My Predictions about Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase 4

ishallakam Movies & TV, , , ,

I’m just guessing. Take all this with a grain of salt.

The End of Phase 3: Likely Events:

  1. No more Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Hiddleston, or Chris Hemsworth
    • None of these actors are under contract for any movies beyond Phase 3
    • Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. are signed on for Civil War and at least one of the two Infinity War movies
    • Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth are signed on for Thor 3 and at least one of the two Infinity War movies
  2. Plenty of cameos
    • Cameos generally don’t count towards the actors contracts
    • Samuel L. Jackson is signed on for two more movies, but may make cameo appearances in any of them
    • Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson are both signed on for the two Infinity War movies, but have flexibility for appearances in other films
    • Mark Ruffalo is signed on for four more movies, two of which will likely be the Infinity War films. Marvel also doesn’t own the distribution rights for any solo Hulk films, so expect Ruffalo to appear in other movies (Guardians 2 is rumored to feature Banner)
  3. A new Captain America
    • In the comics, Captain America dies during the Civil War storyline
    • Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson (Falcon) have both been Captain America at some point in the comics
    • Both Anthony Mackie (Falcon) and Sebastian Stan (Bucky) are signed on for movies beyond Infinity War

Phase 4: Probable events

  1. Sequels, sequels, sequels
    • Guardians 3 and Ant-Man 3 seem almost definite.
    • Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) is signed on for five movies, none of which have been made yet. He’ll have a stand-alone in phase 3, and appear in Infinity War, but that still leaves 2 movies for him
    • I also wouldn’t be surprised if any of Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, or Captain Marvel get multiple movies.
  2. TV crossovers
    • Agents of SHIELD is already intersecting with the movies, I expect that to happen more often once more characters are introduced into the cinematic universe
    • Daredevil was a great success and a second season is coming. He’s not powerful enough to be a part of the Avengers, but I expect references to him
    • Jessica Jones actually has superpowers and will be part of the Defenders with Luke Cage and Iron Fist. If their series are successful, then I’d expect movie tie-ins during phase 4

Phase 4: Guesses

  1. Sub franchises
    • The Avengers may continue, but I’m thinking there will be other teams with their own storylines. The New Warriors, Marvel Knights, The Exiles, or even the West Coast Avengers could appear.
    • Breaking phase 4 into multiple franchises, rather than just an Avengers centric universe would help keep storylines simpler while maintaining the ability to have epic crossovers
    • As the universe expands, Kevin Feige wouldn’t have to control it all himself. It would also allow each film’s director to have a little more control
  2. More properties
    • The rights to Ghost Rider, Daredevil, Blade, and Punisher have all reverted to Marvel, and only Daredevil has been used. The Fantastic 4 may also revert to Marvel after the most recent abomination movie
    • Spider-Man has partially returned to Marvel’s control, the Hulk as well. I expect Namor, Silver Surfer, and Venom to follow suit during phase 4
    • Cloak & Dagger, Moon Knight, Nova, even She-Hulk or Quasar could be brought into the universe through a TV series or movie
  3. The villain
    • Thanos has been the ultimate villain of phases 1-3, he’ll likely be replaced in phase 4
    • The new villain will probably be a galactic threat like Thanos, or an interdimensional threat
    • Most likely candidates:
      • Galactus (if rights can be gained)
      • Mephisto
      • Magus
      • Mojo (if rights aren’t part of the X-Men)

5 thoughts on “My Predictions about Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase 4”

  1. Chris Evans is very open to sign another contract. I can see him becoming the new core of the Avengers. I agree though that RDJ days are soon over. Iron Man will get replaced by War Machine and/or Falcon. I also don’t see Marvel giving up on Loki that easily. Even without Thor there is always the option to keep him around as disturbing element.

    I actually think that Marvel will move away from the franchises which feature one stand-alone hero and instead offer a number of team-up movies. They have already started with Ant-man and the Wasp.

    There will be a number of Spider-man movies for sure…one every three years to be precise. Like a clockwork. That’s how the contract Sony has works. They have to deliver and they will deliver.

    I think if they can’t get Galactus, they will do the secret Invasion storyline.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • You make some really good points. Chris Evans may be open to continuing, but he’s also mentioned being ready to retire from the MCU. I also think that his departure was planned, which is why they introduced both Falcon and the Winter Soldier. I’m also not sure he could be the focus if he were to continue. Evans is a fine actor and a great Captain America, but he lacks the charisma (both on and off-screen) of RDJ. If anything, I think the focus may be more likely to shift to Chris Pratt in phase 4, especially if more movies focus on the events off Earth.

      Loki’s been great, and it would be nice to keep him around, but he’s already been the main villain twice, a hero once, and will likely be involved in both capacities during the Infinity War. At some point, character fatigue will set in.

      I like the idea of doing more two-hero movies, especially since Kevin Feige has mentioned that he wants to avoid origin stories if he can. Moving to the two-hero franchises may help with that.

      Secret Invasion would be a great direction. Since you mention it, I could easily see that being the focus of Phase 4 and 5, with Galactus coming in during phase 6 (if they go that far), similar to how Thanos was introduced early but hasn’t really been the villain until now.

      Thanks for the thoughts!

      Like

      Reply

      • Chris Evans was originally very reluctant to take the role, because of his experience as the human torch. He changed his tune though, mostly because the Captain America are not only successful, The Winter Soldier was also particularly well reviewed.
        Chris Prat is the centre of the space-side of the MCU (just like Daredevil is the centre of the Street-level heroes and I guess Dr. Strange will be the centre of the more mystical side). The Avengers is a different matter, they need a leader.

        Like

  2. I don’t know why more people don’t think of SHIELD coming back as a big part of the MCU? I would think that Nick Fury and SHIELD or SWORD or even eventually the HAMMER story line coming in to play. Now that Spider-Man is available, why not Norman Osborne?
    ALSO: I think they should be prepping for Marcus Johnson (AKA Nick Fury Jr) to step out. A young Sam Jackson type character would be great to see.
    They have used Agents of SHIELD to pursue the Inhuman angle to the universe, but there are so many ways they could pull Agents into the MCU. Wendell Vaughn (Quasar) was once an Agent. Tony Masters (Taskmaster) was also. Valerie Toomes (Vulture’s daughter), and of course we already have Daisy (Quake) Johnson and Bobbi (Mockingbird) Morse who are holding her own on TV. Not to mention they introduced YoYo Rodriguez.
    AND if you want: Eric O’Grady (the 3rd Ant-Man) was an agent… and Marvin Flumm (who becomes Mentallo)… Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman)…(Sin-Eater) Stanley Carter …(The 2nd Black Widow) Yelena Belova

    Cool characters like George Washington Bridge or Clay Quartermain

    Any of these could be put in a movie where Agents of SHIELD are operating and the movie writes itself.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I do think SHIELD will play a part of phase 4, but I initially wrote this just as season 3 of Agents of SHIELD was starting, so there wasn’t a lot of info on how it could tie in.

      The same with Spider-man, Daredevil, and Jessica Jones, they were all new to the universe, and have been so stand-alone that it was hard to see how they could be incorporated into the larger universe. I think they will, and mentioned as much.

      I am still of the opinion that Marvel will break up the universe into smaller groups rather than continuing to tie everything together. Maybe SHIELD, the Inhumans, and the Defenders all follow a storyline, with the Guardians, Doctor Strange, and Nova following another, while Spider-man, Ant-man, Hulk follow a third.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment