Marvel Studios broke the internet and the comic world today with news of its Phase 4 projects. Studio President Kevin Feige introduced the world to the new projects, which were a combination of Disney+ shows and films. The news had Marvel fans salivating and screaming for joy. With ten projects slated between now and 2021, Marvel Studios has a lock on the future.
Marvel officially confirmed the following yesterday: Black Widow (May 1st, 2020), Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Fall 2020, Disney +), The Eternals (November 6th, 2020), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (February 12, 2021), WandaVision (Spring 2021, Disney +), Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (May 7th, 2021), Loki (Spring 2021, Disney +), What If (Summer 2021, Disney +), Hawkeye (Fall 2021, Disney +), and Thor: Love and Thunder (November 5th, 2021).
Also mentioned at the panel were Fantastic Four, Mutants, Black Panther 2, Captain Marvel 2, Guardians of The Galaxy Vol 3.
And in the final moments of the panel, Kevin Feige brought out two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali and announced his casting as Blade.
Read on for more details about the projects.
The sequel to 2016’s Doctor Strange will feature the return of the Sorcerer Supreme and will be Marvel’s first foray into horror movies. It will also feature Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch in the film, following her role in WandaVision. Scott Derrickson returns to helm the project and it drops Feb. 12, 2021.
Shang Chi: And the Legend of the Ten Rings will feature a much needed retcon to one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s great mistakes: the Mandarin. Canadian-Chinese actor Simu Liu has been cast as the Master of Kung Fu Shang-Chi with Tony Leung set to play the Mandarin, the real Mandarin and not the Ben Kingsley version who doubled as Trevor Slattery. Akwafina will also be in the film in an unannounced role. The film drops February 2021.
Black Widow was one of the biggest hits of the evening and the only film to have footage shown in Hall H. Florence Pugh will play Yelena Belova, who is a key figure in the history of Natasha Romanov. David Harbour will play Alexi, also known as the Red Guardian. The film will see Natasha in Budapest, an infamous old mission often referenced in the MCU. The film’s villain will be Tony Masters AKA Taskmaster. It will also feature Rachel Weisz as Melina with Cate Shortland directing. It releases May 1, 2020.
Marvel also announced a project that has long been speculated and talked about, but yet to be confirmed. The Eternals have a key place in Marvel comic history, even if they’re not talked about or featured all that often. With tons of beings being offspring off The Eternals, the film sets up the potential for the X-Men, Kree-Skrull War, and much more. The film also has one of the most stacked and star-studded casts in Marvel Studio history. Featuring Angelina Jolie, Selma Hayek, Richard Madden, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff and Don Lee, the film drops on Nov. 6, 2020 and is directed by Chloe Zhao.
The biggest news coming out of the Thor sequel announcement was not the return of stars Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth, but the return of Natalie Portman in her role as Jane Foster, Taika Waititi announced they will be adapting the storyline of Jason Aaron’s The Mighty Thor, aka Jane will take on the mantle of Thor. Fans were also thrilled with Tessa Thompson confirmed Valkyrie will be getting a female love interest in the film.
Stay tuned to The Marvel Report for more breaking news from San Diego Comic-Con 2019.