(Full disclosure...this is my first article post on CBM, so please excuse the lack of bells and whistles (pictures) and whatnot. We'll see how this one goes and go from there.)
There’s no denying the success of Marvel Studios’ Phase-1 movies. Every film turned a profit; Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, and The Avengers. They played their cards right when they included the “after credits” scene in Iron Man, with Samuel Jackson’s Nick Fury talking to Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative. Don’t kid yourself…when you saw that scene you got giddy.
Even Nolanites giggled.
Now we’re into Marvel’s Phase-2, beginning with Iron Man 3, followed by Thor: The Dark Worlds, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Guardians of the Galaxy, and finally Avengers 2 (tentative title), and that’s great. Throw a rock in a room full of comic book nerds/geeks like us and I doubt it’ll hit anyone not pumped for that schedule. The question is: Where do they go from there? If Phase-1 and Phase-2 ultimately culminate with the Avengers, and having Ant Man kickoff Phase-3 is probably a clear indicator that it too is going to end with Avengers (3), then what’s next?
First, let’s look at some of the governing factors related to that question.
Marvel Studios has said that their plan is to produce two movies a year, going forward. That’s great, but it also limits their (and by association, our) options. Phase-1 gave us six movies, while it appears Phase-2 will end with five films, including the wrap up to the Iron Man trilogy, leaving Phase-3 to possibly close out the Thor and Captain America trilogies.
Another factor is properties coming back home to Marvel, such as Daredevil, Blade and Ghost Rider, while other properties, such as Doctor Strange and the Black Panther wait in the wings to be made. My point is, with so many characters available, there’s only so much Marvel can do based on their “two movies a year” and five to six movies per phase schedule. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, in fact I think it’s actually good for us as fans (an MCU movie every six months—be still my beating heart), it’s just the reality we have to understand and to a degree embrace, as our expectations begin to grow.
And finally, I would think character bankability would be another contributing factor, an issue that will soon be answered with the release of 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. If that puppy does good, all bets are probably off as too which characters Marvel trots out into theaters going forward, meaning it could just about be anybody—within reason. In other words, Night Thrasher fans shouldn’t get too worked up about a possible solo film right now.
Phase-1 is done, and brilliantly I might add, and we know what’s in store for us in Phase-2. Looking ahead, Feige recently stated that Marvel was leaning toward solo films of new characters for Phase-3, ending with Avengers 3. If that’s the case, that means Thor 3 and Captain America 3 won’t come around until Phase-4 at the earliest, which isn’t bad news necessarily, but I’m sure a lot of us were hoping to see those two trilogies wrapped up sooner than later as well. So it goes. No harm, no foul, as they say.
So if Phase-3 is going to be mostly solo films, what’s Marvel’s plan? We already know about Ant Man and Doctor Strange, and Avengers 3, but what about the other two or three films? Well, according to recent reports, there’s a Black Panther script in the works, so that could be one. And I can already see a post-credit scene of Captain America talking to T’Challa about the Avengers in that one—at least in my mind, anyway. If it happens, that makes four Phase-3 movies, leaving (probably) one or (possibly) two. I’m probably going out on a limb here, but my guess would be Iron Fist and/or Luke Cage: Hero for Hire.
Imagine getting 70’s vibe Iron Fist and Luke Cage movies in Phase-3, and then Heroes for Hire in Phase-4. I’d be down for that, most definitely. But after that, where could Marvel Studios go? Daredevil? Ghost Rider? Blade? Ant Man/Giant Man/Yellow Jacket sequels? The Defenders? There’s a lot of untapped material in Marvel’s vault, so a lack of characters and story arcs shouldn’t be a problem.
If Guardians of the Galaxy proves to be hit, or at least makes some serious bank, you know we’ll get a sequel or two from that franchise. As for the Avengers, would any of us complain if we got a movie from that franchise every phase for the foreseeable future? I’m in. They could go against the Masters of Evil, the Squadron Sinister (which later became the Squadron Supreme—another possible franchise), Ultron and the Kree/Skrull War. Rumor has it Avengers 2 will NOT be about them facing off against Thanos (which will probably happen in Phase-3/Avengers 3), so there’s six movies right there (counting their first movie). But after that, what should we expect in Phase-4, 5 and 6?
My guess is future phases will hinge on next year’s Guardians of the Galaxy. If Marvel Studios does it right AND market it right, we should be good to go. We may have to wait six years or so to see the fourth installment of Iron Man, Thor and/or Captain America, as well as Avengers, but would that be a bad thing? I think maybe not. Imagine a Marvel Studios movie every six months or so. In what world does that sound like a bad thing? Good grief, my knees just gave out at the thought. We’re living in good times, my friends. The heroes we grew up with and have followed for years are coming to life, right before our eyes. From a geek’s standpoint, it just doesn’t get any better than this.
Now post your preferences for Marvel’s Phase-3 movies and beyond.
I’m Citizen…