Warning: This post contains spoilers for all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
Shortly after Avengers: Endgamebecame the highest-grossing movie ever, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige announced the next few films and TV series that will make up Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe at San Diego Comic-Con. He promised a solo film for Black Widow starring Scarlett Johansson, an Eternals film starring Angelina Jolie, a Shang-Chi movie starring Simu Liu and a Blade reboot with Mahershala Ali. He also announced a handful of sequels for the big screen and TV shows that will air on Disney+, the company’s streaming service, which launches Nov. 12.
Given recent studio mergers, a lot could change in the next era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Dark Phoenix, the last entry in the main X-Men storyline, bombed at the box office, which means that the franchise will likely be totally rebooted with new actors under the Disney umbrella. Feige confirmed at Comic-Con that new Fantastic Four and X-Men movies are in the works. This means we might see X-Men fighting the Avengers or Fantastic Four villains invading upcoming Marvel movies.
A little over a decade ago, Disney bought Marvel Studios. At the time of Disney’s purchase, Marvel Studios was struggling and had already sold off the rights to its most popular characters: They dealt Spider-Man to Sony and the X-Men and Fantastic Four to Fox. Disney was left to build a franchise out of lesser-known characters like Iron Man and Thor.
Over 10 years, Disney built the most bankable film franchise in the world by building an interlocking universe of characters, teasing future movies with post-credit scenes and experimenting with different genres to shake up the superhero formula.
Disney was so successful, that they are now able to buy back those fan favorite Marvel characters owned by other studios. In 2017, Sony and Disney teamed up to make Spider-Man: Homecoming. But in August 2019, Sony and Disney announced that they failed to reach an agreement in their negotiations for the rights to Spider-Man, meaning that Peter Parker will no longer appear in Marvel Studios movies. In a statement following the initial report of the breakdown of negotiations, Sony said: “Much of today’s news about Spider-Man has mischaracterized recent discussions about Kevin Feige’s involvement in the franchise. We are disappointed, but respect Disney’s decision not to have him continue as a lead producer of our next live action Spider-Man film.” (This news has a lot of implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Read more about them here.)
Meanwhile, Disney and Fox completed their merger in March, which means Disney now has some of Marvel’s most popular characters in their toy box. Disney will likely try to incorporateFox’s X-Men and Fantastic Four characters into the Avengers reality and could recreate popular storylines from the comics, like fights between Wolverine and Captain America or a romance between Black Panther and Storm. It’s likely that Disney will want to totally reboot these franchises (especially the flagging Fantastic Four) and incorporate them into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.
We’ve outlined all the upcoming Marvel movies, and even teased a few sequels and spinoffs that are still in the works. Here’s a list of upcoming Marvel movies in order:
The New Mutants (April 3, 2020)
Universe: X-Men
Fox has slowly been building a cohort of young actors to take over the X-Men movies when longtime cast members like James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence inevitably exit the franchise. (They are already the second group of actors to play the X-Men. Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry were among the first group.)
The New Mutants adds a slew of new actors into the franchise, including Split’s Anya Taylor-Joy, Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams, Stranger Things’ Charlie Heaton and 13 Reasons Why’s Henry Zaga. But reshoots on the film and Dark Phoenix‘s bleak box office have led to a number of delays in this film’s release and even rumors that it will go straight to a streaming service.
Black Widow (May 1, 2020)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Scarlett Johansson in 'Avengers: Age Of Ultron'
Jay Maidment—Marvel/Walt Disney/Shutterstock
Black Widow is finally getting a long-overdue solo movie. Scarlett Johansson has appeared in six Marvel movies, beginning with Iron Man 2 in 2010, but she has never played the lead. Johansson announced at San Diego Comic-Con that Black Widow will occur after the events of Captain America: Civil War and take place in Budapest.
In footage shown to the Comic-Con crowd, Black Widow fights a character named Yelena (who also takes on the name Black Widow in the comics) and the villain Taskmaster. Cate Shortland is directing, and Rachel Weisz, David Harbour and Florence Pugh will co-star.
The Eternals (Nov. 6, 2020)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
The studio has hired indie director Chloe Zhao (The Rider and Songs My Brothers Taught Me) to direct this film about an otherworldly group of superheroes. Feige announced at Comic-Con that Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani and Brian Tyree Henry will make up the all-star cast.
In the comics, a race called the Celestials (the gold people from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) create the Eternals, a superhuman and immortal people. The Eternals have the powers of flight, telepathy and manipulation of matter, among other things. The Eternals are tasked with protecting Earth.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Feb. 12, 2021)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Marvel Studios has fast-tracked a movie based on the character Shang-Chi. He will be Marvel’s first Asian superhero to get a solo film. Simu Liu, best known for his role on the CBC sitcom Kim’s Convenience, will star as the superhero. He will face off against the real Mandarin, played by Tony Leung — not the actor portrayed by Ben Kingsley we saw pretending to be the Mandarin in Iron Man 3. Awkwafina also has a yet-to-be announced role in the film.
Marvel has tapped two up-and coming filmmakers for the project. Screenwriter Dave Callaham, who also wrote the upcoming Wonder Woman 1984 will write the screenplay. Short Term 12director Destin Daniel Cretton will direct. Executives likely hope that Shang-Chi can make as big of a cultural impact as Black Panther did.
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (May 7, 2021)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Doctor Strange is getting a sequel, and given its title, it sounds like Marvel Cinematic Universe fans are about to be introduced to the multiverse. Benedict Cumberbatch will reprise his role as the hero, and Elizabeth Olsen, who has starred as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch in the Marvel movies, will join him.
Previous Marvel films (like, minor spoiler alert, Spider-Man: Far From Home) have poked fun at the idea of parallel universes where different versions of the same heroes exist. But that seems to be the way that the movies are headed, especially if the writers plan to eventually introduce the X-Men to the Marvel Cinematic Universe without having to explain where they’ve been hiding for the last decade or so.
Thor: Love and Thunder(Nov. 5, 2021)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Ragnarok
There’s a new Thor in town, and her name is Jane Foster. Natalie Portman announced at San Diego Comic-Con that she will be returning to the franchise to wield Thor’s hammer in the next movie. This gender-flip is not unprecedented: A female Thor took up the mantle in the comics in 2014.
Chris Hemsworth will also return, as will Tessa Thompson, who confirmed againat Comic-Con that, yes, her character Valkyrie is queer. Valkyrie, she says, is the new ruler of Asgard and is “looking for a queen” in the next movie. Director Taika Waititi — who proved the God of Thunder could be funny in Thor: Ragnarok and earned a cool $854 million at the box office in the process, will also return for the fourth Thor movie.
Blade (TBD)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Marvel is rebooting Blade with Mahershala Ali of Moonlight and True Detective fame as its star. Feige announced the news at Comic-Con when he invited Ali on the stage.
Just announced in Hall H at #SDCC, Marvel Studios’ BLADE with Mahershala Ali. pic.twitter.com/JPcrSqSerW— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) July 21, 2019
Black Panther 2 (TBD)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Marvel Studios 2018
Marvel Studios head Feige has already confirmed that Black Panther 2 is definitely happening. Ryan Coogler has already signed on to write and direct the sequel. Presumably, Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o and the rest of the first film’s stars will likely sign on for a second movie.
Feige also teased possible spinoff films for some of Black Panther’s standouts, including Black Panther’s genius younger sister Shuri (Letita Wright) and badass warrior Okoye (Danai Gurira). “I think Shuri’s astounding, and you’ll see much more of her in our universe,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “Okoye, I think I’d watch three action films just Okoye.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (TBD)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
©Marvel Studios
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3′s development has been a rollercoaster ride. The film was set for 2020 until Disney fired James Gunn, who directed the first two Guardians films, in July after reviewing many of his old tweets. The cast subsequently released a joint statement in support of Gunn.
Eight months after its initial decision, Disney announced on March 15 that it had rehired Gunn to direct the film. Gunn had previously apologized for the old tweets, which he described as “unfortunate efforts to be provocative,” and Disney executives reportedly decided to accept the apology.
Before Gunn was rehired by Disney, he signed with Warner Bros. to write and direct a Suicide Squad sequel. Marvel Studios has agreed to being the production of Guardians 3 after Gunn completes Suicide Squad 2, so it is unclear when the movie will premiere.
The final movie in the Guardians trilogy could launch at least one spinoff. In a post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, ravagers played by Sylvester Stallone, Michelle Yeoh and others talk about reuniting a fractured team of heroes.
Captain Marvel 2 (TBD)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Brie Larson in 'Captain Marvel,' 2019.
Chuck Zlotnick—Marvel Studios
Brie Larson will reprise her role as the universe’s most powerful superhero in a Captain Marvel sequel. Captain Marvel made her debut in a movie set in the 1990s. Last we saw Captain Marvel in Avengers: Endgame, she was taking a break from patrolling the universe for baddies to help defend Earth against Thanos. It’s unclear whether Captain Marvel 2 will take place between the events of Captain Marvel and Endgameor after Thanos is defeated.
Fantastic Four (TBD)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Feige confirmed at a Comic-Con panel that Marvel Studios plans to reboot the Fantastic Four franchise, though they have not yet set a date for the film.
Marvel Studios did not have the rights to the Fantastic Four (or the X-Men) for many years. 20th Century Fox made three different movies about the superhero team, but they all underwhelmed critics and audiences. Now that the Disney-Fox merger is complete, Marvel Studios (which is a subsidiary of Disney) will get a crack at the Fantastic Four.
Spider-Man: Homecoming 3(TBD)
Universe: Spiderverse
Michelle (Zendaya) catches a ride from Spider-Man (Tom Holland) in Spider-Man: Far From Home
JoJo Whilden—Sony Pictures
Spider-Man is leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but as of now Sony still has plans to produce two solo Spider-Man movies alone. Presumably, both will star Tom Holland, who debuted as the webslinger in Captain America: Civil War and starred in two solo movies, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home, since then.
It will be difficult to separate Spidey from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the last two movies, he depended on allies like Iron Man and Nick Fury for help fighting crime. And Far From Homespent a good deal of time setting up Peter Parker as the next Tony Stark, with Peter wearing Tony’s glasses, inventing new suits to Tony’s favorite soundtrack and even revealing his secret identity (albeit against his wishes) as Tony did at the end of the first Iron Man movie. It’s unclear whether future Spider-Man movies can or will acknowledge the existence of characters in the MCU, which may lead to some awkward plotting.
But there is an upside: Sony had been plotting several movies about Spidey villains, sans Spider-Man. (Spidey awkwardly did not appear in Venom.) Now they can integrate movies about Spidey heroes and villains without worrying about plot contradictions with the MCU. The end of Homecomingsuggested that Peter Parker might soon face the Sinister Six, a notorious team of villains from the Spider-Man comics. Producers at Sony have long talked of making Sinister Six movie, and now they may have the chance to do it correctly.
Into the Spider-Verse 2(TBD)
Universe: Spiderverse
Miles Morales is voiced by Shameik Moore in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Sony
Based on early reviews, Sony greenlit a sequel for Into the Spider-Verse before it even premiered. The film will likely focus more closely on Miles Morales as opposed to the other Spider-People now that he’s learned how to handle his webs.
An all-female Spider-versespinoff (TBD)
Universe: Spiderverse
In one of Into the Spider-Verse’s many parallel worlds, Peter’s friend Gwen Stacy gets bitten by the radioactive spider. She becomes the hero and Peter the one who needs saving.
Sony Pictures Animation
Into the Spider-verse left fans craving more from Gwen Stacey and Penni Parker, two of the alternate universe Spider-People. Expect them to lead the pack, along with some other female heroes like Spider-Woman, in this spinoff film.
Venom 2 (TBD)
Universe: Spiderverse
Even though Sony and Disney teamed up to release Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, Sony is independently producing a series of films based on characters from the Spider-Man comic books in a separate universe. Venom was the first.
Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock, a man who has been infected by an alien symbiote called Venom. Spidey isn’t even mentioned in the film. Venom turns into something of an anti-hero in the movie, battling the villain, Riot. A mid-credits teaser suggests that Venomwill probably get a sequel with Woody Harrelson playing a baddie named Carnage. Despite its lukewarm critical reception, the first movie was a massive hit at the box office.
Morbius (TBD)
Universe: Spiderverse
Jared Leto, who already has played the Joker for a DC Comics movie, is joining ranks with Sony to play a Spider-Man villain. The movie will center on the vampiric character Morbius and be directed by Daniel Espinosa (Safe House, Life).
Silver and Black (TBD)
Universe: Spiderverse
Despite reports that Sony had scrapped this movie, or even divided it into two different solo movies for Silver Sable and Black Cat, a producer of Venomrecently said that the movie was still a-go, but that the writers are revamping the script.
Sony recruited Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball, Beyond the Lights) to make the movie about Silver Sable and Black Cat. It’s unclear if she’s still attached to the project. Plot details are scarce, but Silver Sable, the head of an elite squad, will likely be hunting down the talented burglar Black Cat — until they join forces. Prince-Bythewood has cited buddy movies like Thelma & Louise as her inspiration for the film.
Logan Spinoff (TBD)
Universe: X-Men
Dafne Keen in 'Logan'
Moviestore/Shutterstock
Logan surprised just about everyone: The dark and poignant superhero movie set in 2029 earned critical praise and an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. It’s no wonder, then, that Fox is working on a script that would center on Laura, the little girl Logan shepherds across the country in that movie.
Laura could essentially pick up Wolverine’s mantle in future films. She and the other young mutants who are the victim of experimentation in Logan could represent a new, much more diverse future for the X-Men and superhero movies in general.
Ms. Marvel (TBD)
Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Ms. Marvel Comics
Marvel Studios.
Fan favorite Ms. Marvel—Marvel’s first Muslim superhero—is making her way to the big screen, according to Marvel head Feige. Kamala Khan, a shapeshifting teenager inspired to fight crime by Captain Marvel, made her debut in the comic books in 2014.
Though Feige didn’t confirm how or when Ms. Marvel will make her debut, a solo movie about a female, Muslim-American superhero would be a massive step forward in the still very white, very white Marvel universe. Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel could likely play a mentor role in Ms. Marvel’s movie, much like Iron Man dropped in on Spider-Man in Homecoming.
Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com.
