Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a group of American superhero films and television series produced by Marvel Studios based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. Phase Four features all of the Marvel Studios productions set to be released from 2021 through 2023. It is the first phase in the franchise to include television series, with Marvel Studios developing several event series for the streaming service Disney+ in addition to the feature films that it was already set to produce. The phase began with the series WandaVision, which premiered in January 2021, while the first film in the phase will be Black Widow, set to be released in July 2021 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The release schedule of the phase was changed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The films of the phase include Black Widow with Scarlett Johansson returning as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings starring Simu Liu, the ensemble Eternals, the sequels Spider-Man: No Way Home from Sony Pictures Releasing with Tom Holland returning as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness with Benedict Cumberbatch returning as Dr. Stephen Strange, Thor: Love and Thunder with Chris Hemsworth returning as Thor, Black Panther II, Captain Marvel 2 with Brie Larson returning as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania starring Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly, and the ensemble Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, along with Fantastic Four.
The Disney+ television series of the phase include WandaVision with Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany in the title roles, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier with Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan in the title roles, the first season of Loki starring Tom Hiddleston, the first season of the animated What If…? narrated by Jeffrey Wright, Ms. Marvel starring Iman Vellani, Hawkeye starring Jeremy Rennerand Hailee Steinfeld, Moon Knight starring Oscar Isaac, She-Hulk starring Tatiana Maslany, Secret Invasion starring Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn, Ironheart starring Dominique Thorne, Armor Wars starring Don Cheadle, and a series set in Wakanda. The ensemble The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will also be included in the phase.
Development
By October 2016, The Walt Disney Studios had scheduled multiple release dates for untitled Marvel Studios films for 2020 and 2021. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said some of the films for those dates were already known, explaining, “We know what we’d like them to be for 2020. Over the years, where we’re aiming we’ve been lucky enough that it’s usually been the same thing but we always leave ourselves the opportunity to bob and weave and adapt if we have to.” Feige was not sure if Marvel would continue to group the films of the MCU into phases once Phase Three concluded in 2019, saying that “it might be a new thing”, but by December 2018, Marvel was believed to be using the term Phase Four. Feige said Marvel hoped to reveal some upcoming films after the release of Avengers: Endgame (2019), with The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger later indicating that Marvel would reveal its slate of post-Avengers: Endgame films in mid-2019.
By November 2017, Disney was developing a Marvel television series specifically for release on its new streaming service Disney+, which was planned to launch before the end of 2019. In September 2018, Marvel Studios was revealed to be developing several limited series for the service, to be centered on “second-tier” characters from the MCU films who had not and were unlikely to star in their own films; the actors who portrayed the characters in the films were expected to reprise their roles for the series. Stories for each series were still being decided on, but the series were expected to be six to eight episodes each and have a “hefty rivaling those of a major studio production”. The series would be produced by Marvel Studios rather than Marvel Television, which produced the previous television series set in the MCU. Feige was taking a “hands-on role” in each series’ development, focusing on “continuity of story” with the films and “handling” the actors who would be reprising their roles from the films. Feige stated in February 2019 that the series would be “entirely interwoven with both the current MCU, the past MCU, and the future of the MCU”, and a month later he elaborated that the series would take characters from the films, change them, and see those changes reflected in future films, unlike the weaker relationship the films have with the Marvel Television series. He also said that new characters introduced in the Disney+ series could go on to appear in films. In May, Feige compared the Disney+ series to the Marvel One-Shots short films that Marvel Studios had previously released alongside their films, saying, “The best thing about the One-Shots is that we got to flesh out other characters. It’s tremendously exciting that we now have Disney+ series where we get to do that on a grand scale”.
Kevin Feige announcing Phase Four titles at San Diego Comic-Con 2019
In July 2019, Marvel Studios held a panel at San Diego Comic-Con where Feige announced the full Phase Four slate. This included five films to be released—Black Widow, Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Thor: Love and Thunder—as well as five event series to be released on Disney+—The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, Loki, What If…?, and Hawkeye. He confirmed that there would be connections between the films and series, with the events of WandaVisiondirectly setting up Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Loki tying into it. Feige stated that these ten projects were the full Phase Four slate at that point, despite Marvel already developing further projects at that time, such as the long-in-development Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, sequels to Black Panther (2018) and Captain Marvel (2019), and a film based on the Fantastic Four. Feige also noted that the studio had films scheduled to be released after 2021 which would not be officially announced or given release dates at that time. A month later at D23, Feige announced three more Disney+ series that would be released as part of the Phase Four slate: Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, and She-Hulk, as well as the Black Panther sequel with the placeholder title Black Panther II and a May 6, 2022 release. In September, Disney and Sony Pictures announced that Marvel Studios and Feige would return to produce Spider-Man: No Way Home, set for release during this phase, while an Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) sequel entered development by November 2019, having a potential 2022 release.
Black Widow was removed from Disney’s release schedule in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussing this decision for Variety, Adam B. Vary and Matt Donnelly questioned whether the MCU could be impacted more by this delay than other big properties due to the interconnected nature of the franchise, though a Marvel Studios source told the pair that changing Black Widow‘s release date would not affect the rest of the MCU timeline. In April, Disney changed its entire Phase Four release slate, scheduling Black Widow when Eternals had been set for release in November 2020 and moving all its other Phase Four films back in the schedule to accommodate this. Disney also scheduled Captain Marvel 2 for release on July 8, 2022. Later that month, Sony delayed Spider-Man: No Way Home to November 2021, resulting in Disney adjusting the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder. In July 2020, Disney confirmed that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier would not release in August 2020 as planned, because the series had not completed filming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while Sony pushed back the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home to December 2021.In early September, WandaVision was set to be the first television series released for the phase as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s release was pushed back to 2021 due to its production delays. Later that month, Black Widow‘s release was delayed to May 2021, resulting in Eternals and Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings also being rescheduled; this made 2020 the first year since 2009 without a Marvel Studios release. When adjusting the release of the films and series in the phase, Marvel Studios was being cognizant to ensure major story points would not be spoiled with the new release order, but Feige noted many of the properties in the Phase were mostly standalone or a continuation from Endgame. He also credited the studio’s “long lead plan” for being able to avoid any creative shifts to their Phase Four plans because of the pandemic, only shuffling release dates and production schedules. Additionally, he stated that many of the series had their release dates shifted only “by a matter of weeks” from their original dates.
In December 2020, Marvel adjusted Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther II, and Captain Marvel 2 back in its schedule, to May 6, July 8, and November 11, 2022, respectively, and dated Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for 2023. They also announced Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Fantastic Four were in development, with the former releasing in 2022, along with the Disney+ series Secret Invasion, Ironheart, and Armor Wars, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, and the short films I Am Groot. Feige indicated Secret Invasion and Ironheart would tie-in with future MCU films. These new Disney+ series, plus Black Panther II, Captain Marvel 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Fantastic Four were confirmed to be part of Phase Four. Marvel Studios has reserved October 7, 2022 and February 17, May 5, July 28, and November 3, 2023 for films. In February 2021, a drama series set in Wakanda for the phase was revealed to be in development from Ryan Coogler, writer and director of Black Panther and its sequel, through his company Proximity Media. The following month, Disney moved Black Widow to July 2021 (taking the spot of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), and announced that it would release simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was moved to September 2021, with the intent for a theatrical-only release.
Films
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Producer(s) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Widow | July 9, 2021 | Cate Shortland | Eric Pearson | Kevin Feige | Post-production |
| Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | September 3, 2021 | Destin Daniel Cretton | David Callaham | ||
| Eternals | November 5, 2021 | Chloé Zhao | Kaz Firpo & Ryan Firpo | ||
| Spider-Man: No Way Home | December 17, 2021 | Jon Watts | Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers | Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal |
|
| Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | March 25, 2022 | Sam Raimi | Jade Bartlett and Michael Waldron | Kevin Feige | Filming |
| Thor: Love and Thunder | May 6, 2022 | Taika Waititi | Taika Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson | ||
| Black Panther II | July 8, 2022 | Ryan Coogler | Pre-production | ||
| Captain Marvel 2 | November 11, 2022 | Nia DaCosta | Megan McDonnell | ||
| Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | 2022 | Peyton Reed | Jeff Loveness | Filming | |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | 2023 | James Gunn | Pre-production | ||
| Fantastic Four | TBA | Jon Watts | TBA | In development | |
Black Widow (2021)
Natasha Romanoff finds herself alone and forced to confront a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Romanoff must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
After exploring the backstory of Scarlett Johansson’s character Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Kevin Feige expressed interest in further exploring it in a solo film. By January 2018, Jac Schaeffer was hired to write the script, with Cate Shortland hired to direct that July. Ned Benson was rewriting the script the next February. Schaeffer and Benson received story credit on the film, with Eric Pearson credited for the screenplay. Filming began in May 2019 and concluded that October, shooting in Norway, the United Kingdom, Budapest, Morocco, and Georgia. Black Widow is scheduled to be released on July 9, 2021, in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access.
Black Widow is set between the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). William Hurt reprises his role as Thaddeus Ross while Robert Downey Jr. appears as Tony Stark / Iron Man, both from previous MCU films.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
When Shang-Chi is drawn into the clandestine Ten Rings organization, he is forced to confront the past he thought he left behind.
By December 2018, Marvel Studios was actively developing their first Asian-led film for Shang-Chi, with David Callaham hired to write the screenplay, and Destin Daniel Cretton to direct by March 2019. At the San Diego Comic-Con that July, Simu Liu was revealed to play the title role, along with Tony Leung as Wenwu / The Mandarin. Filming began in February 2020, but was halted in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed in August and concluded that October. Shooting occurred in Australia and San Francisco. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is scheduled to be released on September 3, 2021.
The Ten Rings organization has been featured or referenced in Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), the Marvel One-Shot All Hail the King (2014), and Ant-Man (2015). Ben Kingsley portrayed Trevor Slattery, an impostor posing as the Mandarin, in Iron Man 3 (2013).
Eternals (2021)
After an unexpected tragedy, the Eternals—an immortal alien race created by the Celestials who have secretly lived on Earth for over 7000 years—reunite to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, the Deviants.
By early 2018, Marvel Studios was developing a film for the Eternals, with Kaz and Ryan Firpo writing the script to focus on a love story between the characters Sersi and Ikaris. Late that September, Chloé Zhao was hired to direct The Eternals, and also served as a writer. Filming occurred from July 2019 to February 2020, shooting throughout England. The main cast, headlined by Richard Madden as Ikaris and Angelina Jolie as Thena, was announced at the July 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, with Gemma Chan cast as Sersi the next month. The title was shortened in August 2020. Eternals is scheduled to be released on November 5, 2021.
Eternals is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Jon Watts, director of the Spider-Man films and Fantastic Four
A third MCU Spider-Man film was planned by early 2017 to be set during Peter Parker / Spider-Man’s senior year of high school, with Feige later saying it would tell “a Peter Parker story” not previously done on film due to the mid-credits scene in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). By August 2019, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers were writing the script while Disney and Sony split on adjusting their agreement over Marvel Studios’ involvement in Spider-Man films, but announced the next month they would co-produce the film, with Tom Holland returning to star,along with Jon Watts as director by June 2020. Filming began in October 2020 in New York City, before moving to Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia later that month. The title was officially announced in February 2021, before filming concluded in late March. Shooting was also expected to occur in Los Angeles and Iceland. Spider-Man: No Way Home is scheduled to be released on December 17, 2021.
The film will tie into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), with Benedict Cumberbatch reprising his role as Dr. Stephen Strangefrom previous MCU films. Jamie Foxx and Andrew Garfield will return as Max Dillon / Electro and Peter Parker / Spider-Man from Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man films, alongside Alfred Molina and Kirsten Dunst as Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus and Mary Jane Watson from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man film trilogy.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Dr. Stephen Strange’s continuing research on the Time Stone is hindered by a friend-turned-enemy, resulting in Strange unleashing unspeakable evil.
By December 2018, Doctor Strange (2016) director and co-writer Scott Derrickson signed to direct a sequel, with Benedict Cumberbatch reprising his title role. The title was officially announced at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, along with Elizabeth Olsen’s involvement. Jade Bartlett was hired to write the script that October. In January 2020, Derrickson stepped down as director over creative differences, but remained an executive producer. The next month, Sam Raimi entered negotiations to direct, and Loki(2021) head writer Michael Waldron joined to rewrite the script. Raimi confirmed he would direct in April 2020. Filming began by early November 2020 in London,but was halted in January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed by that March. Shooting will also occur in New York City, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is scheduled to be released on March 25, 2022.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame and directly set up by the Disney+ series WandaVision (2021). The film will co-star Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch, continuing from her appearance in WandaVision, while the series Loki and the film Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) also tie into it.
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Taika Waititi, director of Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder
In January 2018, Chris Hemsworth expressed interest in continuing to play Thor, despite his contract with Marvel Studios then ending after Avengers: Endgame. By July 2019, Taika Waititi signed to write and direct a fourth Thor film after previously directing Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and the title was officially announced at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con later that month, with Hemsworth returning alongside Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, who becomes the superhero the Mighty Thor after her absence from Ragnarok. In February 2020, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson joined to co-write the screenplay with Waititi. Filming began in late January 2021 in Australia. Thor: Love and Thunder is scheduled to be released on May 6, 2022.
The Guardians of the Galaxy will be featured in the film, with Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, and Karen Gillan reprising their respective roles as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, Mantis, Drax the Destroyer, and Nebula, alongside Sean Gunn as Kraglin Obfonteri from previous MCU films.
Black Panther II (2022)
Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther and Black Panther II, and developer of the untitled Wakanda series
By October 2018, Ryan Coogler signed to write and direct a sequel to Black Panther (2018), which Kevin Feigeconfirmed was in development by mid-2019 with the placeholder title Black Panther II. Plans for the film changed in August 2020 when Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer, with his role as T’Challa not recast. Some of the main returning cast members were confirmed by that November. Filming is expected to begin in June or July 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia, and last up to six months, and will also shoot in Australia. Black Panther II is scheduled to be released on July 8, 2022.
Captain Marvel 2 (2022)
Feige confirmed a sequel to Captain Marvel (2019) was in development at the July 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, with Megan McDonnell writing the script and Brie Larson returning as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel by January 2020. The studio wanted a female director for the film rather than have Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck return from the first, with Nia DaCosta hired to direct by that August. Filming is expected to begin in late May 2021, occurring in London and Los Angeles. Captain Marvel 2 is scheduled to be released on November 11, 2022.
Captain Marvel 2 will be set up by the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel (2021), with Iman Vellani reprising her role as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel from Ms. Marvel, alongside Teyonah Parris as the adult Monica Rambeau from WandaVision, after the character was previously portrayed as a child by Akira Akbar in the first film.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2022)
Ahead of the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), Peyton Reed and Marvel Studios expected a third Ant-Man film would be made and had discussed potential story points,with Reed returning as director by November 2019, alongside Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly as Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope van Dyne / Wasp. Jeff Loveness was writing the script by April 2020, with the title and new cast members revealed that December. Filming in Turkey began in early February 2021, with principal photography expected to begin in late May 2021, occurring in Atlanta and London, and will last until that September. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is scheduled to be released in 2022.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
A third Guardians of the Galaxy film was planned by Marvel Studios in April 2016, with James Gunn returning to write and direct a year later. Disney fired him in July 2018 after the resurfacing of controversial tweets, but reversed course that October and reinstated Gunn as director. Gunn’s return was revealed in early 2019 along with the five main stars’ involvement, with production beginning after Gunn completes his film The Suicide Squad (2021) and its spin-off series Peacemaker (2022). Feige confirmed the film was in development at the July 2019 San Diego Comic-Con. Filming is scheduled to begin in late 2021 in London, and will also occur in Atlanta.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled to be released in 2023.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022).
Fantastic Four
At the July 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, Feige announced Marvel Studios was developing a Fantastic Four film for the MCU, with Jon Watts announced as the director in December 2020.
Television series
| Series | Season | Episodes | Originally released | Head writer | Status | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | |||||||
| WandaVision | 1 | 9 | January 15, 2021 | March 5, 2021 | Disney+ | Jac Schaeffer | Released | ||
| The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | 1 | 6 | March 19, 2021 | April 23, 2021 | Malcolm Spellman | Streaming | |||
| Loki | 1 | 6 | June 11, 2021 | TBA | Michael Waldron | Awaiting release | |||
| What If…? | 1 | 10 | Mid-2021 | TBA | A. C. Bradley | In production | |||
| Ms. Marvel | 1 | TBA | Late 2021 | TBA | Bisha K. Ali | Filming | |||
| Hawkeye | 1 | TBA | Late 2021 | TBA | Jonathan Igla | ||||
| Moon Knight | 1 | 6 | 2022 | TBA | Jeremy Slater | Pre-production | |||
| She-Hulk | 1 | 10 | 2022 | TBA | Jessica Gao | ||||
| The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special | Special | Late 2022 | James Gunn | ||||||
| Secret Invasion | 1 | 6 | TBA | TBA | Kyle Bradstreet | ||||
| Ironheart | 1 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | In development | |||
| Armor Wars | 1 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | Pre-production | |||
| Untitled Wakanda series | 1 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | In development | |||
WandaVision (2021)
Jac Schaeffer, writer of Black Widow and head writer of WandaVision
Wanda Maximoff and Vision are living the idyllic suburban life, trying to conceal their powers. But as they begin to enter new decades and encounter television tropes, the couple suspects things are not as they seem.
By September 2018, Marvel Studios was developing a limited series starring Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany as Vision, with a focus on their relationship. Jac Schaeffer was hired to write the first episode and serve as head writer in January 2019, and the series was officially announced and titled that April, with Olsen and Bettany confirmed. It explores where Maximoff’s alias the Scarlet Witch comes from. Filming began in November 2019 at Pinewood Atlanta Studios, with Matt Shakman directing the series, but was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed in Los Angeles in September 2020, and concluded that November.WandaVision premiered on January 15, 2021, and ran for nine episodes, concluding on March 5, 2021.
WandaVision is set three weeks after the events of Avengers: Endgame, and directly sets up Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which also features Maximoff. Teyonah Parris plays an adult version of Monica Rambeau, who appeared as a child in Captain Marvel, played by Akira Akbar, while Randall Park and Kat Dennings reprise their MCU roles of Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis in the series. Evan Peters appears as Ralph Bohner, a man posing as Pietro Maximoff, who was killed in the film Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. This was a nod to Peters’ role as Peter Maximoff in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men film series. The organization S.W.O.R.D. was introduced in the series, one of the first comic elements previously controlled by 20th Century Fox to be integrated into the MCU following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney, while the Darkhold is also featured, after previously appearing in the Marvel Television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.and Runaways with a different design.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes team-up in a worldwide adventure that tests their abilities and their patience.
By late October 2018, Malcolm Spellman was hired to write and serve as head writer on a limited series starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier. The series was officially announced and titled in April 2019, with Mackie and Stan confirmed. Filming began in October 2019, in Atlanta, with Kari Skogland directing the series, but was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed in early September 2020,and concluded late the next month. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier premiered on March 19, 2021, and consists of six episodes, concluding on April 23, 2021.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is set six months after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Georges St-Pierre, Don Cheadle, Daniel Brühl, Emily VanCamp, and Florence Kasumba reprise their respective MCU roles of Georges Batroc, James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Helmut Zemo, Sharon Carter, and Ayo.
Loki season 1
After stealing the Tesseract during the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), an alternate version of Loki is brought to the mysterious Time Variance Authority (TVA) organization and their Time-Keepers, and is forced to fix several timelines he broke while traveling through time altering human history with the Tesseract, ending up trapped in his own crime thriller.
By September 2018, Marvel Studios was developing a limited series starring Tom Hiddleston as Loki, which Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that November. In February 2019, Michael Waldron was hired as head writer, and Hiddleston was confirmed to reprise his title role. Filming began in January 2020, with Kate Herron directing the series, but was suspended that March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed in September 2020 at Pinewood Atlanta Studios, and concluded in mid-December. The first season of Loki is set to premiere on June 11, 2021, and will consist of six episodes. A second season is in development.
Loki is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame and ties into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
What If…? season 1
What If…? explores what would happen if major moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) occurred differently.
By March 2019, Marvel Studios was developing an animated anthology series based on the What If comic book concept to explore how the MCU would be altered if certain events had occurred differently, with it not being canon to the main MCU. Jeffrey Wright was revealed to narrate the series as Uatu / The Watcher that July, with many actors from the films also voicing their respective characters. Voice recording began the next month, with A.C. Bradley serving as head writer and Bryan Andrews directing the first season. Production continued remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, with on-site work suspended. The first season of What If…? is set to premiere in mid-2021, and will consist of 10 episodes. A second season is in development.
Ms. Marvel
By the August 2019 D23 Expo, Marvel Studios was developing a series centered on Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel, with Bisha K. Ali hired as head writer. In September 2020, Iman Vellani was cast in the title role. Filming began by early November 2020 at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and Meera Menon directing episodes of the series. Ms. Marvel is set to premiere in late 2021.
Ms. Marvel will set-up Captain Marvel 2 (2022), which Vellani will also star in.
Hawkeye
By April 2019, Marvel Studios was developing a limited series starring Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye, which would involve Barton passing the mantle of Hawkeye to the character Kate Bishop. At the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, the series was officially announced with it exploring more of Barton’s time as the vigilante Ronin, with Jonathan Igla hired as head writer that September while Hailee Steinfeld was in consideration to portray Bishop. Steinfeld was confirmed as Bishop in early December 2020, when filming began in New York City, with both Rhys Thomas and Bert & Bertie each directing a block of episodes. Shooting also occurred at Trilith Studios in Atlanta.Hawkeye is set to premiere in late 2021. A spin-off series starring Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez / Echo is in development.
Hawkeye is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Florence Pugh will reprise her role as Yelena Belova / Black Widow from Black Widow.
Moon Knight
At the 2019 D23 Expo, Marvel Studios announced that a series centered on Marc Spector / Moon Knight was in development, with Jeremy Slater hired as head writer that November. In October 2020, Oscar Isaac entered negotiations to portray the title role, and was confirmed to have been cast by January 2021. Filming is expected to begin around mid-April 2021 in Budapest, with Mohamed Diab and duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead directing episodes of the series. Shooting will also occur in Atlanta, England, and Los Angeles. Moon Knight is set to premiere in 2022, and will consist of six episodes.
She-Hulk
She-Hulk revolves around Bruce Banner’s cousin, who gains superpowers after receiving a blood transfusion from him.
At the 2019 D23 Expo, Marvel Studios announced that a series centered on Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk was in development, with Jessica Gao hired as head writer that November. In September 2020, Tatiana Maslany was cast in the title role. Filming is expected to begin in mid-April 2021 at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, and will last until that August, with Kat Coiro and Anu Valia directing episodes of the series. She-Hulk is set to premiere in 2022, and will consist of ten episodes.
Mark Ruffalo will reprise his role as Bruce Banner / Hulk from previous MCU films, while Tim Roth reprises his role as Emil Blonsky / Abomination from The Incredible Hulk(2008).
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
James Gunn, writer and director of the Guardians of the Galaxy films and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
In December 2020, Marvel Studios announced that James Gunn would write and direct a new television special featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy, with the main cast returning. Filming will occur in late 2021 during production of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is set to premiere in late 2022.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is set between the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Secret Invasion
A sect of Skrulls have infiltrated all aspects of life on Earth.
By September 2020, Marvel Studios was developing a series centered on Nick Fury, with Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role and Kyle Bradstreet serving as head writer. That December, Marvel Studios revealed the series to be an adaptation of the Secret Invasion comic book storyline, and confirmed Jackson, with Ben Mendelsohn co-starring as Talos. Filming is expected to begin in April 2021 in Los Angeles. Secret Invasionwill consist of six episodes.
Ironheart
In December 2020, Marvel Studios announced a series centered on Riri Williams / Ironheart was in development starring Dominique Thorne.
Armor Wars
James Rhodes must confront one of Tony Stark’s greatest fears when Stark’s tech falls into the wrong hands.
In December 2020, Marvel Studios announced a series based on the Armor Wars comic book storyline, with Don Cheadle reprising his role as James Rhodes / War Machine. The death of Tony Stark will factor into the series. Filming is expected to begin in April 2021 in Atlanta.
Untitled Wakanda series
In February 2021, a drama series set in Wakanda was revealed to be in development from Ryan Coogler, writer and director of Black Panther and its sequel, through his company Proximity Media.
Recurring cast and characters
List indicator(s)
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in multiple films and/or television series within Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and have appeared in the billing block for at least one film or have been a member of the main cast for at least one series.
- A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the films or series, or that the character’s presence has not yet been confirmed.
- A G indicates a guest appearance in the series.
- A V indicates a voice-only role.
| Character | Films | Television series | Animation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Banner Hulk |
Mark Ruffalo | Mark RuffaloGV | |
| James “Bucky” Barnes Winter Soldier |
Sebastian Stan | Sebastian StanGV | |
| Clint Barton Hawkeye |
Jeremy Renner | Jeremy RennerGV | |
| Yelena Belova Black Widow |
Florence Pugh | ||
| Drax the Destroyer | Dave Bautista | ||
| Jane Foster Mighty Thor |
Natalie Portman | Natalie PortmanGV | |
| Nick Fury | Samuel L. Jackson | Samuel L. JacksonGV | |
| Gamora | Zoe Saldana | ||
| Grandmaster | Jeff Goldblum | Jeff GoldlbumGV | |
| Groot | Vin DieselV | ||
| Kamala Khan Ms. Marvel |
Iman Vellani | ||
| Scott Lang Ant-Man |
Paul Rudd | Paul RuddGV | |
| Loki | Tom Hiddleston | Tom HiddlestonGV | |
| Mantis | Pom Klementieff | ||
| Wanda Maximoff Scarlet Witch |
Elizabeth Olsen | ||
| Nebula | Karen Gillan | Karen GillanGV | |
| Kraglin Obfonteri | Sean Gunn | Sean GunnGV | |
| Hank Pym | Michael Douglas | Michael DouglasGV | |
| Peter Quill Star-Lord |
Chris Pratt | ||
| Monica Rambeau | Teyonah Parris | ||
| James “Rhodey” Rhodes War Machine |
Don Cheadle | ||
| Rocket | Bradley CooperV | ||
| Dr. Stephen Strange | Benedict Cumberbatch | ||
| Thor | Chris Hemsworth | Chris HemsworthGV | |
Marketing
In early January 2021, Marvel announced their “Marvel Must Haves” program, which reveals new toys, games, books, apparel, home decor, and other merchandise from Hasbro, Lego, Funko, Her Universe, Loungefly and others based on the episodes of WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…?, Ms. Marvel, and Hawkeye, the Disney+ series releasing in 2021. The program began on January 18, 2021, with new reveals each Monday until the end of 2021. Paul Gitter, senior vice president of Marvel Licensing called the program “an unprecedented weekly celebration” with products that “authentically celebrate each new episode”.
Critical response
| Title | Critical | |
|---|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | |
| WandaVision | 91% (173 reviews) | 77 (40 reviews) |
| The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | 92% (181 reviews) | 74 (28 reviews) |
Ahead of WandaVision premiering to start the phase, Julia Alexander at The Verge wondered if Marvel Studios would be oversaturating their content saying having essentially “a new Marvel thing each week is either a blessing or a curse” depending on how viewers felt about the MCU. While Alexander felt franchise fatigue was possible, she said Marvel Studios and Disney’s biggest concern was losing trust from the fanbase, pointing to the Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015–2019) as an example of a large portion of the fans not being pleased with the quality of the content. Alexander was encouraged by the fact that Feige was leading development of the Disney+ series, unlike the past Marvel television series being separate from the MCU films and led by Marvel Television’s Jeph Loeb, and that the studio “just needs to keep doing what it’s already doing” in order for the “same level of attention” given to creating the overarching story in the past films to be applied to the Disney+ series.
Tie-in media
Marvel Studios: Legends (2021)
Announced in December 2020, this series examines individual heroes, villains, and moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how they connect, in anticipation of the upcoming stories that will feature them in Phase Four. Marvel Studios: Legends premiered on Disney+ on January 8, 2021, with the release of the first two episodes. Episodes highlighted Wanda Maximoff, Vision, Falcon, Winter Soldier, Zemo, and Sharon Carter, ahead of the characters’ appearances in Disney+ series.
Marvel Studios: Assembled (2021)
Announced in February 2021, each special of the documentary series goes behind the scenes of the making of the MCU films and television series with cast members and additional creatives. Marvel Studios: Assembled premiered on Disney+ on March 12, 2021, with a special for WandaVision, followed by additional specials for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Loki, and Hawkeye.
I Am Groot
In December 2020, I Am Groot, a series of short films starring Baby Groot, was announced for Disney+.
Comic books
| Title | Issue(s) | Publication date(s) | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First published | Last published | ||||
| Marvel’s Black Widow Prelude | 2 | January 15, 2020 | February 19, 2020 | Peter David | C.F. Villa |