen Strange and Wanda are two of the most powerful Marvel characters that have so far been brought to our movie theatres. So, having a movie that focuses on both of them will likely be a treat for many moviegoers. This movie will also be quite critical in helping fans understand Dr. Strange and the vital role he plays in the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Thor: Love and Thunder – May 2022
Taika Waititi is yet again directing another movie in phase 4 of the MCU, and as expected, it is a follow-up to the 2017 Thor: Ragnarok film. It’s going to star Chris Hemsworth as the long-serving Thor, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Chris Pratt, Christian Bale, Pom Klementieff, and Jaimie Alexander.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – July 2022
The first part of the sequel took the world by storm, and fans were devastated at the death of lead actor Chadwick Boseman. Fans have eagerly been waiting for the film that did so well to have a sequel, and Marvel decided to give fans what they asked for. The movie is written by Ryan Coogler and has been produced to honor the late Boseman. While there will be no T’Challa, we hope to see some great action, given that most of the cast back will reprise their roles in the second installment of the Wakanda nation.
The Marvels – July 2022
This is a sequel of the 2019 Captain Marvel film and is also related to Ms. Marvel, a series scheduled for release late in 2021. Production began in April 2021, and it is projected to be ready by the summer of 2022.
Marvel released the Phase 4 teaser trailer and announcement video revealing more titles that will come in the phase. We can’t wait to lay our eyes on the whole batch under release. We can only hope that they will all be worth the wait, given the hype they have garnered since the end of Phase 3.