A star-packed event in which Marvel Studios made huge confirmations and announced a roster of fan-favorites and new comic book heroes hitting the big screen.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed the full Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Three movie slate.
Captain America: Civil War. It’s finally official. Robert Downey Jr. will join Chris Evans in an Iron Man vs. Captain America war directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. When the government passes the superhero registration act, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark are bitterly divided and it’s hero vs. hero. Chadwick Boseman will make his first appearance as Black Panther in the showdown. May 6, 2016.
Black Panther Boseman plays the African Prince and hero in his own solo film set in the fictional nation of Wakanda.
“Black Panther and all of Wakanda is one of the most interesting characters in Marvel history,” said Feige. “Something I already showed you today contains an Easter egg that leads directly into ‘Black Panther.’ He’s a bit of a prince, he may even become a bit of a king, but it’s all about how this isolationist country meets the world. Maybe it goes well, maybe it doesn’t.”
Some fans speculate Andy Serkis is playing Panther villain Ulysses Klaw in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Captain America’s shield is made of vibranium – found only in Wakanda in comics.
November 3, 2017.
Doctor Strange Feige confirmed a release date: November 4, 2016, but no word on casting including the report of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Master of the Mystic Arts.
“In the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of the supernatural, that involves everything from quantum mechanics to string theory. The idea of this film is to open up a whole new corner of the cinematic universe. We want to enter, through Strange, the world of parallel dimensions.”
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 will move up two months to May 5, 2017. James Gunn is directing the sequel.
Thor: Ragnarok Chris Hemsworth returns as the Odinson in a sequel based on the legendary fall of the Asgardian Gods.
“This is a very important movie for us in Phase 3,” said Marvel’s Kevin Feige. “We plan on taking Thor to another level. It picks up where we leave Thor in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ and impacts everything that comes after.” July 28, 2017
Captain Marvel will be Marvel’s first film headlined by a female superhero.
“This Captain Marvel’s name is Carol Danvers,” said Feige. “This film has been in the works almost as long as Doctor Strange or Guardians of the Galaxy before it came out, and one of the key things was figuring out what we wanted to do with it. Her adventures are very earthbound, but her powers are based in the cosmic realm.”
Carol Danvers is a popular Avenger. The transition from Ms. to Captain Marvel inspired a huge fan movement: The Carol Corps.
July 6, 2018
Inhumans will hit November 2, 2018 starring the modern descendants of ancient humans with alien DNA (Kree aka Ronan from Guardians.) Inhumans are a hybrid of X-Men and Game of Thrones with a secret society of super powered citizens under a royal family: Black Bolt and Medusa are the King and Queen.
“November 3, 2018 will introduce dozens of characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” promised Feige. “We really do believe the Inhumans can be a franchise or a series of franchise unto themselves. They have dozens of powers and an amazing social structure. With our 20th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we wanted to continue to refine what that universe is about.”
Avengers: The Infinity War Part One and Two is the big cosmic clash with Thanos – the evil mastermind behind the scenes in The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy.
“We’ve always had a plan since Nick Fury broke into Tony Stark’s house and told him he’s part of a bigger universe,” said Feige. “‘Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 is the beginning of the culmination of everything that has come before.”
Part One May 4, 2018. Part Two May 3. 2019.
For the entire Marvel liveblog click here.
By Editor