After a long drought of movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Phase 4 is set to pack the next three years with as many movies and Disney+ exclusive series as Marvel fans can handle. With all the reshuffling that happened since Avengers: Endgame (2019), there is a lot of planned content to keep up with.
So, let’s take a look at the Marvel phase Four release schedule and what upcoming Marvel movies and series are confirmed next for Marvel’s Avengers characters.
What is the next Marvel release: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, starring Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, cousin of Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo).
MCU Phase 4 Release Date Summary
January 15, 2021 – WandaVision
March 19, 2021 – The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
May 21, 2021 – MODOK (All episodes released same-day on Hulu)
In 2021, Marvel dropped WandaVisionon Disney+ and you catch these original series anytime. WandaVision stars Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch/ Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany’s Vision in one of the most unique entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel Studios’ captivating new series “WandaVision,” which premieres in early 2021 on Disney+. Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, “WandaVision” marks the first series from Marvel Studios streaming exclusively on Disney+. The series is a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision—two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives—begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems.
Following up that success, Marvel stepped to a smaller scale while tackling deep issues in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Which you can now binge on all six episodes on their streaming platform.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldierfollows Falcon/ Sam Wilson – now Captain America (Anthony Mackie) and Winter Soldier/ Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) as they deal with the legacy of Captain America/ Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) in a world post-Blip. It also set up a team inspired by Marvel Comic book villains like the Thunderbolts or the Dark Avengers led by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
Following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) team up in a global adventure that tests their abilities—and their patience—in Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.” The all-new series is directed by Kari Skogland; Malcolm Spellman is the head writer. Streaming exclusively on Disney+.
Loki debuted on June 9th. The official description of the series reads:
“In Marvel Studios’ “Loki,” the mercurial villain Loki (Tom Hiddleston) resumes his role as the God of Mischief in a new series that takes place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.” Kate Herron directs and Michael Waldron is head writer.”
He was joined by Owen Wilson’s character Mobius M. Mobius. Agent Mobius works for the Time Variance Authority (TVA), Sylvie (Sophia di Martino). He will return in season 2 without director Kate Herron and hopefully as soon as Fall 2022.
The first film in Phase 4 was the much-delayed Black Widow, which was released simultaneously at the theater and on Disney+ on July 9, 2021, for an additional cost. It will kick off the start of MCU Phase 4. This Marvel Studio’s film will be the first to usher fans back to theaters since 2019. This new release date will finally give Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) her due. The official description from Marvel reads:
“In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller “Black Widow,” Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.”
Black Widow‘s first and possibly only solo film will also introduce fans to Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova and Rachel Weisz’s Melina Vostokoff, both of which are other versions of Black Widow. As well Red Guardian/ Alexei Shostakov played by Davis Harbour (Stranger Things) and Taskmaster.
What If…? will also feature an alternate timeline where Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) took the super-soldier serum and became Captain Britain instead of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) becoming Captain America. Each episode will be its own contained story and will even take fans to the Marvel Zombie universe. It was confirmed to get a season 2 in early 2023 and spin-off focusing on the zombie world.
Credit: Marvel Studios
While many fan-favorite actors are returning, Brie Larson, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Robert Downing Jr. are not returning as Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, or Iron Man. The show does not have an official description yet and while it might not be canon in the main MCU timeline it will exist in the new Marvel Cinematic Multiverse.
“What If…?” flips the script on the MCU, reimagining famous events from the films in unexpected ways. Marvel Studios’ first animated series focuses on different heroes from the MCU, featuring a voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their roles. Directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, “What If…?” launches exclusively on Disney+ on August 11, 2021.
The first animate series has been renewed for a second season.
Marvel Studios followed it up with Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings. Marvel’s Master of Kung-Fu will make his debut on September 3, 2021, and the official description of the upcoming movie is:
“Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, as well as Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng.”
We also know that Shang-Chi will bring back Doctor Strange’s Wong (Benedict Wong) and The Incredible Hulk‘s Abomination (Tim Roth) as was revealed in the trailer. And it could finally bring in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first dragon.
Marvel’s Eternals is set for November 5. This will focus on the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The official description from Marvel Studios reads:
“Marvel Studios’ Eternals features an exciting new team of Super Heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants.”
The trailer for the groundbreaking Marvel movie has fans pumped for an experience unlike any other in the new Marvel Multiverse.
The cast for Eternals is as packed as any Avenger movie. With stars like Angelina Jolie (Thena), Richard Madden (Ikaris), Kumail Nanjiani (Kingo), Lauren Ridloff (Makkari), Brian Tyree Henry (Phastos), Salma Hayek (Ajak), Lia McHugh (Sprite) and, Kit Harrington (Black Knight).
It will be followed up by Hit-Monkey which was originally intended to tie in with MODOK and planned series Tigra & Dazzler and Howard the Duck, that were canceled and it would have led to a crossover called The Offenders.
Then Hawkeye starring Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton and Hailee Steinfield as Kate Bishop will stream on Wednesdays starting on November 24, 2021. The series will also introduce Echo (Alaqua Cox) the first deaf superhero and is rumored to bring back Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk AKA Kingpin from Netflix’s Daredevil. Black Widow (2021) alumni Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) has also been confirmed to be playing a major part in Hawkeye after that stunning post-credit scene.
Marvel Studios’ “Hawkeye” stars Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, who teams up with another well-known archer from the Marvel comics, Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld. The cast also includes Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Zahn McClarnon, Brian d’Arcy James and newcomer Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez. “Hawkeye” is helmed by Rhys Thomas and directing duo Bert and Bertie. “Hawkeye” debuts on Disney+ Nov. 24, 2021.
The Hawkeye series already has a planned spin-off following Echo. And just reintroduced all of the Marvel Netflix shows like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Defenders , and Punisher; when Vincent D’Onofrio cameoed as Kingpin AKA Wilson Fisk.
And 2021 will finish up with Spider-Man: No Way Home on December 17. The third installment of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man series is rumored to be the MCU’s version of the Spider-verse. Marvel Studio’s latest partnership with Sony Pictures will be a massive end to the year with rumors that it could bring back Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as their versions of Peter Parker.
The expectations could not be higher and fans recently crashed the servers of Fandango, AMC, and Regal trying to secure their elusive opening night tickets. Rumors of cameos include Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock AKA Daredevil and much, much more. But so little is known that even two weeks away from the release date there still is not an official description of the film.
Ms. Marvel starring Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, the former Inhuman now mutant shape-shifter. She will later join Brie Larson (Captain Marvel/ Carol Danvers) and WandaVision‘s Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau) in The Marvels. The show was highly anticipated but has received some backlash over controversial changes to her character.
Marvel described the series starring their first Muslim superhero as:
“Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel is a new, original series that introduces Kamala Khan, a Muslim American teenager growing up in Jersey City. An avid gamer and a voracious fan-fiction scribe, Kamala is a Super Hero mega-fan with an oversized imagination — particularly when it comes to Captain Marvel.”
Since it will follow up on the success of the Disney+ series WandaVision, a lot more is known about Doctor Strange 2 than the rest of Marvel’s Phase 4. We know it will expand the MCU beyond anything it has reached before and delve into the currently unexplored multiverse with the Sorcerer Supreme either teaming up with or batting the Scarlet Witch.
And dropping at some point on Disney+ will be Moon Knight, starring Oscar Isaac (Star Wars) as Marc Spector/Steven Grant/Jake Lockley, the vigilante with multiple personalities. Oscar Isaac was joined by May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly as the Scarlet Scarab, F. Murray Abraham as the voice of the Egyptian moon god Khonshu, and Ethan Hawke as Arthur Harrow.
Marvel described their darkest original series yet as:
“Moon Knight follows Steven Grant, a mild-mannered gift-shop employee, who becomes plagued with blackouts and memories of another life. Steven discovers he has dissociative identity disorder and shares a body with mercenary Marc Spector. As Steven/Marc’s enemies converge upon them, they must navigate their complex identities while thrust into a deadly mystery among the powerful gods of Egypt.”
Recently, Marvel began the casting process for a Halloween special. It is speculated to tie in to Moon Knight and focus on Werewolf by Night, specifically the version named Jake Gomez a boy of Hopi descent who underwent his first werewolf transformation at the age of 13 due to a curse in his family. Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night comic and they run in similar circles in Marvel comics like the Midnight Suns.
“Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Love and Thunder” finds the God of Thunder on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced—one of self-discovery. But his efforts are interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher, who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who—to Thor’s surprise—inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor.”
She-Hulk will introduce Marvel fans to Jessica Walters, played by Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black). Jessica Walters is a lawyer by day and one of the strongest characters in the Marvel universe by night. After being exposed to her cousin Bruce Banner/Hulk’s (Mark Ruffalo) gamma-radiated blood, her life turns upside down, and she will have to fight Titania (Jameela Jamil) and the Wrecking Crew while fighting to get Emil Blonsky/Abomination (Tim Roth) out of the Department of Damage Control’s prison.
“In She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany)—an attorney specializing in superhuman-oriented legal cases—must navigate the complicated life of a single, 30-something who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered hulk.”
There isn’t an official description for Wakanda Forever yet but it does have a logline:
“Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will continue to explore the incomparable world of Wakanda, and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film.”
Then Captain Marvel 2, now with a confirmed title of The Marvels was pushed back from November 11, 2022 to February 17, 2023. The full logline for Carol Danver’s second outing is below:
“Marvel Studios’ The Marvels will feature Brie Larson returning to the role of Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers. In the film, she’ll be joined by Teyonah Parris, who was first introduced as adult Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ WandaVision, along with Iman Vellani, who will appear as Ms. Marvel in the upcoming Disney+ series of the same name. Prepare to experience it and fly higher, further, and faster with the film, directed by Nia DaCosta!”
We also know that 2022 will end with the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which does not have a confirmed release date for its premiere on Disney+ yet. But it will mostly drop sometime in December around Christmas.
2023 will start off with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on February 17, 2023. It will bring Scott Lang/ Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and Hope Pym/ Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) deeper into the Quantum Realm. They are rumored to be taking on Kang the Conqueror and Kathryn Newton’s aged-up version of Cassie Lang could take on her superhero alter ego of Stature.
The next Marvel film after that will be Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in the summer, just like the previous Guardians films, with a confirmed date of May 5, 2023. Along with an assumed Awesome Mix Vol 3, the latest James Gunn direct film will bring back Marvel’s favorite group of miscreants, including Star-Lord/ Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Groot Vin Diesel, Rocket Racoon (Bradley Cooper), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Nebula (Karen Gillen) and Drax (Dave Bautista).
None of the Marvel Studio’s original series have official dates at the moment. But we know that Samuel L. Jackson will return as Nick Fury alongside Ben Mendelson’s Skrull Talos in Secret Invasion. The thriller will also feature Kingsley Ben-Adir as an unnamed villain and Emilia Clark (Game of Thrones).
Many fans of Marvel television series past are hoping that Secret Invasion could bring back popular Agents of SHIELD characters or even some actors from Netflix’s Defenders series. And the series will be directed by Thomas Bezucha and Ali Selim.
We also know that Ironheart starring Sofia Wylie as Riri Williams and Armor Wars starring Don Cheadle as Rhodey aka War Machine are most likely coming in 2023. Both Marvel shows will take on the legacy of Tony Stark’s Iron Man (Robert Downing Jr.).
There will also be a series of shorts called I am Groot about Baby Groot. And Disney Channel will almost be getting in on the Marvel action with its own original animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. The official description from Marvel for this series reads:
Based on Marvel’s hit comic books, “Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette and her 10-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur. After Lunella accidentally brings Devil Dinosaur into present-day New York City via a time vortex, the duo works together to protect the city’s Lower East Side from danger.
Rumors Beyond Marvel Movies in 2023
Disney has announced three other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that some of which do not have confirmed release dates. Charles Murphy of Murphy’s Multiverse shared on Twitter that he received a leak with the release dates for several 2023 films.
According to his information, which has not been confirmed at this time, the 2023 release schedule for these Marvel films is:
— Charles I Don't Know About Trailers Murphy (@_CharlesMurphy) March 7, 2021
Most important are the rumored Fantastic Four and Deadpool 3 release dates. Both MCU movies previously did not even have an expected release year, let alone a date. Fantastic Four was confirmed to be part of MCU Phase 4 and casting announcements could be imminent. It was confirmed it would be directed by Jon Watts.
Not much is known about either Fantastic Four or Deadpool 3. Disney did confirm Deadpool will keep its R-rated tradition from the 20th Century Studios films. It makes sense that they will both come in 2023 since Marvel has a history of releasing four films every year.
It’s worth noting that these rumors are based on dates and either of these final two could be the Blade film, which was not mentioned by Murphy. At the moment, both Blade and Deadpool 3 are not officially confirmed as part of Marvel’s Phase Four. Though Blade was leaked to be coming to theaters on October 7, 2023.
One last series that could be coming to Disney+ in either 2023 or 2024 is currently untitled series about the history of Wakanda. Other than its existence little else is known about the upcoming TV show.
It makes a lot of sense for Marvel to put Fantastic Four in the summer blockbuster spot. Fans have been clamoring for Marvel to make an announcement about their First Family ever since the rights were transferred to them. We all wanted that engineer in WandaVision to be Reed Richards. Marvel Studio’s Phase Four is set to culminate with this leaked release date.
Previously, fans have not been thrilled with the versions they have been given of Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm / The Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/ The Human Torch, and Ben Grimm / The Thing. The hype for Marvel’s take on the classic comic book team will be a huge summer event.
With this date, production would most likely start somewhere around early next year, so casting announcements may drop by this summer or fall. Fantastic Four is one of the most anticipated films of Phase 4.
As for Deadpool 3, a November release date puts it late in the line-up. Marvel could be nervous about their first foray into an R-rating for a superhero film starring Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson, the Merc with a Mouth.
Technically neither film has been officially confirmed to be part of Marvel’s Phase 4 — and it is doubtful Marvel would ever release two R-rated films back-to-back. It makes sense to put Deadpool in Phase 4 and keep Blade for Phase 5. This would allow Marvel to put their reported X-Men film, The Mutants, in between the two films.
Credit: Marvel Studios
Where Is Marvel Phase Four Taking Us
For now, it seems the path of the next three to four years of MCU programming seems to be set. Adding any more would make Phase 4 a behemoth in the Marvel Universe. The whole theme of this new phase is to expand the MCU.
Many upcoming Marvel movies, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man: No Way Home will bring more of the magical side of Marvel Comics to the movies. Both films are about alternate timelines that have been created by the events of Avengers: Endgame.
Even Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will bring MCU fans to a whole they have left most unexplored and bringing in a character like Kang means more time travel could be in store for Marvel. The Loki series will have a plot that combines time travel, magic, and alternate timelines.
Thor: Love and Thunder, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, The Marvels, and Eternals will all bring more cosmic themes to the MCU. It seems like Marvel is moving beyond the Earth, although movies like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Black Widow will still take a smaller-scale approach. Other Marvel shows like Hawkeye and She-Hulk are expected to take on more street-level stories.
As for where it could all be leading may be anAvengers 5 or something like Secret Wars, a Marvel Comic story involving the clash of alternate realities.
Credit: D23
