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On December 10, 2020, at the Disney Investor Day, President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige announced the confirmed upcoming projects for Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This announcement included television shows we’ve already seen this year — WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki — but it also included their new slate of films, shows, and heroes. Phase 4 explores the untouched corners of the MCU by showing us the effects of the Avengers, the Blip, and the legacies of heroes like Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Natasha Romanoff. These shows will be released on Disney+ and films either on Disney+ or in theaters in the coming years.
Marvel Studios is entering new territory by developing fan favorites from the films like Loki, Sam Wilson, and Bucky Barnes and introducing new players like Moon Knight/Marc Spector and Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in their television formats. These shows and films are making a concerted effort to centralize female characters and characters of color, a departure from the historically white and male leading cast of the MCU. Marvel Studios is looking towards Phase 4 and the future of their company with a more inclusive, diverse perspective that spans across their story-telling forms, directors, and characters.
Now & Soon-To-Be Streaming: New Television Shows
Marvel Studios’ best, albeit late, decision is overtly connecting the films of the MCU to their streaming television shows. Disney’s streaming service Disney+ has already done a fabulous, critically successful job on their first three shows, and the success is expected to continue for the rest of Phase 4. By developing and releasing television shows, Marvel can develop the world of the MCU on a deeper level and show more perspectives than those of just the Avengers; this kind of world-building can’t be done over the course of just one film, but it can be done over six episodes of a series. For the first time, audiences get to see the day-to-day life of their favorite heroes from the films and the comics. Feige promised that these shows will directly tie to films from Phase 1-3 and that they are crucial to building the world of Phase 4, so it is safe to assume that Marvel has ambitious, important plans for them.
There are three more scheduled releases for 2021 in the television department. The first is the animated series What If…? that will explore alternate timelines, or “what if this happened instead of the canon?” This show is an opportunity to explore how things in the canon could have gone had characters made different decisions or taken different paths. This is inspired by a popular comics anthology and is perfectly suited to the animated format to differentiate it from the MCU films. The trailer has already shown Peggy Carter becoming Captain Britain, Doctor Strange fighting a villainous version of himself, and a young Prince T’Challa becoming a Ravager with Yondu. It is slated for release this summer but has no official premiere date.
In the winter, fans should expect the limited series Hawkeye. This show will explore Kate Bishop’s training to become the next Hawkeye, overseen by former Hawkeye Clint Barton. There is also Ms. Marvel, which follows the story of Pakistani teen Kamala Khan, who idolizes Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel as she navigates her relationships with friends and family. Ms. Marvel will tie directly into The Marvels (2022). Both Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel are projected for release in late 2021, but there is no official premiere as of yet.
Like Wanda, Sam, and Loki, other supporting characters from the MCU films are also getting their own television shows as part of Phase 4. The Skrulls from Captain Marvel (2019), alongside Nick Fury, are getting their own show, Secret Invasion. The premise that Skrulls have infiltrated all levels of society worldwide is from a comics crossover event from 2008-9. Captain James “Rhodey” Rhodes/War Machine is also getting to lead his own television show, Armor Wars. The show will explore what happens when Stark tech falls into villainous hands following Tony’s death in Avengers: Endgame (2019). (( Ital, Eric. “Don Cheadle Says Iron Man’s Death In ‘Endgame’ Will Play A Role In ‘Armor Wars.’” )) Both of these shows provide opportunities to see Fury and Rhodey develop independently as lead characters after years of seeing them in supporting roles. There is no release date for Secret Invasion or Armor Wars as of publication, but 2022 seems likely.
But fan favorites from the comics, never seen before in the MCU, are coming to Disney+ in their own shows, too. By introducing some of these new Phase 4 characters in the television format, audiences get to see them developed even more than they would be in a solo film or alongside a team. Confirmed projects include She-Hulk, Moon Knight, and Ironheart. These new shows expand the universe and allow Marvel Studios to explore genres and increase diversity in ways they have not before. She-Hulk is about lawyer Jennifer Walters, who handles cases concerned with superhumans; she is the cousin of Dr. Bruce Banner and becomes Hulk-like after an emergency blood transfusion from Banner. Moon Knight delves into the psyche of a lesser-known Marvel character, Marc Spector, who becomes the devotee of the Egyptian moon god Khonshu after a near-death experience. His struggles with his Jewish faith and dissociative identity disorder tie directly to his vigilante justice. Ironheart is about a newer character named Riri Williams, a teenage genius with a passion for technology and her hyper-advanced suit of armor that rivals Tony Stark’s. None of these shows have official release dates but will likely be released in 2022.
Some untitled shows on the horizon are a Wakanda-centric show developed by Ryan Coogler, which will spin off the Black Panther films, and a Maya Lopez/Echo show that will be a spin-off of Hawkeye. (( Romano, Nick. “Wakanda Disney+ series in the works with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler.” )) (( Moreau, Jordan. “‘Hawkeye’ Spinoff Series About Echo in Early Development for Disney Plus (EXCLUSIVE).” )) An animated series of shorts called I Am Groot is also in development. Marvel Studios’ Phase 4 is branching out into television shows, in both the limited series and multi-season formats, and incorporating them into their films in a significant way. This is a departure from many of their previous television shows, which have little interaction with the films or have since been put into the “Marvel Legacy” universe, essentially rendering them non-canon. By treating the medium as an extension of their films and making them so interconnected, fans can explore the Marvel universe between film releases.
Coming To A Theater Near You: New Films
2020 was a year without Marvel films. However, it was a necessary breath for both Marvel Studios and fans alike. It gave fans time to recover after Endgame and the studio to begin planning out Phase 4 and beyond. Much like their television shows, these films explore the stories of existing characters like Natasha Romanoff, Thor, and Dr. Strange but also introduce audiences to new characters like Shang-Chi and the Eternals. Needless to say, the new films are exciting for fans itching to see a Marvel movie again.
The first four Phase 4 films will be released this year. The first is Black Widow, set for release in theaters and on Disney+ through premiere access on July 9. This film is overdue, seeing as Natasha has been in the MCU since Iron Man 2 (2010) and has been a fan favorite ever since. Finally, long-time fans will get to see Natasha’s backstory as she returns home to Russia while on the run between the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Infinity War (2017). Even though this will be the last time fans get to see Natasha, Black Widow is bound to make a splash this July. Next is Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, with a release date of September 3. Shang-Chi is the first Asian leading hero in the MCU. In the film, Shang-Chi must confront his troubled upbringing — he was trained by his father to be an assassin — as he gets involved with the Ten Rings organization.
Eternals, directed by Academy Award-winning Chloé Zhao, releases November 5. The first team-up of Phase 4, Eternals, depicts the lives of 7,000-year-old beings who have been protecting the residents of Earth from alien threats. The final Phase 4 release of 2021 is Spider-Man: No Way Home, releasing just in time for Christmas on December 17. All fans know is that this film is concerned with the multiverse, which has led to a myriad of speculations about the possible actors associated with the project, and that it will lead directly into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).
2022 is poised to be a great year for Phase 4 as well. On March 25, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to be released. Disney and Marvel have been incredibly tight-lipped about this project, much like Sony and Disney have been on No Way Home, indicating some big reveals. Wanda is set to return in this film alongside Strange as they navigate a fractured multiverse after the events of Endgame and No Way Home. Thor, Jane Foster, and Valkyrie return in Thor: Love and Thunder on May 6. Judging by the set pictures, Love and Thunder is bound to be an 80s-style romp through space as Jane takes up the mantle of Thor and Valkyrie becomes the king of Asgard, a title handed to her by Thor at the end of Endgame.
Audiences head back to Wakanda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on July 8. Since the passing of Chadwick Boseman, who played Prince T’Challa, fans have speculated what Marvel and Disney would do with the role, but it was decided they would not recast T’Challa to honor Boseman’s legacy. The Captain Marvel sequel, The Marvels, will be released on November 11. No plot has been released for this film as of yet, but the small-scale, all-girl team-up between Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan will be a delight to see. At some point in winter 2022, the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will also release the first of its kind for the MCU.
Looking forward to 2023, Phase 4 brings us old favorites. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will be released on February 17, introducing a grown-up Cassie Lang and new villain Kang the Conqueror. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 will be released on May 5 and might feature Adam Warlock, who was teased in a post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017). But 2023 promises new characters as well. Audiences might anticipate the release of Blade, starring Mahershala Ali in the title role, and Fantastic Four, but there is no official release date for these two films. Deadpool 3 will also be set in the MCU because of the Disney-Fox merger, but there is no release date for this film either. (( Chitwood, Adam. “Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Deadpool 3’ Is an MCU Movie; Teases R-Rating and When It’s Filming.” )) Captain America 4 is also in the works, with Spellman returning as screenwriter but has no release date.
Diversity On And Off The Screen
A quick glance at the hero lineup from Infinity War and Endgame shows how historically white the franchise is. Characters of color are typically written as the supporting characters to white leading characters, something seen in Rhodey, Sam Wilson, and Mantis’ characters. Black Panther (2018) was the first MCU film with a non-white lead — ten years after Iron Man (2008) was first released. As the previous sections have made clear, Marvel Studios is genuinely making an effort in Phase 4 to develop their existing characters of color like Rhodey, Sam, and Fury while also introducing new ones like Kamala, Shang-Chi, and Riri. Especially after reports of racist treatment towards Ray Fisher at Warner Brothers during his time as Cyborg in Justice League (2017, 2021), audiences certainly prefer Marvel Studios’ and Disney’s push to have diverse individuals telling diverse stories.
Of the twenty-three (yes, twenty-three!) scheduled releases — excluding WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki — in Phase 4, twelve will have leading characters of color, thirteen if The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is included. This is a great push forward for racial and ethnic diversity in the MCU, especially since the films reach global audiences. Marvel Studios and Disney actively give non-white actors and actresses a platform to play roles not commonly seen in Hollywood. And the superhero genre, which has been mostly white since its genesis, historically makes non-white individuals the supporting character. Phase 4 is rewriting this by making “the hero” those individuals who were previously supporting characters. Shang-Chi is a Chinese-American hero, Kamala Khan is a Muslim and Pakistani-American hero, and Marc Spector is a Hispanic and Jewish hero. This kind of representation matters when the MCU has such a global, diverse audience.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Episode 6: “One World, One People.” 2021. Marvel Studios.
The biggest difference between Phases 1-3 of the MCU and Phase 4 in this year alone is the centralization of female voices and characters. Pre-Phase 4, only two female characters were headlining: Hope Van Dyne/The Wasp in Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel. In Phase 4, WandaVision is centered around Wanda, Black Widow around Natasha, and Eternals around Sersi. And those three are just Phase 4’s 2021 releases — eleven more female-led films and shows are coming in the next few years. Phase 4’s success will not rest solely in its diverse casts, though. Their production teams — which include head writers and directors — are also increasingly diverse. The only female director in Phases 1-3, Anna Boden, was the co-director of Captain Marvel — a title she shared with Ryan Fleck. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki, both in Phase 4, have female directors: Kari Skogland and Kate Herron, respectively. WandaVision had a female head writer in Jac Schaeffer. Bert and Bertie are directing Hawkeye. Despite superhero and action films being directed and written primarily by men, Marvel Studios and Disney are allowing female directors and writers to impart their own female gaze and voices to the biggest franchise in the world.
The only non-white directors before Phase 4 were Ryan Coogler for Black Panther and Taika Waititi for Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Now, in Phase 4, most characters of color-led films have directors and/or screenwriters of color, too. Malcolm Spellman, a mixed Black man, was head writer for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and is back to write for Captain America 4. Chloé Zhao, a Chinese woman, directs Eternals; Nia DaCosta, a Black woman, directs The Marvels; Mohamed Diab, an Egyptian man, directs Moon Knight. Marvel Studios and Disney are, in a way similar to that of their actors, offering a space to tell stories historically overlooked by Hollywood.
Exploring New Genres
Pushing the envelope is essential for Marvel Studios at this point in the franchise’s history. After thirteen years, keeping variety and creativity helps bring fans back to the theater every few months or Disney+ every week. They have successfully done this by expanding out to different genres. Working in other genres alongside the action-superhero genre also helps attract new fans, who might already enjoy those genres and appeal to a larger audience. Giving each character’s films a particular genre or feel creates a rich, complex, and multi-faceted universe and franchise both.
During the Investor Day presentation, Feige said that Loki would be a crime thriller, and judging by the episodes released thus far; he is absolutely correct. There are X-Files, Se7en (1995), and Blade Runner (1982). She-Hulk will be a comedic legal drama akin to a show like Ally McBeal. (( Radio Times Staff. “She-Hulk on Disney+ release date” Cast, trailer, plot and latest news.” )) Moon Knight will have an Indiana Jones-inspired feel to it because of its roots in Egyptian mythology and Egyptology, which introduces the world of treasure-hunting and relic-hunting to the MCU. And fans are finally getting a Marvel holiday movie in the Guardians holiday special as well! These explorations of genre in Phase 4 will keep the MCU fresh, exciting, and enjoyable for fans of all ages, backgrounds, and interests for years to come.
A New World, The Same MCU
Phase 4 explores a myriad of stories and untouched parts of the world fans have come to know and love in the MCU. By developing their supporting characters, many of which are fan favorites, audiences get to see them grow in new ways apart from the lead characters. Through introducing new characters, audiences gain new insight into this universe we’ve seen only through the eyes of the Avengers. Marvel makes their universe even richer and interconnected by creating television shows to introduce or develop some of these characters. Phase 4 is set to be an ambitious undertaking but will still have all the classic one-liners, post-credits scenes, and familiar faces that Marvel fans have admired since 2008.