Endgame not the end of Marvel Cinematic Universe
An eleven year journey filled with joy, suspense and some tears seemed to have come to an end after the release of Avengers: Endgame in April 2019. The saga left fans heartbroken with its last installment. However, San Diego Comic-Con gave the fans 11 new reasons to rejoice the Phase 4 of Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Its first three phases involved movies Marvel Studios made on Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America and the Avenger series.
Anthony Russo and Joe Russo – the Russo Brothers – unveiled the schedule for the fourth phase of Disney’s Marvel Studios’ 11 upcoming superhero movies and television series on Saturday.
Though, there were rumours about Black Panther 2, Captain Marvel 2, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Fantastic Four, X-Men and another Avengers being lined up, none of these were even mentioned.
However, Marvel is coming up with 11 exciting plots, some for fan favourite individual characters and some which brings out a whole new twist in the comic book series, starting with Black Widow to be released on May 1, 2020 and The Falcon and Winter Solider scheduled to release exclusively on Disney+ – a Walt Disney streaming destination – in fall 2020.
Black Widow
The much-awaited stand-alone movie “Black Widow” has finally been announced, starring Scarlett Johansson. The movie is set to release on May1, 2020, however, the fans did not see this coming.
Johansson who sacrificed her life in Avengers: Endgame to acquire the Soul Stone was not expected to be joining the League again, since it was said that ‘a soul for a soul’ and ‘sacrifice what you love the most for the stone’ and the deed cannot be reversed. So, it’ll be a surprise for the fans to see how this rebirth happens.
Just announced in Hall H at #SDCC, Marvel Studios’ BLACK WIDOW with Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour, Florence Pugh, O-T Fagbenle, and Rachel Weisz. Directed by Cate Shortland. In theaters May 1, 2020. pic.twitter.com/7WGECDIw3t
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 21, 2019
This will be Marvel’s first movie after the culmination of Infinity Saga with “Spider-Man: Far From Home”.
“I’m looking forward to exploring her as a fully realised woman in all of her many facets,” Johanasson said during Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame presentation at San Diego Comic-Con. According to comicbook.com, the team also shared the first clips of the movie with the Comic-Con crowd which was of a fight between Natasha Romanoff (Johanasson) and her sister Irena Romanoff, played by Florence Pugh.
The Eternals
The third Marvel Cinematic Universe movie of 2020 is “The Eternals” with the lead characters being played by Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh and Don Lee.
The studios finally put all the speculations of Jolie joining the banner to rest. The story is about a group of 35,000-year-old immortal aliens, as revealed at the Marvel’s San Diego Comic-Con presentation.
Just announced in Hall H at #SDCC, Marvel Studios’ THE ETERNALS with Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh and Don Lee. Directed by Chloé Zhao. In theaters November 6, 2020. pic.twitter.com/k6ZgfX38VW
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 21, 2019
“This movie will allow those who have never felt represented in movies, in this case superheroes, to be represented. I love my diverse family,” Hayek said on stage as reported by Comicbook.com.
The movie is set to release on November 6, 2020.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
An all new martial arts superhero Shang-Chi is being gifted a stand-alone movie by Marvel called “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” that will be hitting the theatres on February 12, 2021.
Just announced in Hall H at #SDCC, Marvel Studios’ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, with Simu Liu, Awkwafina and Tony Leung, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. In theaters February 12, 2021. pic.twitter.com/VXaqJ5uN6B
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 21, 2019
Canadian-Chinese actor Simu Liu would be playing the lead alongside Awkwafina and veteran Tony Leung. Screenwriter Dave Callaham who wrote “Wonder Woman” (1984) would be penning the script and Destin Daniel Cretton would be directing the film, according to Variety.
The character Shang-Chi was created after marvel failed to acquire the rights of “Kung Fu”. Chi first appeared in 1973’s Special Marvel Edition No. 15 when he was trained as a martial artist assassin by his infamous villain-cum-father-Fu Manchu.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange is considered as one of the most crucial characters in the Infinity Saga as he’s the Sorcerer Supreme who has pledged to safeguard the Time Stone. Played by Benedict Cumberbatch, the character is sure to be a total delight to watch in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” set to hit the big screens on May 7, 2021.
This is the second stand-alone movie for Doctor Strange after he made multiple appearances and made the entire Infinity War and Endgame movie happen in the first place.
Just announced in Hall H at #SDCC, Marvel Studios’ DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS with Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen. Scott Derrickson returns as director. In theaters May 7, 2021. pic.twitter.com/HtF68htiB1
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 21, 2019
In Infinity War, Doctor Strange uses the Time Stone and sees the future and climax of Endgame, however, he decides not to tell anyone what he saw to make that one chance of winning against Thanos possible.
Scott Derrickson, director of the film, told Variety that the sequel will be taken from the original comics as “the gothic, the horror”.
The movie will also have Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen), who will come back to playing Scarlet Witch, revealed Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.
Thor: Love and Thunder
Fans got goosebumps when Captain America used the Storm Breaker and the Mjolnir in Avengers: Endgame, another such moment is being planned.
Just announced in Hall H at #SDCC, Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER with Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson and Natalie Portman. Taika Waititi returns as director. In theaters November 5, 2021. pic.twitter.com/7RRkOYWTQM
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 21, 2019
This is the fourth Thor movie is set to release on November 5, 2021, “Thor: Love and Thunder” which will feature Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Lady Thor. The jaw-dropping moment would be to see Portman using Thor’s hammer.
Thor: Ragnarok’s director Taika Waiti is back to direct this movie. According to cnet.com, he said, “That story line is incredible is full emotion, love and thunder and introduces for the first time female Thor.”
Blade
Fans were baffled to see Mahershala Ali along with the Marvel team at San Diego Comic-Con and it turns out that he is joining the banner as Blade.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige made the announcement that the two-time Academy Award winner is set to play the lead in “Blade” reboot. Ali was also seen donning the Blade baseball cap during the event.
Just announced in Hall H at #SDCC, Marvel Studios’ BLADE with Mahershala Ali. pic.twitter.com/mtrDBy5OV0
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 21, 2019
Blade made his first appearance in the 1973 comic book, “The Tomb of Dracula #10” as a supporting character as a vampire hunter who is half mortal and half immortal.
Feige told The Hollywood Reporter, that Ali rung him with the desire to work with the studio. “When Marhershala calls, you answer,” Feige said. He further said that Ali was clear that he wanted to do Blade. Although, the release date has not yet been announced.
2023 is when the Marvel Cinematic Universe concludes and till then the studios will bless its fans with more than just these movies and tons of superhero memories.
