2018-2019
- Black Panther (February 16, 2018)
- Dir. Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed)
- Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman
As a huge fan of Creed, I was overjoyed to hear director Ryan Coogler would continue his populist trend with Marvel’s first black superhero film. And when I saw Civil War and Chadwick Boseman’s dignified-yet-furious performance as T’Challa, my anticipation shot into the stratosphere (and that mid-credits scene! No spoilers but suffice to say:”Let them try”). Everything points in the right direction and it is my number one Marvel film to look forward to. I hope to see Coogler really worldbuild Wakanda and set most of the action there. While the geopolitical blowback of Civil War will no doubt spur some of the plot, my hope is for a more self-contained story.
Right now, Coogler is collaborating with his writing partner on a script originally written by Jon Robert Cole. Filming is set to begin in January 2017. Right now, only Boseman is the only cast confirmed but with the set ups of both Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) in Age of Ultron and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) in Civil War – both prominent in the Black Panther comics – I think it’s safe to say Marvel has plans for reappearances.
- Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1 & 2 (May 4, 2018 & May 3, 2019)
- Dir. Anthony & Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier & Civil War)
- Cast: Josh Brolin, the entire MCU
The intended climax of over 20 films aka the entire MCU, so there’s no pressure for Feige and his creative team here, right? The brothers Russo recently said they would avoid the fading YA ritual of splitting final chapters i.e. frontloading the character drama so the second chapter can be two hours of climax. Instead, the wise storytellers that they are said they would be two complete films with beginnings, middles and ends. Personally, I’d like to see them keep Infinity War as the title of Part 2 while Part 1 could be Infinity Gauntlet. It maintains symmetry while communicating this is not one film cut in two.
The first draft of the scripts are being written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and a year-long shoot is scheduled to start in November. Given the fluidity between the two installments, it’s not yet clear who will show up in one or both of the films but if you have a favorite big-screen Marvel hero (sorry, Marvel TV fans), it’s a decent bet whomever he/she is will be incorporated into this grand finale. But make no mistake; this is the Thanos show and it’s up to the filmmakers and Josh Brolin to breathe life into the overarching supervillain whose brief previous appearances have built not so much dread as perplexity. Translation: Marvel, please have Death be a character.
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 6, 2018)
- Dir. Peyton Reed (Bring It On, Down with Love, The Break-Up, Yes Man, Ant-Man)
- Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Abby Ryder Fortson, Michael Pena
I was happy to hear of this sequel to Ant-Man not only because it’s a sequel to Ant-Man but because of the addition of Wasp. As a longtime Lost fan, I’ve long been an Evangeline Lilly fan but I thought her and Scott’s “romance” in the first film was the weakest element, so the idea they’ll develop her as a character intrigues me. When the mid-credits scene teased her arrival along with the clues from the subatomic realm about the missing original Wasp aka Hank’s wife and Hope’s mother Janet van Dyne, I thought it was one of the most organic sequel hooks Marvel had used yet. Sure enough, the sequel entered Phase 3, with Reed, the leads and I’m gonna go out on a limb and say the entire supporting cast returning.
Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari will work with Paul Rudd on the script based on a story from him and Adam McKay. Filming will probably take place early-to-mid 2017. The big question is who do they cast as Janet? It’s the rare superhero role for an older actress. Susan Sarandon? Helen Mirren? Michelle Pfieffer?
2019
- Captain Marvel (March 8, 2019)
- Dir. TBA (rumor: Emily Carmichael)
- Cast: TBA (rumor: Emily Blunt)
The last confirmed Marvel flick is its first female superhero movie Captain Marvel. I’m unfamiliar with the character but I love her name and her outer space setting. It funnily enough sounds to me like Green Lantern especially if they go with the idea that she inherits the role from an older character like Mar-Vell. Marvel are experts at taking what didn’t work in other films and doing them effortlessly in theirs, so the comparison actually gets me excited they’re going to do the space cop thing and do it right.
This is the project Marvel is putting together at the moment and in Civil War press Feige said announcements were forthcoming this summer. The latest rumor, originating from TheWrap‘s Jeff Sneider, pegged a longtime frontrunner with a director of the same name as the creative team, that frontrunner almost assuredly Emily Blunt who has been rumored for years. Some Internet sleuthing revealed that indie director Emily Carmichael’s Twitter account was recently followed by Captain Marvel screenwriter Nicole Perlman and her Instagram indicated meetings at Disney. Right now, it’s all speculation, but right or wrong, it probably won’t be for long.
Now, we leave the shore of all certainties and enter the realm of complete speculation. Here’s what we can reasonably expect from Phase 4 of the MCU.
