Yesterday (20 July) in San Diego, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige showcased what the crowds at Comic-Con and fans around the world can expect and get excited about with Phase 4.
I say around the world, for those living in the UK the panel was on early hours of the Sunday morning so we’re waking up to the news and Marvel are getting a second wave of excitement.
Before I get into the announcements, I would’ve thought Marvel Studios, without Warner Brothers not being there and doing the morning panel, might have moved their panel up a couple of hours then get the whole world press to report and focus on them.
Anyway, the first film to come from Phase 4 is Black Widow (although it was the last to be announced) and the film will be coming out May 1, 2020, and star Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle and Rachel Weisz.
They showed footage of the Cate Shortland directed the film and by the reports on social media (shout out to Hypre_RPG’s Adam Hlavac) and io9’s rundown it sounds like Taskmaster is the villain and the film takes place after Civil War.
The official logo was also revealed and it looks awesome, but if I’m honest the only reason I’m excited to see this film is because of Pugh.
The Eternal is next on the release slate coming out November 6, 2020, and it was the first film talked about at the panel as director Chloe Zhao joined Feige on stage.
Shortly after Zhao was joined by her cast and confirming some reports. First was Richard Madden and followed by Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh and Don Lee. The best was saved till last as Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek to join their fellow co-stars.
The next film spoke about is one I’m super pumped to sit down and hopefully enjoy. This film already has my money.
It’s Shang-Chi and we’ve got an awesome official title and poster and it’s called Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings.
The film will be coming out on February 21, 2021.
As you can see from the title, the real Mandarin will finally be making his presences felt, after Sir Ben Kingsley and Guy Peace played fake Mandarin’s in Iron Man 3, with Tony Leung cast in the role.
Awkwafina has also been cast in an unconfirmed role, but it has to be the lead female character surely.
Filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton came on stage and talked about the film and then unveiled Chinese-Canadian actor Simu Liu as Shang-Chi.
Following up is the most comic-book title Marvel have ever released as the Doctor Strange sequel has been given a title and it’s called Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness and it’ll be released on May 7, 2021.
Director Scott Derrickson returns to helm the sequel alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and he won’t be the only Avenger as Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch will be joining the madness.
It’s being described as the MCU’s first “scary” movie, which is exciting as even though I’m not a fan of horror Doctor Strange is the character to play in that genre and Derrickson is known for his horror films before joining the Marvel property.
Again, the logo is awesome, but I expect the title will change but I hope I’m wrong and please keep this design!
It was announced and confirmed earlier this week, but I was surprised that Thor 4 made an appearance.
The film’s titled Thor: Love And Thunder and set for a November 5, 2021 release and I’m sure while the logo looks like a title for a PS2 game or animated series and 100% Taika Waititi. This will be one that I could see change.
Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson are returning, after all, Thompson’s Valkyrie is King of Asgard.
Thompson teases to be the first gay/bi character in the MCU saying “As new king [of Asgard], she needs to find her queen. That will be the first order of business.”
Additionally, Waititi mentioned the comic book writer Jason Aaron, which is a major hint as to what we could expect from this film and it’s likely to give his book Thor: God of Thunder a read.
The reason is Natalie Portman is returning as Jane Forster and more important as the new Thor and it’s a surprise as she hasn’t been involved since 2013’s Thor: The Dark World and was believed to be done with the MCU.
I guess if you’re returning, might as well come back as a god.
As the panel was coming to a close Feige confirmed (though not surprising) Black Panther and Captain Marvel will have sequels as well as Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 and finally Fantastic Four and Mutants.
See I’m not ready to say this is X-Men if anything I think it’s possible New Mutants could be the first mutant entry in the MCU, but I’m likely wrong.
Finally, to the surprise of everyone Mahershala Ali come out has was revealed as Blade!
Firstly this is fucking superb casting and I’m so incredibly excited.
It was something Ali pushed himself and asked of in a meeting with the Marvel Studios chief and told him he wanted to be Blade and thankfully they agreed.
This doesn’t come to a surprise to be as last week (Sunday 14th July) the Oscar winner appeared on Reggie Yates’ fantastic documentary TV’s Black Renaissance: Reggie Yates In Hollywood for the BBC and if you can, please give it a watch.
The reason I’m mentioning it is that Ali stated he asked the producers of True Detective if he could be the lead for season three.
Ali is the perfect example of if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
The only thing that worried me is because it’s a Marvel Studios film it’s more than likely going to be PG-13 whenever it’s released, which is going to suck (no pun intended) not being the R rating we would like.
Here’s the full slate:
Black Widow (May 1, 2020)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Disney+, Autumn 2020)
Eternals (November 6, 2020)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (February 12, 2021)
WandaVision (Disney+, Spring 2021)
Loki (Disney+, Spring 2021)
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (May 7, 2021)
What If…? (Disney+, Summer 2021)
Hawkeye (Disney+, Autumn 2021)
Thor: Love and Thunder (November 5, 2021)
Blade (TBA)
The Bear Cave 