As per usual, Marvel Studios came to Comic-Con and stole the show. Overshadowing every other studio that brought their movies and TV shows to San Diego, Kevin Feige unveiled the MCU's future and blew the roof off Hall H in the process.
While we have a few Phase 6 projects to look forward to, Phase 5 has taken shape and looks set to be a fun ride for fans. From an exciting wave of Disney+ TV shows to movies that should perfectly set the stage for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, the next couple of years promise to be nothing short of epic.
However, as is so often the case, there are some projects we're looking forward to more than others. Whether it's supporting characters taking centre stage, awesome team-ups, or the Man Without Fear's return, we have lots to delve into. With that in mind, we think you'll find this ranking makes for interesting reading.
To take a look through this Phase 5 ranking, simply click on the "Next" button below!
12. Agatha: Coven Of Chaos
Agatha: Coven of Chaos was first announced as Agatha: House of Harkness, but it appears Marvel Studios' plans have changed over the past year. We're hoping that title means the Scarlet Witch comes into play, because if not, it's a little hard to get excited about a series revolving solely around the WandaVision character.
Kathryn Hahn admittedly stole the show in that series, but this just feels a tad...unnecessary.
That's not to say it won't be great, of course, and we can easily imagine this blowing away our admittedly low expectations. It may well prove to be an important next chapter in Wanda Maximoff's story for starters, and if nothing else, it should be fun spending more time with Agatha.
11. Secret Invasion
There's probably a reality somewhere in which an entire Saga is based around Secret Invasion. Marvel Studios could have quite easily spent a few years adding Skrull imposters to the MCU, only to have that culminate in an epic Avengers movie bringing all-out war to this shared world.
Instead, we're getting a Disney+ series that feels a lot smaller in scale. While this show will clearly link up to The Marvels, we can't help but feel it might have been a mistake not to make this storyline a bigger priority. After all, it's hard to imagine elements from this affecting too many future stories, and certainly not something like Secret Wars.
We could be surprised, though, and with Samuel L. Jackson, Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, and Cobie Smulders among Secret Invasion's impressive ensemble, it's hard not to be somewhat excited.
10. Echo
A big draw with this series is the fact that it's going to feature Charlie Cox's Daredevil, and more than likely, Vincent D'Onofrio as The Kingpin. We didn't love the ambiguity surrounding his fate in Hawkeye, though comic book readers knew right away where Marvel Studios appeared to be heading with the iconic villain.
However, we can't help but wonder if those two will overshadow Maya Lopez. Alaqua Cox proved herself an immense talent in Hawkeye, yes, but this is another character who seems like an odd fit for their own series.
In fairness, we've barely scratched the surface of where Echo's story can go, and it feels like she's being lined up as a very important character in the MCU. Until we learn more about where the show is heading, though, we're going to have to temper expectations a little.
9. Ironheart
Once we've seen Black Panther: Wakanda Forever this November, there's every chance Ironheart will move straight to the top of this list. For now, we're on the fence, especially so soon after Iron Man's demise in 2019's Avengers: Endgame.
We are fully on board with the idea of Riri Williams, a young Black woman, becoming the MCU's new Iron Man, but until we get better acquainted with her, it's hard to rank Ironheart any higher. Oddly, there was no mention of Armor Wars at Comic-Con, and while the Head Writer Yassir Lester claims it's still happening, we're no longer sure how this show fits into the bigger picture.
Still, we won't be too down on this one as we can imagine Ironheart being a badass new addition to this world (especially if that promo art of her Mark I suit is any indication).
8. Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania
On the surface, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has all the makings of one of the MCU's best movies yet. Unfortunately, while Ant-Man was a fun origin story, Ant-Man and The Wasp was underwhelming and Peyton Reed has proven himself something of a hit-and-miss filmmaker.
Between Kang the Conqueror taking aim at Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne and M.O.D.O.K.'s debut, the director will have a lot to juggle here, and only time will tell whether he can handle it.
As the first chapter in Phase 5, it's vital that he does, especially with Kang set to be the Multiverse Saga's big bad. After that stellar season 2 finale of The Mandalorian, we're more than willing to give Reed the benefit of the doubt, and what little we know about this threequel definitely has us excited.
7. Captain America: New World Order
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier wasn't Marvel Studios' strongest series, and we'd argue that they could have chosen better writers to work on that show than Dalan Musson and Malcolm Spellman.
Still, Julius Onah is a great choice to direct Captain America: New World Order and we're undeniably intrigued to see where this movie is heading. At this stage, we know little to nothing about plans for Sam Wilson, though you have to believe Bucky, Zemo, and The Power Broker are all going to somehow come into play.
Anthony Mackie has already proven himself a great choice to play Captain America, and if we're getting more of what we saw in that memorable finale, then something tells us this will be a great next chapter for the hero. Fingers crossed it offers some clarification about Steve Rogers' status, though.
6. The Marvels
Now we know Secret Invasion will be released before, we'd say it's a safe bet that this blockbuster throws us into the midst of a present-day Kree/Skrull War.
The MCU has shown us very little of Captain Marvel in the present day, so that's going to be welcomed, as is Carol Danvers' team-up with Monica Rambeau and Ms. Marvel. There's a tonne of storytelling potential that comes with digging into those relationships, and seeing these three team up on screen is something we can't help but be psyched about.
Whether this will conclude whatever Secret Invasion starts or is another chapter in a much bigger story that pays off down the line remains to be seen, but we don't really care at this stage because this trio kicking alien ass side by side promises to be a definite must-see!
5. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
For a time, it looked like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 wasn't going to happen (certainly not with James Gunn at the helm, anyway). Luckily, Marvel Studios managed to bring the filmmaker back to the MCU and with the debuts of The High Evolutionary and Adam Warlock, we expect this to be an absolute cosmic delight.
Gunn has said the threequel will conclude the story of this iteration of the team, so we're obviously expecting it to be a hard-hitting, emotional journey for these characters.
The trailer shown at Comic-Con featured a Baby Rocket Raccoon and confirmed that the Gamora from the past is now leading the Ravagers. There's an unbelievable amount to look forward to in this threequel, and we've no doubt it will do these beloved characters justice.
4. Blade
Way back in 2019, Marvel Studios ended its Hall H presentation with the news that Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali would play the MCU's Daywalker in Blade. Bringing vampires into this shared world opens the door to supernatural storytelling only hinted at before now, and we cannot wait to see this character in action again.
His voice could be heard in Eternals' post-credits scene, so we anticipate Dane Whitman and the Ebony Blade also factoring into whatever direction this blockbuster heads in.
In recent years, Marvel Comics has pulled Blade out of the shadows and put him front and centre alongside the rest of Earth's Mightiest Heroes as an Avenger. We'd like to see the same happen here, especially if Dracula and his ilk look set to pose a major threat to this world moving forward.
3. Thunderbolts
A few years ago, there were rumblings that Marvel Studios might have plans for the Dark Avengers. We'd be willing to bet that project has become Thunderbolts, and the logo above - which appears rusted and damaged - is more intriguing than it might have appeared at first glance.
Common sense says Val has assembled a team of her own "heroes" for whatever reason, and we'd be shocked if U.S. Agent, Yelena Belova, and Abomination don't all factor into this team-up. In the wake of Avengers: Endgame, we've seen a number of government agencies, like S.W.O.R.D. and Damage Control, head down a sinister route, so perhaps Val's outfit wants their own team of Avengers, more easy to control and manipulate.
It's hard to make too many predictions right now, but if you're not already excited for Thunderbolts, trust us when we say you probably should be.
2. Loki Season 2
Loki may have lost its original Head Writer and director, but it still boasts a stellar creative team and we anticipate the show delivering the same level of quality as those first six episodes.
They were nothing short of phenomenal, and after a huge cliffhanger left the God of Mischief stranded in a timeline where Kang rules the TVA, this series promises to be a vitally important chapter in the Multiverse Saga. In fact, we'd bet on Loki being key to what comes next, and while set photos have teased a 1970s setting, we're expecting to head to more crazy alternate realities.
Whether that means more Loki Variants is hard to say, but the death of He Who Remains unleashed the Multiverse and set the stage for the next few years of storytelling. WIth that in mind, we can't believe this show will be anything short of essential viewing for MCU fans.
1. Daredevil: Born Again
When Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home, we didn't know if it was a one-off cameo or the start of something bigger. The fact that it came hot on the heels of Vincent D'Onofrio's appearance in Hawkeye was a positive sign, of course, but little did we know exactly how much Marvel Studios has planned for the Man Without Fear.
Following appearances in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Echo, we're getting eighteen episodes of Daredevil: Born Again. Both actors have been confirmed to appear, and as this will be the lengthiest Disney+ MCU series to date, we can't help but think it will be the take on this hero we've all been waiting for.
Hopefully, by the time all is said and done, the door is left open for future stories and for Daredevil to assemble alongside The Avengers. It would be a real shame if a few cameos and this series are all we're getting, but if it delivers a satisfying conclusion, then perhaps we can't complain too much. Either way, 2024 can't get here soon enough.