PREDICTING THE FILM DATES- PART 1- THE MCU
So over the past three weeks we have had not one, but two film universes stake claims for their release dates, and after the Batman v. Superman and Captain America debacle, that can only be a good thing.
For the first part of the series we will be looking at what the Marvel Cinematic Universe might have up their sleeves. This will be what I think they will do, not necessarily what I want.
Let’s start with the confirmed ones.
JULY 17th 2015- ANT-MAN
We have known about this one for a while, all the way back when Marvel unveiled their complete titles and planned films for phase 2. It’s had its share of production troubles but whether you want it now or not, it is on the way.
MAY 6th 2016- CAPTAIN AMERICA 3
In contention for a while with Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, the game of studio chicken ended when the DC film moved to March 25th, leaving the Cap free to command at the start of summer in 2016.
JULY 8th 2016- DOCTOR STRANGE
Also recently confirmed, some say this was a long time coming. Doctor Strange was first name dropped in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but hinted at in the first Thor in 2011. He will finally be hitting the screen late summer.
MAY 5th 2017- THOR 3
Now we are getting into some of the stuff that is theory based. Kevin Fiege has confirmed in multiple interviews that he wants to keep building onto the main Avenger heavy weights. Unless they negotiate for more films with Robert Downey Jr., then the Iron Man films are done—for now—and we will only see him in future Avengers movies.
That’s okay though. We have the God of Thunder who still has a certain problem to take care of. Remember little Loki and the mysterious disappearance of an Asgardian king? No. Well then you just didn’t pay attention.
Thor is pretty much guaranteed with the second films cliffhanger ending. With Thor: The Dark World in 2014, it is doubtful the studio would wait for more than four years for a sequel and if phase two and the confirmed phase 3 films are any indicators, they haven’t ever placed a new film in their May slot. This makes Thor 3 the most likely candidate for this date, assuming Iron Man 4 isn't in the works.
JULY 28th 2017- GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2
This was confirmed at this year’s comic con, and with how well it is doing in a theater, this isn’t likely to change. However, the big question is, will this ONLY be a Guardians movie, or will they combine the series to create a more character driven Planet Hulk film—as rumors had persisted. James Gunn stepped forward and denied the rumors, but he could be lying, and we can always hope. Right?
NOVEMBER 3rd 2017- BLACK WIDOW
This was easily the hardest one to guess. I thought there are four major films the fans have been waiting for that could go here. Black Widow, Hulk 2, Black Panther, or Mrs. Marvel. I discarded the two later ones (which I will get into later) and it came down to Black Widow and Hulk.
Fiege had said that if they did another Hulk film, it would be after Avengers 2. But he didn’t say HOW LONG afterwards. The fact is that Ruffalo, the actor who portrays both Banner and the Hulk, is still pushing hard for a Hulk solo film, and I don’t think he’d do that if there were plans to make one.
But there is a much bigger reason to why I suspect Black Widow will be the one to take this spot. Like the other Avengers, Scarlett Johansson has been contracted for 6 films. After Avengers 2, she will have only two more to go, and then the contract is up. Sure she could appear in Cap 3, but the major female role will likely go to Sharon Carter.
It could be that Marvel doesn’t see Black Widow as franchise potential, but they might see her as a great candidate for a one-off film, especially with an established character. Even better if it gives them an excuse to write in Hawkeye and use one of his contracted roles as well. This would mean that Johansson would conclude her contract obligations at Avengers 3, along with Evan, Downey, and Hemsworth, allowing Marvel to move forward with a New Avengers Team.
The screenwriter for Guardians of the Galaxy, Nicole Pearlman, has seemingly hinted before that there is one in the works and she may have had some early involvement in it with a 2011 treatment, giving more weight to this prediction.
MAY 4th 2018- THE AVENGERS 3: THE INFINITY GUANTLET
This can be where we expect the first Avengers trilogy to conclude, most likely with the set up villain of Thanos being the big baddie and the ending the Infinity Gems arc which carried over all three phases.
Some think this will be split into two parts, but that sounds like a legal nightmare—especially with all the contracts for the films specifically noting the exact number of films they will do—and all the major Avengers actors, apart from Ruffalo and Renner will have concluded their contract duties with one more avengers film.
Most likely it will take the May spot, because that seems to be where Marvel keeps putting their heavy hitters. Some of you might be asking, why not 2019 for Avengers 3. My answer is simple. Kevin Fiege specifically said in a recent interview that a three year gap was perfect between Avengers films. So we can expect this to continue and for Marvel to claim May 2018 for Avengers 3.
This will allow the characters to finish up their stories, hang up their capes, shields, and robot suits and hand the MCU off to other franchises for a time. I doubt they will instantly reboot the characters. Likely Captain America will pass on his shield, as he often does, and new characters will come in and fill the void with new stories and personalities.
Which leads us to Phase 4.
JULY 6th 2018- BLACK PANTHER
I debated on whether to put Mrs. Marvel here, but since the last solo film was a female superhero, I decided to space it out. Black Panther has been someone the fans have been kicking and screaming for and too be honest, the MCU needs more ethnic diversity in it. And hey, maybe we even see it tie into existing properties, like bring back the true Mandarin as a villain or introduce Bucky in hiding, grooming him for the new Cap. It could work.
Black Panther could easily be a strong franchise candidate and he’d be a great person to kick start Phase 4 and get people excited about a New Avengers team. He’d also work best as a summer film, because hot african doesn't exactly scream a holiday film.
NOVEMBER 2nd 2018- ANT-MAN 2
This is, of course, assuming that the first one does well enough to warrant a sequel and that (hopefully) we all want one. By this time it will have been 3 years between Ant-Man films, making this a prime time to keep his momentum up. Hopefully the Avengers 3 laid the grounds for him as a new member.
This film could easily expand on the modern character, introduce more of young 60’s Ant-Man, or bring the Wasp into the mix (similar to how Iron Man 2 brought in War Machine).
Who knows? But if executed well, the Ant-Man character is prime franchise material—especially if they keep to the heist theme. Maybe he steals the Ultron program, accidentally resurrecting one of the avengers greatest enemies and his own arch nemesis?….sounds like a New Avengers set up to me!
MAY 3rd 2019- MS. MARVEL
This is another character that fans have been adamantly crying that she deserves her own solo movie. Over the last few years Marvel has been setting her up in the comics as a rival to Wonder Woman. This makes her a popular choice as one of the leads on a New Avengers film and worthy of a May slot.
Who knows what this could be about? Feige is big on what he calls “genre mixing” to keep the superheroes from feeling stale. Each marvel film is both a superhero movie and something else. The question is, how do you do this with Ms. Marvel? Who knows what direction they'll take. My suggestion is to pit her against Kang the Conqueror and make a time travel movie…..but that’s just me. Hey Marvel, I’ll send you my script samples!!!!
Honestly, this slot could just as easily go to a future Hulk film, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, or Doctor Strange 2 (all of which I am sure will be in Phase 4). But too be completely honest, I just would really, really like to see this character on screen and that’s why I put her here.
THE REST OF PHASE 4?: Bucky will likely be set up as the New Cap and leader of the New Avengers. This is likely due to his 9 film contract obligations. Phase 4 will build towards a new Avengers team with the core members being Captain America (Bucky), Ant-Man, Wasp, Black Panther, Ms. Marvel, and Hulk).
So those are my predictions. What are yours? Sound off below and be sure to catch my next article that covers the most likely DCCU announced dates.