I had something completely different planned to post today, but Sunday threw a monkey wrench right into the middle of that.
If you weren’t aware (which I wasn’t, let’s be real), this week is San Diego Comic Con. And in their panel on Sunday, the Russo brothers—directors of Avengers: Endgame—gave us quite a lot to look forward to for the next phase of the MCU.
You didn’t think it was over, did you?
I actually have to give them credit for how complete and elaborate their plan is. Even if it’s not true, it feels like they’ve had all of this planned from the start, and are just executing on a decade-long plan.
I can’t even plan my meals from day to day, so kudos for that.
Now, let’s look at what’s coming for all us Marvel fans in the next few years!
Upcoming movies
The Eternals (2020)
This movie, planned for next November, is the earliest of the next phase to hit theatres. It’s got some big names, including Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie, but that is pretty much all we’ve got.
I don’t know much about the expected plot yet, except that it’s based on the comic series by the same name about a race of immortal beings who helped shape Earth as we know it.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
First of all, how much does this actually sound like the title of a comic book? I love the way this title was written.
Second, this film is going to be for all the Iron Man fans out there who were mad about the fact that the Mandarin storyline from Iron Man 3 never actually got resolved. Although I know next to nothing about Shang-Chi, I’m really excited for the resurgence of the actual Mandarin and the Ten Rings, who, as we know, kickstarted the MCU as we know it by kidnapping Tony Stark and just generally playing a massive role in all the Iron Man stories.
The introduction of a new hero does hurt, though, and it kind of kills off any hopes I had of there being another Iron Man—including the rumours of Ironheart that started circulating not so long ago.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2021)
Doctor Strange got introduced into the MCU rather late, and I don’t think he had enough character development to have a huge impact on the story. So I’m really excited to see how he evolves in the post-Endgame world.
Plus, you know, who wouldn’t want to see more of Wong and his unintentional sass?
I’m hoping we get to see more of his own development as a sorcerer (he’s supposedly the only other person who can manipulate the Time Stone, so he’s likely quite powerful), and maybe even a closer look at what all Doctor Strange needs to handle as Sorcerer Supreme.
Thor: Love and Thunder (2021)
Of all the films announced, I have a feeling this one is going to shock audiences the most. Just yesterday I was talking to my coworkers about it, and the idea of a female Thor was surprising.
Not in like a “women can’t be superheroes” way, but you get it. He’s a big, burly Viking dude.
The fourth Thor movie will feature Jane Foster, Thor’s love interest from basically his entire story arc, as Thor himself (herself?). And believe it or not, it’s actually canon—she first appeared in the comics as Thor in 2014.
I haven’t read too much into what it means or how it happens because I don’t want to spoil it, but suffice it to say I’m looking forward to it.
Black Widow (2020)
I was wondering when Marvel would give us Black Widow’s story. They’ve been hinting at it since Avengers: Infinity War, when Natasha started having flashbacks to her days in training.
I’m looking forward to learning the story of her mysterious education, including the generations of Black Widows before her—including that one blonde lady who appeared early on in Agent Carter, who seemed to be from the same school decades earlier.
Blade (??)
Forgive me, but this is one I am entirely unfamiliar with. This remake of the 1998 film has been getting a lot of hype, and I might just have to watch the original so I can appreciate the new version and how it fits into the MCU.
Upcoming TV shows
All of the upcoming TV shows are set to appear exclusively on Disney’s announced version of Netflix, which I’m a little disappointed about, but I also get it. It’s the perfect home for their content, and also a great way to convince people like me who can’t get enough of Marvel to subscribe.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
This series is set to hit the little screen next fall, and can I just say, I’m really intrigued to see how it plays out—especially given the ending of Avengers: Endgame.
I have a sneaking suspicion that it’ll focus on the time between Civil War and Endgame, where Falcon and Bucky trained together at Avengers HQ, and potentially stretch out into what happens after Endgame.
WandaVision
I’m not gonna lie, the first thing I thought of when I heard this name was of a weird pair of sunglasses from a bad infomercial.
I am interested to see what they put in this TV series, though. I personally hope it covers more of Wanda and Vision’s story between Avengers 2 and Endgame—I feel like we missed a lot in that time.
Loki
This is probably the one I’m most excited about out of all the announcements. Not to fangirl or anything, but I think it may be well worth the price of a subscription all by itself.
I personally feel that Loki was the biggest unaddressed plot hole of Avengers: Endgame, and I am so happy with Disney and Marvel for giving us some answers.
Huge shoutout to Shane, too, who called this basically the second we got out of the theatre. He knew they wouldn’t leave it unexplained.
What If…?
Interestingly poised as the first animated series in the MCU, What If…? places as many questions in my mind as its name suggests.
Even looking through the comments after the announcement, no one actually seems to know what it’s about—other than that the main character is the Watcher, who first appeared in the Fantastic Four but from what I can gather is by no means limited to their story.
Hawkeye
I was honestly hoping Hawkeye would get more screen time. He basically disappeared after Avengers 2, leaving a massive stretch where he was entirely unexplained.
Never mind the fact that we’ve never gotten any backstory on him, aside from his nebulous history with Black Widow. So I’m interested to see how the series plays out, and whether we learn more about his life pre-Avengers.
