Three years ago, Marvel Studios laid out the future of the MCU all the way through the middle of 2019, with the release of the currently untitled fourth Avenger movie. But with only 18 months left in Marvel’s Phase 3, the company has been uncharacteristically quiet about its upcoming slate of films. We know that Spider-Man: Homecoming will get a sequel and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has been confirmed. But beyond that, Marvel is keeping a tight lid on its Phase 4 plans. Today’s Nerdist News is examining what this could mean for the MCU.
Join guest host and senior editor, Dashing Dan Casey, as he walks us through a few theories that may shed some light on Marvel’s plans. It’s long been expected that Avengers: Infinity War and its sequel will be the end of the line for several MCU original players, like Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, or Chris Hemsworth. Even if Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor survive the conflict with Thanos, the stage may have already been set for their comic book successors. Remember, recasting isn’t out of the question. Just ask Ed Norton!
It’s possible that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige wants to give the old guard a proper sendoff before giving away the game about their replacements. But considering that the Marvel movies for 2020 will probably begin filming next year, there’s a time limit on how long these plans can remain secret. Or perhaps Feige doesn’t want to give away the fact that nothing major will change at all, and we’ll be getting new Cap and Thor movies. Even Iron Man 4 is a remote possibility, if the focus shifts to Riri “Ironheart” Williams, with Tony Stark as her mentor.
But our favorite theory comes out of the blockbuster news that Disney was in negotiations to buy 20th Century Fox’s film and TV catalog. Now, that’s one way to bring the Fantastic Four and the X-Men into the MCU fold! While those talks appear to currently be dead, they could easily come back to life. After all, the deal to share the Spider-Man rights between Sony and Marvel ran into a few obstacles before it became a reality. It’s entirely possible that this deal will happen as well. Under that scenario, Feige may be waiting to see what happens before committing to the next few years of Marvel movies.
Why do you think Marvel is holding off on revealing its Phase 4 plans? Share your theories in the comment section below!
Images: Marvel Studios
