San Diego Comic-Con’s (SDCC) Hall H was filled with lots of Marvel Studios announcements on upcoming projects and future plans up to 2025. Here is what you missed Marvel announce at SDCC.
San Diego Comic-Con has always been a significant hub for everything comic book or pop culture related. In the last decade or so, Marvel Studios has been growing more popular as the Marvel Cinematic Universe was shaped—from the first Iron Man to the most recently released Marvel Studios film, Thor: Love and Thunder. This is why this year was bigger and better than ever the moment Miss Minutes from the Disney+ Loki series popped up to introduce the president of Marvel Studios and chief creative officer of Marvel, Kevin Feige.
Feige made the crowd roar and brought them to tears as the presentation showcased trailers, special looks, Q&As with talent and filmmakers, major announcements, and a live, show-stopping performance. The most significant news was that plans for Phases 4, 5 and 6 were officially announced for the future of the Multiverse Saga. The roadmap was presented from the more recent projects of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, to the furthest, newly announced projects of two new Avengers films— Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, coming out in 2025.
Here is a list of everything slated from Marvel Studios:
PHASE 4
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law — August 17, 2022
Phase 4 continues with the Disney+ series, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law premiering August 17, 2022. The nine-episode comedy series was described to follow “Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany)—an attorney specializing in superhuman-oriented legal cases—must navigate the complicated life of a single, 30-something who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered hulk.”
Audiences at SDCC got to see the latest trailer for the show and enjoy a Q&A with directors, Kat Coiro and Anu Valia, and head writer Jessica Gao—along with core cast members: Tatiana Maslany, Ginger Gonzaga and Jameela Jamil. The series will also feature Mark Ruffalo as Smart Hulk, Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/the Abomination, and Benedict Wong as Wong, Josh Segarra, Jon Bass and Renée Elise Goldsberry.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — November 11, 2022
Hall H at SDCC erupted with excitement and tearful joy as a live performance related to the Black Panther film series was played by Baaba Maal (vocals), Massamba Diop (tama) and dancers and drummers. Then, Feige was joined by director Ryan Coogler and cast members Mabel Cadena, Michaela Cole, Winston Duke, Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta, Florence Kasumba, Alex Livinalli, Lupita Nyong’o, Dominique Thorne and Letitia Wright for a Q&A and the film’s first trailer.
Marvel Studios described the film: “Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta as Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livanalli.” Feige confirmed this will mark the end of Phase 4.
PHASE 5
Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania — February 17, 2023
Feige announced that Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania will kick off Phase 5 in 2023. Director Peyton Reed and stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors and Kathryn Newton entertained fans with an engaging Q&A session. Fans in the room were given an exclusive look at the upcoming film.
Marvel Studios described the film: “Superhero partners, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and The Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.”
Secret Invasion — Spring 2023
Fans were offered a ‘secret’ look into the Disney+ series, Secret Invasion, with a presentation led by Cobie Smulders, who will reprise her role as Maria Hill—a decorated spy and Nick Fury’s loyal number two. A short clip previewed what the show has in store. Marvel Studios noted how “the crossover event series showcases a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating Earth for years.”
The series will also welcome back Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn as the Skrull Talos—characters who first met in Captain Marvel. They are joined by Kingsley Ben-Adir, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman and Regé-Jean Page.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 — May 5, 2023
To introduce the third instalment to the Guardians Of The Galaxy film series, director James Gunn and cast members Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, Will Poulter and Maria Bakalova had a very exciting discussion about the upcoming film. Then, Chukwudi Iwuji arrived on stage in costume, with a big reveal that he will be High Evolutionary in the film. Fans were given a special look at the film.
Marvel Studios described Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3: “Our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.”
Other Disney+ shows coming out for Phase 5 in 2023 include Echo and Loki Season 2, slated for Summer 2023; Ironheart, debuting Fall 2023; Agatha: Coven of Chaos slated for a Winter 2023 release date; and Daredevil: Born Again will premiere in Spring 2024, seeing Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio return for an 18-episode season.
As for other theatrical releases for Phase 5, they include The Marvels, directed by Nia DaCosta, expected to be in theatres July 28, 2023. Then, Blade is expected to hit theatres on November 3, 2023. In 2024, Captain America: New World Order will be open in theatres on May 3, 2024. Later in the summer, Thunderbolts will be in theatres on July 26, 2024—which Marvel Studios stated would feature “an exciting new group of heroes.”
PHASE 6
While Phase 6 seems so far away for Marvel Studios, it shows they already have a plan set in some kind of stone. Speaking about stones, Marvel Studios said they will promise “compelling storytelling and Marvel Studios’ signature style of adventure”—kicking off with the release of Fantastic Four on November 8, 2024. With a fairly long gap, but most needed, will be the two Avengers titles. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is set to be in theatres on May 2, 2025. Avengers: Secret Wars is slated to come out on November 7, 2025.
Was that enough Marvel Studios and MCU announcements for you? I know I am both excited and amazed the Feige and his studio team could be thinking that far ahead, but fans have trusted them so far. The precedent of greatness has already been set with the Infinity Saga and its first three Phases. It is great to know what is coming (schedule those calendars) and who knows…maybe more surprises will be in-store along the roadmap of Phase 4 to 6 of Marvel Studios’ upcoming Disney+ shows and theatrical films.
