The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is undoubtedly among the most lucrative movie franchises in recent history! Proof: Its movies so far have earned hundreds of millions of dollars and fans line up at Megaplex theaters nationwide to be the first to watch the latest installment.
But the creators behind MCU aren’t finished yet, far from it. Announcements have been made about the official titles for the next phases – or as the creators call it, Phase 3 and Phase 4 – and here are some of them. Think of it as something to look forward to in the next years, especially if you’re an MCU fan.
Take note that we included both sequels and standalone films in the list.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
With its tongue-in-cheek humor, the Guardians of the Galaxy series continues the MCU tradition of not taking itself too seriously. But we daresay that we love it more than the Avengers series because it’s cheekier, especially with its ‘80s soundtrack, and its storylines tighter. So we’re actually looking forward to the third installment of the series even when we may have to wait longer for it.
Why? Its director, James Gunn, is still unavailable for the project as he’s also the director for The Suicide Squad. Gunn’s history with the third installment has been spotty, too, and it’s one of the apparent reasons for the delay in filming. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 initially seemed to be among the earliest titles in Phase 4 but it was derailed for this reason.
Gunn, who previously directed the original film, lost the director’s chair due to offensive tweets he made several years ago. He then moved to the DC Extended Universe but it appears that he’s now back with MCU! He’s set to direct the conclusion to the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, and we love it.
Black Widow
For several years, MCU fans have been calling for the first female-led superhero movie in Hollywood and it was expected to be Black Widow for good reasons. Black Widow, as played by Scarlett Johansson so well, was a popular character in The Avengers movies because she was a kick-ass superhero who can give hell as much as the boys. Besides, Johansson was the complete package – beautiful of face, athletic in body, and fierce in her action scenes!
But this wasn’t to be, sadly. Hope Van Dyne (The Wasp) and Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel) beat Natasha Romanoff to the punch, so to speak, with their movies – Ant-Man & The Wasp and Captain Marvel, respectively – were shown first. While both flicks broke the proverbial glass ceiling and were blockbusters, we would have loved to see Black Widow in her first solo movie first.
But hey! Beggars cannot be choosers, not to mention that we loved these two movies, too. Besides, announcements have been made that a solo Black Widow movie is definitely in the works! While there are no official details about its plot, we do know that Johansson will be reprising her role – and we would be extremely disappointed if she didn’t since she has established the character so well – and new stars will be in it, too. Rachel Weisz, Florence Pugh, and David Harbour are reportedly in it.
Doctor Strange 2
The MCU creators have found a formula for success in its movies. By alternating their releases between original projects and sequels, they have kept the audience on their toes and kept their attention – and their money, for that matter. Think about it: While the original projects make MCU feel fresh and new, the sequels allow audiences to see more of their favorite characters.
And we definitely loved Doctor Strange! Dr. Stephen Strange started as an arrogant doctor who believes that he’s the king of his world but soon discovers that there are worlds beyond his own. He becomes a healer and a warrior of a different sort, a transition that made him lovable to audiences.
But here’s the deal with the Doctor Strange sequel: There’s likely to be a few more years of waiting! There are no official announcements about the cast, director and plot so we will have to wait.
Black Panther 2
Yet another MCU film that broke the proverbial glass ceiling was Black Panther. We loved that it allowed audiences to explore Wakanda, thus, a sequel will allow audiences to see more of it.
As with Dr. Strange, there are no official announcements yet about a sequel. But we expect it because, after all, the original project was the most successful release in the MCU franchise so far. The creators behind MCU would be crazy not to take advantage of the momentum.
Whenever we see an MCU movie, we’re transported to a world beyond our own, a world where superheroes and villains fight for the good of the world, even the universe. Who wouldn’t be fascinated with it?
