This week the release of Avengers: Endgame marks a pivotal moment in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not much is known about the movies following Avengers: Endgame but here are the films we can look forward to in the coming years and what to expect from them.
Spider-Man: Far from Home
While it was previously believed Endgame would end Phase 3, Kevin Feige recently confirmed it will end with Spider-Man: Far from Home in July 2019. The trailer for Spider-Man: Far from Home has been released for some time now and unfortunately has spoiled some of the aftermath of Endgame. The film has already been confirmed to take place after the events of Endgame; just minutes afterward, to be exact. Because of this, we know for a fact that not only was Peter Parker saved after “the Snap” but Maria Hill and Nick Fury were also able to make it out alive, as well. Additionally, we can also expect to see Michael Keaton reprising his role as the Vulture from Homecoming. Far from Home will also welcome Oscar-nominated Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio. Spider-Man: Far from Home will be in theaters on July 2, 2019.
Black Widow
A Black Widow standalone film has been spinning its wheels in development for many years. However, Phase 4 will now feature a Black Widow origin story movie in a thriller/noir-style genre. Black Widow will also be making Marvel history as the second Marvel film with a female lead aside from Captain Marvel. Not only that but the film will also be the first Marvel film to have a female solo director in Cate Shortland. Black Widow may also see a familiar face as Sebastian Stan has already expressed an interest in reprising his role as the Winter Soldier for the film, should the need arise. Other actors in talks for the film include Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz and David Harbour. Black Widow is slated to be released in early 2020.
The Eternals
The Eternals is a property that not many are familiar with and surrounds a group of celestial beings who were tasked with guarding and protecting Earth. They are also in direct conflict with another group of celestial beings: the Deviants. As for the cast, The Eternals already has Hollywood powerhouse Angelina Jolie on its cast list and also Kumail Nanjiani, best known for his work in the critically acclaimed television series, Silicon Valley. What sets The Eternals apart from the Marvel films that have preceded it is that The Eternals are beings that are millions of years old which means the film could take place at any part in the MCU timeline from The First Avenger to Black Panther. The Eternals will also be directed by a female director, Chloe Zhao.
Black Panther Sequel
Black Panther had an incredible box office reception so it should come as no surprise that it will have a sequel. Ryan Coogler will be returning to write and direct for Black Panther 2. As of right now, it is unclear whether fans will see the return of King T’Challa and Princess Shuri as they were casualties of Thanos. However, it seems likely as both characters had such a brief appearance in the MCU.
Doctor Strange Sequel
Another character that had seemingly fallen to the hands of the Mad Titan was Doctor Strange. However, in an exclusive with The Hollywood Reporter, Scott Derrickson has said he will be returning to direct the sequel to Doctor Strange. More than likely, this means we will also be seeing Doctor Stephen Strange return as well as his partner of the mystic arts, Wong. The film may be released in 2021 based on the possible current timeline of production.
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is something Marvel audiences have been eagerly waiting on for quite some time. This is because Guardians of the Galaxy 3 was put on hold after James Gunn was let go after some past controversial remarks he made on Twitter had resurfaced. The cast of Guardians of the Galaxy had been rallying around Gunn for some time with Disney remaining headstrong in their decision. During this time, Gunn had signed on to write and direct Suicide Squad 2. It wasn’t until March 15, 2019, that Disney decided to reinstate Gunn and have him return for Guardians of the Galaxy 3. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will most likely be released later than anticipated with Gunn working on Suicide Squad 2 which has a release date of August 6, 2021. The good news is, with Gunn at the helm, this means we can count on the entire cast returning, including Dave Bautista, who portrays Drax and has also been the most vocal regarding Gunn’s firing.
Shang-Chi
Recently Marvel announced it had hired Destin Daniel Cretton to direct Shang-Chi. The film will mark the MCU’s first Asian lead. The film will be written by Chinese-American screenwriter Dave Callaham who is no stranger to superhero films, having most recently worked on Wonder Woman 1984.
Check out The Marvel Report for more updates on these films!