Key Takeaways
- Marvel’s Phase 5 announcement will lead into Phase 6, which will feature new films and fan-favorite characters.
- Captain America: Brave New World marks Sam Wilson’s film debut as the new Captain America.
- Notable upcoming projects include Thunderbolts, The Fantastic Four: The First Step, Blade, and Avengers: Doomsday.
At SDCC, Marvel made some big announcements that set the stage for the next few years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, highlighting the remainder of what’s being called Phase 5, which will begin with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania in 2023 and continue through a planned Phase 6.
The announcement comes after a relatively mediocre year for Marvel, with only one big movie scheduled for release in 2024: blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, the first official MCU film to be rated R. But things are set to pick up again in 2025, with four films currently planned for release, including fan favorites and Marvel Comics heavyweights.
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Captain America: Brave New World
Sam Wilson picks up the shield
Captain America: Brave New World
- director
- Julius Onah
- starring
- Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Shira Haas
- Writer
- Julius Onah, Malcolm Spellman, Daran Masson
- At the Theatre
- February 14, 2025
Next up for the MCU is the highly anticipated Captain America: Brave New World, the first feature film in which Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson takes up the shield as Captain America. In the film, Sam finds himself embroiled in an international conspiracy and must find a way to stop the shadowy figures controlling it all. The film also stars Danny Ramirez as the new Falcon, Joaquin Torres, Shira Haas, Sorcha Luxmore, Carl Lumbly, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson and Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, aka the Red Hulk. Julius Onah is the director.
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Thunderbolt*
Anti-heroes unite
Marvel Studios
Thunderbolt
- director
- Jake Schreier
- starring
- Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Harrison Ford
- Writer
- Lee Seong-jin, Eric Pearson
- At the Theatre
- May 2, 2025
In Thunderbolts*, a group of Marvel anti-heroes go on a dangerous mission for the US government. Although little is still known about the story or why there’s an asterisk in the film’s title, the cast is sure to get us excited. Sebastian Stan returns to the screen as Bucky Barnes, along with Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as CIA Director Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, Wyatt Russell as super soldier John Walker, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr aka Ghost, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, and Lewis Pullman as the Sentry. Additionally, Harrison Ford will also be joining the cast as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross.
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Fantastic Four: The First Step
Marvel goes retro
Marvel Studios
Fantastic Four: The First Step
- director
- Matt Shakman
- starring
- Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss Bachrach
- Writer
- Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer
- At the Theatre
- July 25, 2025
The Fantastic Four have finally joined the MCU, with new details and an official title announced at SDCC. Fantastic Four: First Steps is set in the 1960s and features a retro-future style reminiscent of The Jetsons. Pedro Pascal leads the team as Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic. Alongside him, Vanessa Kirby plays Susan Storm, aka The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn plays Johnny Storm, aka The Thing, and Ben Grimm, aka The Thing. The film also stars Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer, Ralph Ineson as Galactus, John Malkovich, Paul Walter Hauser, and Natasha Lyonne. The film will feature music by Michael Giacchino and will be directed by Matt Shakman.
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blade
The Vampire Slayer is back
Marvel
blade
- director
- to be decided
- starring
- Mahershala Ali
- Writer
- Eric Pearson
- At the Theatre
- November 7, 2025
After a long delay, Marvel is finally gearing up to release their highly anticipated reboot of fan-favorite Blade, this time starring Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali as the half-mortal, half-immortal vampire slayer. Little is known about the story and there is currently no director attached, but the film is set to be released in November 2025.
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Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU as Doctor Doom
Robert Downey Jr. returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom
Avengers: Doomsday
Robert Downey Jr. is back!
Marvel Studios
Avengers: Doomsday
- director
- Joe and Anthony Russo
- starring
- Robert Downey Jr., Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss Batcharak
- Writer
- Michael Waldron, Stephen McFeely
- At the Theatre
- May 1, 2026
The biggest announcement at SDCC was the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this time as Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom. Little is known about the film, but it will feature the Fantastic Four as well as other current MCU heroes. It will also see the return of directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who last directed the franchise in Avengers: Endgame.
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Avengers: Secret Wars
The Grand Finale
Marvel
Avengers: Secret Wars
- director
- Joe Russo, Anthony Russo
- cast
- Robert Downey Jr.
- At the Theatre
- May 1, 2027
It’s all leading up to Avengers: Secret Wars, the second part of the current next big Avengers team. Robert Downey Jr. will star again as Doctor Doom in the film, facing off against a new cast of the Fantastic Four and other big name heroes. The Russo Brothers will also return as directors of Secret Wars.
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Beyond Stage 6
These Marvel projects are still in the works
Marvel
Few details have been released about the MCU beyond its planned Phase 6, but we do know about some films that are currently in production.
Armor Wars
Originally developed as a Disney+ series, Armor Wars will see Don Cheadle reprising his role as James Rhodes, aka War Machine, and Walton Goggins reprising his role as Sonny Burch from Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Untitled ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Sequel
Little is known about the next Spider-Man movie, but Tom Holland is expected to return for new adventures as Peter Parker, with filming set to begin in fall 2024.
Untitled Shang-Chi sequel
Simu Liu is expected to return for a new adventure following the hit martial arts superhero film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Untitled X-Men movie
With 20th Century Studios now under Disney’s control, allowing former Fox heroes to follow Deadpool and Wolverine into the MCU, plans are afoot for the X-Men to officially join the franchise in a blockbuster movie.
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