It's now exactly a year since the theatrical release of Avatar's crown as the highest-grossing movie of all time. The Avengers assembled en masse, successfully defeating Thanos (Josh Brolin) and restoring half the universe to life.
Marvel Studios had become more secretive than ever before, meaning viewers had no idea what to expect next. President Kevin Feige seemed to suggest 2014's Phase 3 announcement had backfired because it meant viewers were focused on the ultimate destination rather than sitting back, eating popcorn, and enjoying the journey. As a result, he was a lot more wary of revealing Marvel's long-term plans. In the absence of official announcements, rumors began to circulate - many accurate, some not.
Marvel Studios' Hall H was the highlight of San Diego Comic-Con 2019, with the studio announcing their full Phase 4 slate, but rather than run through five years, it only spanned two. They confirmed release dates for Black Panther 2.
It didn't take long before things began to go wrong, though. A deal between Marvel and Sony had brought a rebooted Spider-Man into the MCU, and 2019's "adjuncts" to the main MCU.
Moving into 2020, the Captain Marvel 2 as well. No doubt there will be similar delays to the Disney+ shows. The current slate can only be considered provisional because it all depends on forces outside Marvel's control. As things stand, however, it is as follows:
- Black Widow - November 6, 2020
- Eternals - February 12, 2021
- Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings - May 7, 2021
- Spider-Man: Homecoming 3 - November 5, 2021
- Thor: Love & Thunder - February 11, 2022
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - March 25, 2022
- Black Panther 2 - May 6, 2022
- Captain Marvel 2 - July 8, 2022
The MCU lost at least two legacy characters, as Avengers: Endgame worked as an effective swan song for Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans), so the studio's hopes for continued success rests on the new characters introduced in Eternals and Shang-Chi, as well as more prominent roles for the remaining Avengers, and the anticipation for these films remains as strong as ever. Despite the coronavirus delays and studio haggling that occupied much of the last year in Marvel news, fans' appetite for what the MCU has to offer remains strong even in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame's success.
