While Australians layed their heads to rest last night, Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studio and Marvel held a mysterious press event at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood that ended up boasting some major announcements regarding their cinematic universe.
Expecting a couple of minor if not fan pleasing details about future films, we all took the brunt of some historic, earth shattering news that sent comic fans into an unprecedented frenzy as “Phase 3” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was unveiled.
On the surface it may appear to just be a new line-up, a concrete list of films – some rumoured, some out of left field- that shape the MCU moving forward. But no. It’s more than that. Let’s have a brief look at these blockbuster announcements.
Captain America 3: Civil War – May 16, 2016
Let’s get this out of the way. This is by far the biggest announcement in comic book film history. Fans have been clamouring for an adaptation of Mark Millar’s ever popular Civil War saga for years and now it’s finally happening. The Russo Brothers will be back to helm the film while Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely will return to write the screenplay. As it was previously reported, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man will play an integral role in the film. This announcement also continues the thread that there will be no further Iron Man films, which makes sense given the trilogy’s ending.
Doctor Strange – November 14, 2016
The Sourcerer Supreme debuts in his own solo film. Magic is something our heroes haven’t really had to deal with her and it should be interesting to see the impact Strange has on the proceedings. Benedict Cumberbatch is rumoured to play Doctor Strange himself, while we find an interesting choice in director Scott Derrickson, best known for horror films like Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer (who both worked on Sahara) and Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) are listed for screenplay duties.
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 – May 5, 2017
Everyone’s favourite group of rag tag misfits returns to enforce some cosmic justice. Their first film was a stand out. A brilliant blend of sci-fi action and comedy and since the credits rolled we’ve been hanging for a second round. Writer/Director James Gunn is returning for a second helping as are the whole cast.
Thor: Ragnorok – July 8 2017
Could this be the end of the God of Thunder? For those who aren’t aware, Ragnorok shows up during Civil War as a cyber clone of Thor, equipped with much of the same power, wreaking havok on anyone opposing him. Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost will be taking care of script duties, who both seem to be upgrading from MARVEL animated TV duties for the film, while it looks like the cast are set to return.
Black Panther – November 3, 2017
If Civil War never existed, this would have been the number 1 reason that our heads exploded in unison. We’ve seen allusions to Wakanda multiple times and after a patient wait T’chala is finally joining his fellow Avengers. Documentarian Mark Bailey is listed as the screenplay writer here – an interesting choice.
Captain Marvel – July 16 2018
Many incarnations of Captain Marvel have graced the pages of Marvel comics but it’s Ms Marvel herself who will be the recipient of the first female driven film in the MCU.
Avengers Infinity War: Part 1 – May 4 2018
Here is where it all gets exceptionally meaty. The final road. The end of the Avengers “trilogy” and likely to be the closing chapters of the current Marvel Universe. We’ve glimpsed Thanos, the biggest and baddest villain there is and finally, in under 4 years from now, he’ll take his Gauntlet of infinity gems and wage war against what is presumed to be the ENTIRE MARVEL ROSTER.
Inhumans – November 2 2018
Probably the strangest of choice for an adaptation but will no doubt be a serviceable entry. The Inhumans are comprised of a group of earthlings who have been experimented on by the Kree army. Interesting to note that The Inhumans debuted in a Fantastic Four comic so I’m not sure of what legalities led to Marvel being able to produce a movie that Fox should have rights to, but I’m sure there was an asterix somewhere. Unfortunately Fox have promised to make things difficult for the project, as Sony did with Spider-Man, by re-booting the Fantastic Four film series with a 2015 release already in post-production. So it’s highly unlikely that we’ll be able to see the Fantastic Four involved at all here.
Interestingly, the announcement for this film – which will sit in between the two parts of Infinity War – teased “dozens” of new characters and the potential for its own franchise. This in mind, though the two Avengers films seem likely to bring most of what we know today in the MCU, a film like Inhumans will ensure that the MCU lives long and prospers well into a fourth phase…
Avengers Infinity War: Part 2 – May 3 2019
Expect a cliffhanger at the end of Part 1 because just under a year later, the war wages on. I mean it, this is going to be as epic as a comic book film (or perhaps film in general) can get.
In addition to the announcements of the new films, the event also presented some new footage from Age of Ultron – which we now can think of as part two of the Avengers trilogy – and we learnt that Chadwick Boseman (42, Draft Day) will be playing Black Panther.
This Marvel Press Event was ground breaking. Not only have they listened to the wishes of a legion of loyal fans but they have turned the comic book and film worlds on their heads.
Buckle in guys, we’ve got a long road ahead. One paved with Gods, Monsters, Magicians and a Talking Tree. It’s a great time to be a comic fan.
Stay tuned to The Iris for all the latest MARVEL Universe news…
Additional contribution to this article by Larry Heath.
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