RUMOR: Marvel Studios Eyeing Summer 2019 Start Date For Unknown Phase 4 Film - Could It Be DOCTOR STRANGE 2?
While Marvel Studios isn't expected to commence production on any other Phase 4 film this year, it sounds like they may already be scheduling dates for a Summer 2019 shoot for an undetermined film...
Outside of Spider-Man: Far From Home, which should be wrapping sometime this fall, Marvel Studios isn't expected to begin filming on any other Phase 4 film before the end of the year as they continue their efforts to keep any potentially spoiler-y details about Avengers 4 and their future plans as close to the chest as possible.
While it's unlikely that Marvel will release any sort of official announcement before filming is fully underway, Omega Underground recently uncovered some details about a Marvel Studios entry that's eyeing a June 2019 production start date in the United Kingdom.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which does have a completed screenplay, is the only MCU film that has been confirmed for a 2019 start date, but it's been widely reported that it will begin filming during the first quarter of the year, meaning a Summer 2019 start is likely out-of-the-question. However, considering the recent director controversy, which saw James Gunn forcibly removed from the franchise he helped build, it wouldn't exactly be surprising if the film was ultimately delayed to accommodate the new helmer.
OU theorizes that the mystery film could be either Black Widow, Doctor Strange 2, or The Eternals. Of the three, Black Widow seems like the safest bet and is probably the furthest along since it already has Scarlett Johansson (Avengers: Infinity War) attached to star with Cate Shortland (Berlin Syndrome) directing from a script that's most recent draft was turned in by Jac Schaeffer (Olaf's Frozen Adventure).
Even though the yet-to-be-determined production could still turn out to be the long-awaited Black Widow solo feature, Mirror Online, who, earlier this year, was the first outlet to report the bombshell Jake Gyllenhaal/Mysterio casting, has released their own report that may have essentially confirmed that the unknown Phase 4 film is actually Doctor Strange 2.
Their report claims that Avengers: Infinity War scene-stealer Benedict Cumberbatch has signed a new deal with Marvel Studios that will see him take home £7.5 million (approx. $9.6M USD) for the sequel alone, which is a pretty major pay increase from the £4.2 million (approx. $5.4M USD) he earned for his work on Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, and the two Avengers films. They also add that filming is expected to begin in the Spring of 2019 and should last around six months.
Since it's still unclear whether both stories are talking about the same Phase 4 production, it's probably best to take all of this with a grain of salt for now, especially until Marvel, at least, sorts out what to do with GOTG Vol. 3.
Looking ahead to 2020, Marvel Studios has already booked three prime release dates: May 1, July 31, and November 6.