After a record-breaking string of hits through 2022, Marvel Studios hit a few serious roadblocks in 2023. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was rejected by audiences after its big opening, and The Marvels was an epic flop that lost a ton of money. You know there are problems when Marvel movies are performing like lower-tier DC films. Only Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was able to buck the trend and become a hit last year.
Because of the writers and actors strikes in 2023, Marvel was forced to cut back its 2024 films to a single movie: Deadpool & Wolverine. The good news for Marvel is that if anything can turn its fortunes around, it’s an R-rated action comedy featuring the two biggest stars from 20th Century Fox’s X-Men-related films: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. Beyond that, we’re taking a look at all of the MCU movies that we know about. If Marvel’s going to regain its previous heights, then the journey starts here.
Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26, 2024)
Fans are excited to see Ryan Reynolds join the MCU by suiting up to play the Merc with a Mouth in his third solo film. And they are especially psyched that Hugh Jackman will return to play Wolverine alongside Deadpool, finally bringing together the greatest dynamic duo of the Marvel Universe to the big screen.
Many other actors and actresses are reportedly returning from 20th Century Fox’s Marvel movies, including Jennifer Garner as Elektra. But Reynolds and Jackman are the main attraction. And if Deadpool & Wolverine isn’t a blockbuster, then Marvel is in even bigger trouble than we thought.
Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025)
After Sam Wilson took up the mantle of Captain America in Phase Four, audiences will see him soar back into theaters in 2025. It’s unknown what this film has in store in terms of story, except that it won’t feature the Winter Soldier.
But with the new Falcon, President Thunderbolt Ross, and the Leader from The Incredible Hulk returning for this film, Captain America: Brave New World is shaping up to be another super-powered spy thriller that will fit right in with the franchise.
Thunderbolts (May 2, 2025)
After multiple shows and films sowed the seeds for this story, the MCU will finally show this group of former villains and antiheroes teaming up to fight for the U.S. government. Essentially Marvel’s version of the Suicide Squad, the Thunderbolts will show these fighters take a slippery chance at redemption as they serve their devious leader, Val.
And since with rumors that the team will face off against the ultra-powerful Sentry, one can only imagine how they could possibly complete their big mission.
The Fantastic Four (July 25, 2025)
Marvel Studios gracefully announced the cast for The Fantastic Four on Valentine’s Day, with Pedro Pascal confirmed as Mr. Fantastic, alongside Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Thing. Additionally, Ozark‘s Julia Garner has been confirmed to play a gender-flipped Silver Surfer. In the comics, Garner’s character, Shalla-Bal, was the lover of Norrin Radd, the man who became Silver Surfer to save his world from Galactus.
WandaVision‘s Matt Shakman is directing The Fantastic Four from a script by Josh Friedman.
Blade (November 7, 2025)
Few Marvel Studios movies have been tumultuous behind-the-scenes as Blade. This film has lost its director and cycled through several writers. At this point, Mahershala Ali is the only cast member still confirmed for the film. Ali will be stepping into the role of Blade that was originally played by Wesley Snipes over two decades ago.
Currently, Yann Demange is slated to direct Blade from a script that has most recently been rewritten by Michael Starrbury, Nic Pizzolatto, and Michael Green. The WGA credits on this movie are going to be a nightmare. We just hope that the creative team can get this film in shape before cameras start rolling near the end of 2024.
Avengers 5 (May 1, 2026)
The movie formerly known as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty may not feature Kang at all. Shortly after Jonathan Majors officially debuted as Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, he was charged with domestic abuse and convicted. Marvel wasted little time firing Majors in the aftermath, potentially leaving Kang’s storyline in limbo.
What we do know is that there will be an Avengers 5, but who’s going to be in it is anyone’s guess. Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton will helm Avengers 5 from a script by Loki‘s Michael Waldron.
Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027)
Since this film will adapt one of the most famous comic book storylines in history, the excitement for Avengers: Secret Wars is arguably greater than any other Marvel movie. The original Secret Wars was published in 1985 and featured Marvel’s most prominent heroes and villains pitted against each other on Battleworld at the behest of the all-powerful Beyond. A similar concept unfolded in 2015’s Secret Wars event, which expanded the scope as the final survivors of the multiverse found themselves on a new Battleworld ruled by Doctor Doom, who had stolen the power of the Beyonders for himself.
It’s a safe bet that the movie will adapt aspects of the original Secret Wars and its successor. But for now, this movie has neither a director nor a cast lined up.
Spider-Man 4 (TBA)
Following No Way Home’s extraordinary success, many people are wondering what Marvel Studios with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man next. But after months of speculation, it has been confirmed by Entertainment Weekly that the studio is now developing a fourth solo film and that a story is in the works.
It’s too early to say what the film will be about or when it will release, but it’s safe to say that Holland’s Spidey will swing back into the MCU before the end of the Multiverse Saga.
Armor Wars (TBA)
Although Tony Stark has long passed from the MCU, his good friend, James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), will have to confront the dark side of Iron Man’s legacy when Stark’s technology falls into the wrong hands.
Armor Wars is loosely based on a famous Iron Man storyline, and this was originally conceived as a Disney+ original series. Marvel later decided to upgrade Armor Wars into a theatrical release, but it doesn’t have a release date or a shooting schedule lined up.
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