What Marvel Movies Can We Expect in Phase 3 and Beyond?

Marvel isn't going anywhere


Comic books and movies have been intimately involvedfor generations, with everything from early black and white movie serials to the 1978 blockbuster that was Superman. But it wasn’t until the year 2000 that they truly began to take over the multiplexes, with X-Men andMarvel Studios paving the way for the summer events we’ve come to enjoy.



In 2008, the company kicked off their most ambitious project yet – a long-running plan to bring the Marvel Cinematic Universe to life. Starting with the first Iron Man movie, they’re on a mission to create big budget stand-alone movies which also link together in more and more complex ways. The first linked movie was 2012’s The Avengers, which went on to become the third most successful movie of all time.

That was the end of Phase 1 and we’re already deep in Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Read on for what they have planned for Phase 3. And beyond.

PHASE 2

Captain America: The Winter Soldier – March 2014

Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World were the first two parts of the second phase, and its kicking back into high gear as the movies continue. The Winter Soldier sees the once frozen Captain America trying to deal with his new life in modern times, while coming under attack from sinister forces that threaten the safety of millions. Chris Evans and Robert Redford star.





Guardians of the Galaxy – July 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy is Marvel’s biggest gamble in years. Featuring none of the characters we’ve got to know since 2008, its set far from Earth where a human pilot called Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) ends up being chased by terrifying enemies. And later becomes the leader of a band of extra-terrestrial weirdoes who might be able to save the universe. Also starring Zoe Saldana and Bradley Cooper as the voice of a genetically engineered racoon.

Avengers: Age of Ultron – May 2015

You may have expected this one. The sequel to the biggest comic book movie of all time, Age of Ultron sees all the heroes back together to face a new threat that will also endanger the planet. And also making a return is genius writer/director Joss Whedon who not only made the first Avengers movie fresh and fantastic but has also been guiding the Marvel universe since 2012.

PHASE 3

Ant-Man – July 2015

Phase 2 ends with Age of Ultron and its time for another new character. Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man has been in development for years and it’s great to finally see it inching closer to completion. In it, Paul Rudd will play the title character who can control his size at will while keeping his strength intact – think of an inch high hero beating up a room of enemies. Michael Douglas also appears as the inventor of the Ant-Man suit!

AND THEN…

From here, things get a little more vague. There are at least three more movies planned for Phase 3, with release dates in May 2016, July 2016 and May 2017. That last could be the date for The Avengers 3 and Marvel super-producer Kevin Feige has confirmed that he wants a Dr. Strange movie to be part of the plan for Phase 3.

Which leaves some speculation left. Marvel has been talking up a standalone movie for Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow character recently so we could see that in 2016 (click here to see why we think its a bad idea), otherwise there are rumours of outings for Black Panther, Iron First and more – not to mention sequels in the works for both Captain America and Thor.

And this is all on top of the NBC TV show Agents of SHIELD as well as a breakthrough mini-series project currently in development with Netflix. There are 60 episodes of that planned over the next couple of years. It seems there’s a lot of Marvel still to come. DC better step up its game, and soon.

Captain America: the Winter Soldier is up next in March 2014, with Guardians of the Galaxy following in August.

Source: clickonline