Hall H was once again filled with comic book lovers, MCU stans, and nerds alike this weekend for the Disney and Marvel panel at San Diego Comic Con! After much speculation, we finally have a Kevin Feige-approved list for the ending of Phase 4, as well as the entirety of Phase 5 and a small crumb to tide us over for Phase 6.
Though I was unable to go to SDCC in person, I live vicariously through Twitter users and watch any livestream that I can find (no matter how terrible the quality) so I can know every single morsel of information that I can. Let’s get into what I’m most excited about for the upcoming MCU Phases.
Marvel President Kevin Feige revealed a total of seventeen projects that will be releasing within the next few years at the 2022 SDCC. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will the the final project for Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Four. Phase Five will kick off with Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania at the beginning of next year (Feb. 17, 2023).
Diversity and inclusion is on the up and up with Marvel’s upcoming projects, as well. Shows like Echo featuring Maya Lopez – the deaf, Native American character first introduced in the Hawkeye series. Works like Blade and Ironheart will also have main characters who are African-American.
And while we’re getting a whole heap of new characters, we’re also getting to explore old ones! Charlie Cox’s Daredevil is back for an eighteen-episode season on Disney+. We’ll also get to see Kamala Khan’s Ms Marvel in July of 2023 with the installation of The Marvels.
We also got the names of two new Avengers movies: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. However, Kevin Feige has confirmed that the Russo Brothers are not directing the next two Avengers movies, so I don’t know how I feel about that. Based solely on the name, I have a feeling that Secret Wars might have to deal with the Thunderbolts. Want to know why I think that? Then take a gander at the five movies and shows that stuck with me at the MCU Panel of SDCC.
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law
Streaming August 17
We got another trailer for She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, showing just the sheer amount of characters we’re going to be experiencing on the small screen. We’re seeing Bruce, Wong, and even Charlie Cox’s Daredevil (which I’m very, very excited about). I’ve been hearing mixed reviews about She-Hulk, I remember when the first trailer released and fans weren’t crazy about the effects used for Jennifer Walter’s She-Hulk. However, the older I get (and the more women led MCU projects we see), I have to remember that some people are… let’s just say, biased (for lack of a nicer word).
Why I’m excited: Both She-Hulk trailers have featured some kind of fourth wall break which I find knee-slapping hilarious. I’m also obsessed with the idea of a female superhero that doesn’t just drop everything to be a superhero. We’re going to get to experience Jennifer Walters the lawyer and She-Hulk the lawyer, what could be better?
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Releasing May 5, 2023
I liked the first two Guardians movies, so why wouldn’t I like this one? James Gunn saying that this will be the end of the Guardians era might’ve broke my heart, just a bit. Actually let me clarify, James remarked that when he first pitched the idea of Guardians to Kevin, he had a general end in sight and Vol 3 is that ending. Does that necessarily mean that’s the end of the Guardians as we know it? Marvel sure wants us to think so with their brief overview of the movie.
Why I’m excited: Like I said, I really enjoyed the first two Guardians movies, so I expect to like this one as well. And considering the reactions that I’m seeing from Twitter users today, I need to be lugging a box of tissues with me to the theater. Excuse me while I sob into my popcorn.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Releasing November 11, 2022
I, like many other fans, was concerned with the fate of the Black Panther franchise with the death of leading man, Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa. As I was doing my due dillegence as a fan, I was scouring Twitter for any information (as per usual) and I came across several fans tweeting #RecastTChalla. Despite this, the teaser trailer confirms that T’Challa is dead in the MCU and will not be returning in the sequel movie.
I’m interested to see what comes of Wakanda Forever and if Marvel is able to satisfy the fans wants. All I know is that they’re going to satisfy my wants for the second Black Panther movie. I’ve had a hankering for this since Avengers: Endgame.
Why I’m excited: Cinematography, cinematography, cinematography. Autumn Durald has my whole heart, if her work on the Loki Disney+ series was any testamant to what she can do, I’m in the right to be excited for the cinematography of Wakanda Forever. While I would enjoy a variant of T’Challa (a theme heavily explored in Loki), that is not the direction that Wakanda Forever is heading in.
Captain America: New World Order
Releasing May 3, 2024
Captain America 4 has been announced and has been given a release date! Y’all know that TikTok audio that’s Cristina Yang from Grey’s Anatomy yelling “somebody sedate me!”? That’s me right now. I can and will become an unbearable person to be around, and that’s a threat. With the narrative that was explored in Falcon and the Winter Soldier (a narrative that was vital in order to pass the shield to an African-American man in America), I’m ecstatic to see what they do with the new movie. I don’t care what anyone says, Sam Wilson is Captain America and this is his movie.
Why I’m excited: Sam Wilson as Captain America. Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes. Sam Wilson as Captain America. Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes. Sam Wilson as Captain America. Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes. Sam Wilson as Captain America. Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes. Sam Wilson as Captain America. Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes.
Thunderbolts
Releasing July 26, 2024
Now, I don’t know everything about the comics, but I’m really good at research. And because I’m really good at research, I’ve learned that the Thunderbolts are a band of villians from the Marvel Universe that band together and pretend to be superheroes… sounds like group therapy exercises to me, but hey, what do I know? Supposedly, the Thunderbolts put themselves in the public eye as an answer to the giant question of “who’s going to protect us now that we don’t have the Avengers?”
Why I’m excited: The possibilities. Because the Thunderbolts took on so many different variations through their lifespan in the comic book world, there’s literally endless options for Kevin Feige to cherrypick from. There’s no telling where Marvel will take the Thunderbolts plot and I’m so here for it.
Okay, now that I’ve discussed the five that I’m most excited for, I can start prepping for their release dates. If y’all think I’m not going to be in the theaters watching these movies multiple times you’ve got another thing coming! You know how Brittany Broski went and saw Elvis like five times? These are my Elvis.
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