MCU: Phases 5 & 6 Announced!
Briefly talking the future of the MCU…
What’s up, everyone? I know it’s surprising I haven’t talked about this yet, but along with working on my screenplay, recording new videos, and working at my new job, I just haven’t had the time. Fortunately, I got a minute to speak albeit briefly about my thoughts on the newly announced Multiverse Saga in the MCU — Phases 4, 5, and 6 — which started with Marvel’s first foray into streaming with Disney+’s Wandavision.
In case you missed things, here’s what was announced at San Diego Comic-Con:
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 17, 2023)
Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lily’s return next year in Quantumania will officially mark the beginning of Phase 5 in the MCU. Joined by Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang, this third film will also introduce Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conquerer in his long-awaited first theatrical outing.
As an avid fan of the first two Ant-Man films, hearing that this one has been proclaimed as the most bonkers of the trilogy has me excited for the twists & turns, action, and overall quantum mayhem set to occur in its hopefully 2-hour+ runtime.
Secret Invasion (Spring ‘23)
A popular storyline in the comic books, Secret Invasion seeks to build off the groundwork layed by Far From Home’s mention — and later reveal — of the Skrull sleeper cells initiated by S.H.I.E.L.D. While I’m sure the series won’t follow the comics to a tee, the premise has me intrigued, especially with Game of Thrones alum Emilia Clarke joining the fray.
At the time of this writing, Marvel Studios has released an official teaser for the series at the D23 Expo. Be prepared for a medley of returning characters to the MCU, superhero paranoia, and an epic espionage movie the likes of which hasn’t been seen before in the medium. Check out the trailer below!
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 5, 2023)
As a fan of the first Guardians but a hater of Vol. 2, my expectations are somewhat in the middle when it comes to James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. I like Gunn’s work, especially what he did with The Suicide Squad, but after his last entry in the MCU, I can’t help but feel like this is going to be another mess of a movie that favors comedy over substance.
However, Gunn’s recent comments about how Volume 3 seeks to be the most mature of the trilogy has at least turned my skepticism into optimism. Overall, I’m excited to see the Guardians back together again as they search for Gamora since her disappearance after the events of Endgame.
Echo (Summer ‘23)
I’m indifferent when it comes to Alaqua Cox’s first solo outing as Maya Lopez aka Echo. I thought her role as the antagonist in Hawkeye was fine, but not enough to warrant her own solo series. This is an example of why I agree with the fans’ sentiment that Marvel believes in quantity over quality.
Although I’m excited for Daredevil and Kingpin’s rumored return in the series, the throwing-s***-at-the-walls-to-see-if-it-sticks feeling is strong with this one.
Loki, Season 2 (Summer ‘23)
I have to say, I’m actually really excited for Loki’s second season. While I wasn't exactly blown away with its first season, aside from the comics-accurate Loki variants, the fact that it’s set to revolve around Kang the Conquerer’s resurgence has me all the more interested.
Because it releases after Quantumania, I’m curious if it will address that movie in anyway, or if Season 2 actually takes place before the events of the third Ant-Man flick. Honestly, little to no information has been released about this one, so I’ll leave it up to my imagination to run wild before it drops next year.
The Marvels (July 28, 2023)
Due to Ms. Marvel’s curveball ending, it’s evident that she and Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel will meet-up in next year’s sequel to the 2019 film. I’m not really a huge fan of that movie, nor am I a fan of Captain Marvel herself — Brie Larson just doesn’t do the role justice to me — but I’m still holding out hopes that this film is kick-ass, fun, and as balls-to-the-wall as Larson has proclaimed it to be.
Rumor has it that Teyonah Parris’s Monica Rambeau from Wandavision is due to make her theatrical appearance as Photon as well, so I’m sure there’ll be much cosmic hijinx to be had.
Blade (November 3, 2023)
Although Wesley Snipes will forever be my Blade, I respect Mahershala Ali for taking up the daunting task of stepping in the Daywalker’s shoes. When Marvel announced they would be rebooting Blade, my first thought was the fear of the property being watered down to fit Disney’s standards.
Furthermore, with rated-R movies like Deadpool and series like The Punisher on Disney+, I’m wondering if Marvel will bite the bullet and make Blade the mature, bloody superhero he was always intended to be. Needless to say, though I think it’ll be a cool watch regardless, I’m not holding my breath.
Ironheart (Fall ‘23)
I don’t know much about the character, Ironheart, but I’ve read only good things about the actress playing her. Dominique Thorne will make her second live-action appearance as Riri Williams in the Disney+ series after first starring in November’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Ironheart apparently has a genius-level intellect, capable of creating her own suit of armor at a younger age than the great Tony Stark ever was. Here’s hoping she knocks the role out the park.
Agatha: Coven of Chaos (Winter ‘23/‘24)
Uh-oh… That throwing-s**-at-the-walls feeling is coming back. Yet another character who I feel doesn’t deserve their own solo series, Agatha Harkness is set to return to cause a bit more trouble than she did in Wandavision.
Again, her role as the antagonist in Wanda’s life was perfect. Why Marvel felt the need to bring her back in her own show, I’ll never know. My excitement level is next to nonexistent for this one, with its sole saving grace being Kathryn Hahn’s tremendous screen presence. Nevertheless… womp womp.
Daredevil: Born Again (Spring ‘24)
Probably my most anticipated MCU series so far, Daredevil: Born Again sees the return of Charlie Cox’s perfect portrayal of Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio’s goat-status depiction of Kingpin. Set to have a whopping 18 episodes — thank you, God — next to nothing is known about the series except for its rumored lighthearted take on the character. Though it will take some getting used to hot off the heels of the bloody, TV-MA rated Netflix series, I’ll take what I can get.
As long as there aren’t one-liners being thrown around every thirty seconds, I’m sure I’ll love this new take on the character. He’s sure to steal the show come his first appearance in She-Hulk, and I’m more than positive he’ll be the character fans look forward to the most when it’s time for him to meet the other players in the MCU.
Captain America: New World Order (May 3, 2024)
Releasing on my birthday, you can bet your a** I’ll be there opening day when this long-anticipated sequel drops in theaters. Directed by relatively unknown filmmaker, Julius Onah, New World Order will see Anthony Mackie tearing it up as Captain America on the big screen. The Captain America movies are my favorite trilogy in the entire MCU, so I have super high hopes for this fourth film.
If it’s anything like the last three, then I’m sure we can expect high stakes, mind-boggling action, and if the title is anything to go by, a gritty and realistic worldview of what it would be like to have a minority in the star spangled suit. I loved the last episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, so if it’s just that but dialed up to 11, then I’m all for it. Also, word has it Tim Blake Nelson’s the Leader, whose character was teased toward the end of 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, is also set to make his MCU comeback, which makes me even more excited than I thought I could be.
Thunderbolts (July 25, 2024)
Yet another property I don’t know too much about, Thunderbolts is basically Marvel’s answer to DC’s Suicide Squad. Based on that concept alone, I am definitely curious to see what kind of story and action the film is going to bring.
At the time of this writing, Marvel has just released their official roster at their annual D23 Expo. The MCU will see the Amanda Waller-esque Valentina Allegra de Fontaine unite the likes of Ghost, Red Guardian, Yelena Belova, U.S. Agent, Taskmaster, and Bucky Barnes aka White Wolf, or whatever he’s calling himself these days. With the way this movie’s shaping up, this could be a sleeper hit on Marvel’s hands, one that could rival that of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.
Fantastic Four (November 8, 2024)
Finally! Marvel’s premier superhero team is due to make their official MCU debut by the end of 2024, and I couldn’t be happier. Ever since the misfire that was Rise of the Silver Surfer — though I enjoyed it — I have wondered what the Fantastic Four would like in this world that Kevin Feige and company have created. With Wandavision’s showrunner, Matt Shakman, set to direct the picture, anything is possible.
The original cast — not counting the god-awful Fant4stic — hit all the right spots as each of their respective characters, so I’m most curious to see who they’ll choose to fill in these iconic roles. Reed Richards’s horrifying death in Multiverse of Madness begged the question of John Krasinki’s requested return. However, if the latest rumors are to be believed, Marvel is currently on their way to recasting the role completely, further crushing any hopes we had of seeing Emily Blunt as Invisible Woman, too. Oh well.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (May 2, 2025)
When this subtitle appeared during Comic-Con, everyone in the audience was like, “Huh?” It wasn’t because they didn’t know who Kang was, but because this meant that Kang was truly going to become the biggest baddie the Avengers have ever faced, possibly more so than Thanos. Directed by Shang-Chi’s Destin Daniel Cretton, Kang Dynasty will most likely be rife with superhero action and cameos galore.
By the time it drops, dozens of characters will be at Cretton’s fingertips, allowing him to craft a truly epic tale interwoven into the greater MCU at large. Regardless of how this one ends, we’ll officially be one step closer to the storyline fans have been waiting to see on the big screen since Tony Stark first announced he was Iron Man on national television…
Avengers: Secret Wars (November 7, 2025)
Avengers: Secret Wars! Easily my most anticipated MCU project announced at Comic-Con, Secret Wars is no doubt going to blow the minds of audiences worldwide. If it’s anything like the comic books, you can be sure to see characters like the Beyonder make his debut, as superheroes and villains alike are pitted against one another in an epic gladiator-like competition of who can beat who.
The stakes will be ridiculously high. The action will be absolutely insane. The comic book moviedom will cease to be the same. My only concern for this heart-pounding tale of all tales is who Marvel will choose to direct it. Whoever they decide on, they have a difficult job ahead of them bringing the Black Mamba of all Marvel storylines to life.
Armor Wars (TBD)
Yet another project that has been officially announced at the time of this writing, Armor Wars will familiarize fans with the origin of an MCU mainstay. Don Cheadle’s Rhodey aka War Machine, first played by Terrence Howard in 2008’s Iron Man, will flesh out his character more so than ever before in the Disney+ series.
While there is no concrete information on what the show will even be about, you can most likely expect for Dominique Thorne’s Ironheart to make an appearance. Perhaps there maybe some connections to Wakanda, or maybe it will simply be about multiple antagonists getting a hold of Iron Man-like armor, forcing Rhodey to combat them with deadly force. Who knows? All I know is I’m going to keep my eye on this one.
There you have it — everything that was announced for the MCU’s Phase 5 and 6. With She-Hulk currently airing weekly episodes for the next month or so and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever set to release this November, I’m curious to see how this first phase of the Multiverse Saga will end. Although there hasn’t been any real direction as to the future of this franchise, the movies and shows slated for release in the next few years have peaked my interest as to how exactly Kevin Feige and company plan to top 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
