Image via Disney+
Not content with the full slate of movies and Disney+ series they announced back in 2019, Marvel Studios took the (virtual) stage during Disney’s Investors Day to detail a lot more about the MCU’s future. While 2020 didn’t offer a single bit of new MCU content (thanks, COVID), Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige was quick to remind the public that there’s more coming very soon. And if that wasn’t enough, he brought a ton of shocking new information with him as well.
With added details to existing projects and shocking, brand new projects unveiled, the MCU’s future only looks to be bigger and bolder than what’s come before. To help you make sense of it all, we’ve dived deep into the news while also providing some comic book-based context about what fans can expect from these projects. Here’s everything you need to know about the future of Marvel.
'WandaVision'
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Teyonah Parris, Kat Dennings, Randall Park, Kathryn Hahn
Release date: Jan. 15, 2021
Fresh out of the gate was a brand new trailer for WandaVision, which featured the most direct confirmation that the reality of the world Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) are inhabiting appear to exist entirely in space Wanda has created herself. The show will switch between different sitcom tropes as it progresses, while the outside world—including Randall Park’s Jimmy Woo and Kat Dennings’ Darcy Lewis—work to try and get through to Wanda.
'Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness'
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Elizabeth Olsen, Xochitl Gomez
Release date: March 25, 2022
As was confirmed at Comic-Con in 2019, Wanda will appear in the Sam Raimi-directed Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. The horror-action film will bring back original stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Xochitl Gomez will star as America Chavez, better known as Miss America, Marvel’s premiere Latin-America and LGBTQ character. In addition to flight and super-strength, America can travel through dimensions, which will come in handy for a multiverse-based movie. Feige also confirmed Multiverse would tie-in to the next Spider-Man movie, which is maybe why we’re going to see so many old faces return for that upcoming flick.
'The Falcon and the Winter Solider'
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Daniel Brühl, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell
Release date: March 19, 2021
Arriving after the end of WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Solider will debut on Disney+ March 19. The first trailer for the action-packed, buddy cop-esque show focuses squarely on the relationship between Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) in the wake of Cap’s decision to give up the shield. The trailer for the six-episode series ends with a thrilling aerial sequence that looks like it belonged in a Marvel movie, so those fretting about losing something in the move from film-to-tv shouldn’t have their fears eased.
'Black Widow' / 'The Eternals' / 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'
Starring: Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), and Angelina Jolie (The Eternals)
Release date: May 7, 2021 (Black Widow), July 9, 2021 (Shang-Chi), and Nov. 5, 2021 (The Eternals)
Those hoping for some sort of Disney+ debut for Black Widow were sadly disappointed as Feige confirmed Marvel’s commitment to a theatrical release for the long-awaited solo flick. The Scarlett Johansson-led project will hit theaters only on May 7, 2021.
The kung-fu-inspired Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just wrapped filming and will debut theatrically on July 9, 2021. Meanwhile, Chloé Zhao’s The Eternals will release on November 5, 2021.
'Loki'
Starring: Tom Hiddleston
Release date: May 2021
Set immediately after the god of mischief’s disappearance with the Space Infinity Stone during Avengers: Endgame, Loki will be a sort of crime thriller set in the MCU. The trailer shows Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in the custody of Owen Wilson’s unnamed character at the Time Variance Authority or TVA, where he’s presumably held for crimes against the timeline.
Eagle-eyed viewers will notice a few easter eggs, including a reference to the Roxxon Energy Corporation, which just showed up in the Spider-Man: Miles Morales video game. There’s a direct reference to 2016’s Vote Loki satirical mini-series (written by Christopher Hastings with art by Langdon Foss) with the trailer’s final shot. Oh, and the fact that Loki appears to be DB Cooper?
However, the updated cast list has me intrigued as it tips toward some speculation about the show’s events. Loki has changed appearance and gender over the years; rumor has it the Loki show will incorporate this by having actress Sophia Di Martino play the female version of Loki, while beloved actor Richard E. Grant offers an older, more comics-traditional take. We won’t have to wait too long to find out, as Loki will hit Disney+ in May 2021.
'What If...?'
Starring: Jeffrey Wright
Release date: Summer 2021
Arriving on Disney+ in Summer 2021, What If...? is an animated series that features new re-imagings of classic MCU tales. The trailer focuses on a few different stories, including T’Challa becoming Star-Lord, Peggy Carter getting the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, a Zombie Captain America, and much more. The show will be narrated by Jeffrey Wright.
'Ms. Marvel' / 'Captain Marvel 2'
Starring: Iman Vellani
Release date: 2021
One of the most adored, new comic book creations is Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel. Created by editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, writer G. Willow Wilson, and artists Adrian Alphona and Jamie McKelvie, Khan immediately resonated with fans as the first Muslin character to headline a comic book title. Ms. Marvel’s teen drama is similar to that of great Spider-Man tales but filtered through a character who absolutely loves superheroes—specifically Captain Marvel—only to find herself developing superpowers of her own.
The show will be helmed by Four Weddings and a Funeral series writer Bisha K. Ali. It will feature episodes directed by Bad Boys For Life helmers Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi, Farah Goes Bang’s Meera Menon, and documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Actress Iman Vellani will bring Kamala to life on Disney+ before appearing alongside Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris in the Nia DaCosta-directed Captain Marvel 2.
(This is your reminder that I’m still bummed we haven’t seen DaCosta’s Candyman—but watch Tessa Thompson act her ass off in DaCosta’s debut, Little Woods!)
'Blade'
Starring: Mahershala Ali
Release date: TBA
Other than reiterating the casting of Mahershala Ali as the titular daywalker himself, Feige didn’t have any new information about the upcoming Blade movie. The project remains in active development.
'Black Panther II'
Starring: TBA
Release date: July 8, 2022
Feige took time to acknowledge the tragic passing of actor Chadwick Boseman and to announce that the Ryan Coogler-written and directed sequel would not recast the T’Challa out of respect for Boseman. Instead, Black Panther II will pay tribute to the actor and leverage other characters that appeared in the initial film. Might we see Shuri take up the mantle as she did in the comics? Or someone else entirely? Regardless, we’ll find out when the film releases on July 8, 2022.
