Marvel Phase 4 films: Release dates, cast and everything you need to know – Evening Standard

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As far as sign offs go, Avengers: Endgame was one hell of a way to bring Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a close.

The first truly great superhero movie is how the Standards Matthew Norman described the film, which went on to make a stunning 2.1b ($2.8b) at the worldwide box office and collectively satisfy an entire fandom.

Super-Man: Far From Home a palate cleanser of sorts after the emotional gut punch of Endgame followed soon after, but a whole age of superhero movies is coming this way in just a few months.

The studio has been teasing us with early trailers, the addition of its first transgender superhero and promises of more diversity than ever before, as well as hints about enticing new sequels. The news that Tom Hollands Spider-Man is staying on for a third solo movie in the MCU is also massive boost for Marvel fans across the world its certainly got our Spidey senses tingling.

Before we begin looking ahead, its also worth pointing out that while Black Panther 2 and Ant-Man 3 have both been announced for 2022, theyre likely to be part of Phase 5 and we havent included them below.

These are the films coming in Marvel's Phase 4, andeverything we know so far about them.

Scarlett Johanssons Natasha Romanoff is finally getting her time in the spotlight, with the first trailer for Black Widow revealed back in December. Her character has been a mainstay of the MCU since first appearing in the Avengers back in 2012, and she now has the honour of kicking off Phase 4 with her first solo outing.

Johansson is back for her seventh film in the role and also acts as an executive producer. The film sees Widow stage a family reunion of sorts. FlorencePugh stars as her sister Yelena Belova, who is seen fighting with the superhero in the first trailer, while Rachel Weisz and David Harbour star as superhero family members Melina Vostokoff and Alexei Vostokoff, who must work together against a new, unspecified threat.

Cate Shortland, known for her work on Lore and Berlin Syndrome, directs.

Johansson previously revealed that Black Widow is facing a crisis in her life at the time of the film.

Where we find Natasha in her life at this point is very specific, Johansson told EW at Comic-Con back in July. She really is in a dark place where shes got no one to call and nowhere to go. Shes really grappling with her own self In that moment, you actually have to face yourself.

Harbour previously told IGN that the film takes place after Captain America: Civil War, but before the events of Avengers: Infinity War.

Speaking about his characters relationship with Black Widow, he said: Theyve known each other for a while and theres a complex history there. This movie happens right after Captain America: Civil War, and so those events do factor in.

The film is released in UK cinemas on May 1, 2020

Star power: Angelina Jolie stars in Eternals (AFP/Getty Images)

This film follows a group of evolved humans known as the Eternals, created by a powerful race known as the Celestials. Theyre ostensibly immortal creatures tasked with protecting earth. The film has reportedly been in development since 2018, but was officially confirmed at Comic-Con in July 2019.

Angelina Jolie is the biggest name in the film, starring as Thena. The most significant character, however, is thought to be Gemma Chans Sersi. The character from the comics spends her time living among humans, despite having super powers.

Also announced are Game of Thrones pair Richard Madden and Kit Harrington, who star as Ikaris and Dane Whitman respectively. Salma Hayek is on board as Ajak and a newly buff Kumail Nanjiani appears as Kingo.

Little has been revealed about the plot of the film, although it was previously reported that the film involves a love story between Ikaris and Sersi.

The film is released in UK cinemas onNovember 6, 2020

A Marvel first: SimuLiu will play the lead role in the film

Marvels first Asian protagonist comes in the form of Shang-Chi. The superhero is known for his mastery of Kung Fu and his ability to create duplicates of himself. He is the son of supervillain Fu Manchu, and first appeared in the Marvel comics back in 1973. Hell arrive on the big screen for the first time in 2021.

The hero will be played by Canadian actor Simu Liu in the new movie. Awkwafina has also been cast in an unnamed role, while Tony Chiu-Wai Leung plays supervillain the Mandarin the sworn enemy of Iron Man.

Short Term 12 filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton is on board to direct, with a script from writer Dave Callahan.

Further details of the films plot have yet to be revealed, although the Ten Rings in the title refers to the terrorist group that kidnaps Tony Stark in the first Iron Man movie, suggesting that the franchise could come full circle and revisit the events of the 2008 film.

The film is released in UK cinemas onFebruary 12, 2021

Sorcerer Supreme: Doctor Strange is back for another solo outing

Of all the upcoming Phase 4 movies, Kevin Feige believes this one could hold the key for the future of the MCU.

"When we first started the MCU, it was all about Tony Stark. Introduce the world to Tony Stark and that Iron Man armour," Feige previously said.

The multiverse is the next step in the evolution of the MCU and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is going to crack it open in ways that will have repercussions for movies after it in a big fun way."

The sequel to 2016s Doctor Strange is also tied to the upcoming series WandaVision a sequel to Avengers: Endgame and a prequel to Multiverse of Madness.

Benedict Cumberbatch is back as the Sorcerer Supreme, making his fifth appearance in the role. Elizabeth Olsens Scarlet Witch will also be involved having last appeared in Endgame. Benedict Wong will also be back for the second time as sidekick Wong.

The villain Nightmare is also thought be appearing in the film, with the likes of Jared Leto and James McAvoy rumoured for the role.

Feige has teased this as Marvels first scary movie. Speaking at the New York Film Academy, he said: I wouldnt necessarily say thats a horror film, but itll be a big MCU film with scary sequences in it.

Further details have yet to be revealed.

The film is released in UK cinemas onMay 7 2021.

Back for good: Spidey is swinging back into the MCU

Tom Hollands role in the MCU seemed all but ended after Marvel and Sony failed to come to a new agreement over future films over the summer. However, it has been confirmed that his incarnation of Spidey will be back for a third film in 2021.

"I am thrilled that Spidey's journey in the MCU will continue, and I and all of us at Marvel Studios are very excited that we get to keep working on it," Feige said in a statement.

"Spider-Man is a powerful icon and hero whose story crosses all ages and audiences around the globe. He also happens to be the only hero with the superpower to cross cinematic universes, so as Sony continues to develop their own Spidey-verse you never know what surprises the future might hold."

Holland will be back in the Spidey suit once again, much to the relief of the Marvel fandom. Zendaya will join him as MJ and Jacob Batalon is also back as Ned.

Its still early days and further details have yet to be announced, but the fact that hes still involved in the MCU is fantastic news for fans.

The film is released in UK cinemas onJuly 16, 2021

The big news about Thor: Love and Thunder is that Natalie Portmans Jane Foster is set to become the first female Thor, taking over from Chris Hemsworth.

Taika Waititi is back on board to direct Thor: Love and War after helping make Thor: Ragnarok one of the finest instalments in the MCU back in 2017.

Hemsworth and Portman are back on board, although time will tell who will be in control of Thors hammer by the end of the movie.

Christian Bale is reportedly in talks to join the cast of Thor 4. It would mark his first superhero movie since playing Batman in 2012s The Dark Knight Rises. Tessa Thompson is also back as Valkyrie.

Plot details have yet to be revealed.

The film is released in UK cinemas onNovember 5, 2021

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Marvel Phase 4 films: Release dates, cast and everything you need to know - Evening Standard

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero