2020 has been a weird year and the entertainment industry has been feeling the effects of it. For the first time in 10 years, the world went a whole year without a single Marvel movie. The MCU had big plans for this year, but all the movies and new TV series they planned on launching got pushed back because of the pandemic. But that doesn’t seem to have deterred the Marvel brigade at all, as Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced a whole new roster of movies and series that will grace our screens over the next couple of years during Disney’s Investor Day on Thursday. Trailers, first looks, casting announcements and some massive surprises! They don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Here’s everything Marvel announced last night:
WandaVision
The first thing coming from the Marvel camp next year is WandaVision, which launches on Disney+ on January 15th, 2021. This is probably the most intriguing show they’re making. Focused on Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany), this series will dive deep into this “unusual couple”. Joining them are returning MCU stars Kat Dennings (Thor, Thor: The Dark World) as Darcy Lewis and Randall Park (Ant-Man and the Wasp) alongside franchise newcomers Teyonah Parris as a grown-up Monica Rambeau and Kathryn Hahn as Agnes.
They also announced that the events of this show will connect with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (which will star Elizabeth Olsen) and Captain Marvel 2 (more on these movies later). Feige has stated that every show and movie they’re launching are interconnected and will cross over with each other as the stories progress. WandaVision looks weird, funny, interesting and nothing like anything Marvel has ever done before! And Marvel provided the world with another look into this quirky show. It only makes you curious to see it because the trailers make absolutely no sense at all. See for yourself:
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness comes to theatres on March 25, 2022 and it will have Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams and Chiwetel Ejiofor reprising their roles from the first film. Elizabeth Olsen joins the cast as Scarlet Witch and events from WandaVision directly connect to this movie. We also get newcomer Xochitl Gomez playing fan favourite character America Chavez in the film. Cumberbatch will also appear in the new Spider-Man film slated to release in December 2021.
Image credit: Marvel Studios
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
We finally got a trailer for the long anticipated Anthony Mackie-Sebastian Stan starrer The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. This reluctant buddy-cop duo will be joined by Daniel Brühl, who you might remember from Captain America: Civil War as the villain Baron Zemo. Feige said, “It is a cinematic experience. It’s a Marvel Studios movie played out over six episodes,” as he introduced the trailer to the show. It’s funny, it’s action packed and it looks so damn GOOD. I honestly cannot wait to see this show come to life on Disney+ on March 19, 2021. Watch the trailer and get excited, because it’s simply that good.
Loki
We also got a first look at the highly anticipated show Loki! Marvel gave us a clip and announced a bunch of actors that are joining Tom Hiddleston in this show. The roster includes Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku and Richard E. Grant. Loki is going to be a part of his very own crime thriller and he’s just as confused as we are in the new trailer for this fan favourite character. It is, in Loki’s own words, glorious:
What If…?
Marvel also gave us a first look into its animated show What If…? which will reimagine scenarios from all their movies and flip them, making it an original series about what would have happened if things or events played out a little differently than what actually ended up happening in the movies. Almost every Marvel cast member is returning to voice their characters in animated form, along with a bunch of new people. There’s a zombie Captain America fighting the Winter Soldier, a lot of Doctor Strange and so much more. It looks really interesting and this show will drop on Disney+ in the Summer of 2021.
Ms. Marvel
We finally got a first look into the new Disney+ show Ms. Marvel! It is a show about a Pakistani American superhero named Kamala Khan and will be played by newcomer Iman Vellani. And joining her are a slew of new and diverse producers and directors. She will also be starring in Captain Marvel 2, which will see Brie Larson return as Captain Marvel along with the rest of the cast and Teyonah Parris as a grown-up Monica Rambeau from WandaVision. It will be directed by Nia DaCosta and events of this show are likely to connect with the movie. This show is about a teenager figuring out who she is. And to be able to see someone who is South Asian – a character that looks like me – as a superhero is a dream come true for the brown community. I cannot wait to see how Marvel brings her to life! Ms. Marvel soars onto Disney+ in late 2021.
Hawkeye
We already knew Jeremy Renner was returning as Hawkeye for his own show on Disney+. But we also got confirmation that Hailee Steinfeld is joining the cast as Kate Bishop along with Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee and Alaqua Cox, however, that is all we know at the moment.
Original Avenger Jeremy Renner returns to star as Hawkeye, teaming up with well-known archer from Marvel comics, Kate Bishop played by the amazing Hailee Steinfeld. pic.twitter.com/vqxlEdHQWs
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
Incredibly excited to officially share this with the world… 🏹 pic.twitter.com/Azetw2P3dQ
— Hailee Steinfeld (@HaileeSteinfeld) December 11, 2020
She-Hulk and Moon Knight
We also found out more about the Disney+ show She-Hulk, who will be played by the amazing Tatiana Maslany. It is being described as, “A series about a woman trying to navigate the world to be taken seriously as a working professional, despite the fact that she’s well over 6’7″ and green.” It’s going to be funny and directed by Kat Coiro and Anu Valia. Tim Roth, who played the Abomination in The Incredible Hulk is coming back to reprise the role and so is our favourite green Avenger, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk! Feige also hinted that Daredevil/Matt Murdoch from the Netflix show Daredevil may make an appearance in this show as well, since Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk) is a lawyer who specifically specialises in superhero cases and Matt Murdoch is a lawyer too.
She-Hulk arrives to the MCU! Tatiana Maslany will portray Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk and Tim Roth returns as the Abomination and Hulk himself, Mark Ruffalo, will appear in the series. Directed Kat Coiro and Anu Valia, She-Hulk is coming to #DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/z4OlQJhrlr
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
We also learned a little more about the Disney+ show Moon Knight! Namely that it is going bring a whole different vibe into the MCU and will be an Indiana Jones style show which will be directed by Mohamed Diab. The backdrop of this story is going to be Egyptian iconography which will be explored more in this show.
Moon Knight, an Original Series about a complex vigilante, is coming to #DisneyPlus 🌙 pic.twitter.com/oESb9qLSJD
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
Secret Invasion
Marvel also announced a slew of new shows and movies and Secret Invasion is one of them. This is one of the biggest crossover events in Marvel right alongside Civil War and Samuel L Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn are returning as Nick Fury and Talos (from Captain Marvel) for this Disney+ series. It is about a set of shapeshifting Skrulls who infiltrate every life on Earth. The events of this show will tie directly to upcoming MCU movies.
Samuel L. Jackson is back as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn from Captain Marvel returns as the Skrull Talos in Marvel Studios' Original Series Secret Invasion. Coming to #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/AuInHMuBRW
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
Ironheart and Armor Wars
We also get a series on genius inventor Riri Williams aka Ironheart, who is the creator of the world’s most advanced suit of armour since Iron Man and she will be played by Dominique Thorne. Like all previous shows, the events of this show too will tie with the upcoming MCU shows and movies.
Coming soon to #DisneyPlus, Dominique Thorne is genius inventor Riri Williams in Ironheart, an Original Series about the creator of the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man. pic.twitter.com/VB94VyPr9e
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
And we also have Armor Wars! It’s a story about Tony Stark’s worst fear coming true – his technology falling into the wrong hands. Don Cheadle will be reprising his role of James Rhodes/War Machine in the series.
Don Cheadle returns as James Rhodes aka War Machine in Armor Wars, an Original Series coming to #DisneyPlus. A classic Marvel story about Tony Stark’s worst fear coming true: what happens when his tech falls into the wrong hands? pic.twitter.com/K6M0q9mcNM
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and a Holiday Special!
That’s right, we’re getting a live-action Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which will hit Disney+ in late 2022. James Gunn is back to write/direct it and will be shot during Guardians 3 filming. We also get another Disney+ show called I Am Groot which will follow the adventures of the adorable Baby Groot and a bunch of new characters.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. James Gunn is back to write and direct.
The Original Special is coming to #DisneyPlus in 2022. 🎁 🎧 pic.twitter.com/8JqjhPo6Cn
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
Everyone’s favorite little tree, Baby Groot, will star in a series of shorts on Disney+ featuring several new and unusual characters.
I Am Groot, an Original Series from Marvel Studios, is coming to #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/U5nfDkFKjW
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
Christian Bale is in the MCU!
Marvel finally confirmed that Christian Bale will be playing the villain Gorr the God Butcher in the upcoming Thor Love and Thunder. The movie releases in theatres on May 6, 2022. Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson and Natalie Portman will be in this movie as announced earlier and Taika Waititi is helming the project.
Academy Award-winning actor Christian Bale will join the cast of Thor: Love and Thunder as the villain Gorr the God Butcher. In theaters May 6, 2022. ⚡ pic.twitter.com/fWS4UuP2oM
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
They also confirmed that Blade with Mahershala Ali is in development and announcements for the same will be made very soon.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Marvel also announced a third Ant-Man film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which brings back Peyton Reed as the director, along with Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Douglas all returning to reprise their roles from the previous movies. Katheryn Newton is joining the cast to play a grown up Cassie Lang and Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror.
Peyton Reed is back to direct the third Ant-Man film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer all return. Kathryn Newton joins the cast as Cassie Lang and Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror. pic.twitter.com/opXw1cmpFj
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
Marvel will not recast Chadwick Boseman
Kevin Feige also took a moment to acknowledge the devastating loss of Chadwick Boseman, who passed away earlier this year and confirmed that they will not be recasting the role of Black Panther in order to preserve the legacy the late actor created. Instead, Black Panther 2 will focus on the characters already introduced in the first movie and director Ryan Coogler is currently working on the script. The movie will now release on July 8, 2022.
Black Panther 2, opening July 8, 2022, is being written & directed by Ryan Coogler. Honoring Chadwick Boseman’s legacy & portrayal of T’Challa, @MarvelStudios will not recast the character, but will explore the world of Wakanda & the rich characters introduced in the first film.
— Disney (@Disney) December 11, 2020
Fantastic Four
In what was the biggest reveal in the entire panel, Marvel also confirmed that they are bringing Marvel’s first family back onto the big screen by rebooting Fantastic Four, with Spider-Man director Jon Watts helming the project. Details will follow as they continue developing the movie.
Jon Watts will direct the new feature film for Marvel's First Family, Fantastic Four! pic.twitter.com/Eu26ghxbGT
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 11, 2020
Some new release dates
Along with the new release dates of Thor: Love and Thunder (May 5, 2022), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (March 25, 2022) and Black Panther 2 (July 8, 2022) mentioned earlier, Marvel announced that Black Widow will now be released on May 7, 2021. Followed by Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which has officially wrapped production, on July 9, 2021 and Eternals on November 4, 2021. They also revealed that Captain Marvel 2 will soar into theatres on November 11, 2022.
We also get the highly anticipated Spider-Man 3 on December 17, 2021. We did not, however, get any confirmations or announcements about this Tom Holland starrer, but there have been a lot of rumours and casting announcements in the last few days. It is pretty much certain at this point the third film will explore a multiverse with cast members from the old pre-MCU iterations slated to reprise their roles, especially since it is confirmed that Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will be a part of this film.
So the next few years look really busy for Marvel and I absolutely cannot wait to see all of it come to life! It’s been a pretty dormant year for movies and I’m excited for Marvel to kick off the next wave of exciting cinema from next year.
Disney also announced a slew of other projects for Disney+ and the theatres from the different commodities they own at Disney’s annual Investor Day event. If you’d like to watch the event and see the announcements about Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel and all other exciting things unfold, you can watch the livestream from their website right here.
Featured image: Taken from the Disney Investor Day livestream.
