Hello people, this is my take on where the MCU is heading. Based on nothing but speculation, and my belief that the Secret Invasion storyline could be the best way forward for Phase 4. I don't have Kevin Feige's phone number, so this is unlikely to ever come true!
For fun, I was trying to shape up my own line-up for Phase 4 for MCU, using the following criteria:
- 3 films per year (I ended up with 11 in total for Phase 4)
- A 'tent-pole' film for the April/May box office (i.e. the big money maker)
- Two Spider-Man films, cos Sony won't be waiting 4+ years between films
- A mixture of Individual, Group and Cosmic films
- A couple of new characters/groups
- No '4th' films (No Iron Man, Captain America, Thor films)
- Don't forget the ladies.
This is what I came up with:
November 2019: Spider-Man 2
A touch over two years since the first Spider-Man, and Sony (rightly or wrongly) will be wanting to make as many high-school movies for Spidey as possible. He is also a strong enough character to start Phase 4. I think Norman Osborn is important to the future of the MCU, and think needs to be a central villain here or in Spider-Man 1 (I know he has been done before).
April/May 2020: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3
Assuming Guardians 2 does great in the boxoffice, this seems the obvious choice for April/May spot. A cosmic film, this could lay the ground work for the Skrull race (who Marvel Studios own, except for the Super Skrulls).
July/August 2020: Doctor Strange and the Wasp
With so many characters demanding attention, Marvel needs to start merging a couple of properties. With Doctor Strange probably unlikely to set the boxoffice on fire (I could be wrong!), and with Ant-Man hinting at other dimensions, I'd like to see the Sorcerer Supreme and Hank Pym combine forces to bring back Janet (The Wasp). This would also make good use of Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly, as I can't see how they fit another Ant-Man film into the line-up.
November 2020: Thunderbolts
Another group film, and Marvel's answer to DC's Suicide Squad. As in the comics, I'd like to see Norman Osborn as Director of this group of super-villains, and one member of the Thunderbolts (and in my mind the lead character of the film), would be Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch (who I have a feeling might have done a wrong thing or 2 by the end of Infinity War).
April/May 2021: World War Hulk
In my head, at the end of Avengers Infinity War, the Hulk might get ejected into space by his fellow Avengers. By condensing the Planet Hulk and World War Hulk storylines, I think you could get a mammoth story line, filled with other Avengers as well as a Cosmic tale, that would be a box office billion dollar film.
July/August 2021: Black Panther 2
This one I'm not sure about, it will depend on the success of the original Black Panther. I could see myself replacing this with a new character. Perhaps a good film for Black Widow to appear in.
November 2021: Runaways
A great film to remove itself from the greater MCU storyline, aimed at new audiences who might be getting fatigued. A lot of potential for this movie.
April/May 2022: Spider-Man and the Sinister Six
I know it got a lot of hate, but I'm a huge fan of Dew Goddard, and by this point hopefully Spider-Man would have earnt a confrontation this huge.
July/August 2022: Captain Marvel 2
Assuming Captain Marvel 1 will largely be earth-bound, this could be a good opportunity to go Cosmic again, with more Kree and Skrulls to see, and I'd see as the film leading directly into Avengers 5.
November 2022: The Inhumans 2
Again dependent on the success of the first film, but a lot to love about this property.
April/May 2023: Avengers: Secret Invasion
So this is the film to end Phase 4, with an epic invasion by the Skrulls. Who can we trust? It sounds like the perfect storyline and marketing exercise to me.
So I'm hoping to have a strong female presence in:
- Doctor Strange and The Wasp (Janet and Hope)
- Thunderbolts (Scarlet Witch)
- Runaways (A largely female team)
- Captain Marvel 2
- The Inhumans
Who is a Skrull?
Let's just assume, for the sake of fun, that Kevin Feige is gearing towards the shape-shifting aliens known as the Skrull for Phase 4. Of current MCU characters (so not including any characters yet to appear in future movies), these are my 5 characters who I think could potential be (or become) Skrulls.
1. General Ross
General Ross, a high ranking military member seldom seen, is the perfect character to be a Skrull. Last scene in The Incredible Hulk, and going to appear in Civil War, he could definitely cause some issues for our heroes.
2. Pepper Potts
Gwyneth Paltrow needs stuff to do in the MCU, and I believe is a popular character. The Skrulls would want her for her closeness both to Stark Industries and The Avengers.
3. Hank Pym
Largely looked over in the MCU so far, Michael Douglas was very well received for his performance in Ant-Man. He is just the type to be welcomed back into the fold.
4. Maria Hill
Her connections in S.H.I.E.L.D., and a largely underutilised characters in the MCU so far, make her a prime candidate.
5. Thor
Perhaps Thor 'miraculously' survives Ragnarok? A proper Avenger as a Skrull is a must, and I feel the Iron Man or Steve Rogers doesn't fit as well.
Someone in the Government is also needed by the Skrulls, but we have been introduced to very few government characters so far. President Ellis is too high-up, but perhaps Martin Freeman's character could fit the bill.
What do you think?
- Do you like my phase 4 line-up, who would you change?
- Which current MCU characters do you see as potential Skrulls?
So there you have it, thanks for reading my ramblings.