Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is just about to get its second film in Doctor Strange, but so many minds have already started to look ahead to the end of this phase -- and the MCU as we know it in some regards. Avengers: Infinity War and Untitled Avengers previously were announced as a two-part film that would be closing this chapter of the MCU, but as pre-production went along, the decision was made to remove the two-part subtitles and leave the fourth Avengers film's official title a secret. This has left some people wondering why exactly this decision was made and whether or not it will feel as if Infinity War is merely a setup for the next film.

That does not appear to be the case thankfully, with the two movies still set to have connections, as will always be the case in the biggest franchise currently running. For viewers this means that the ending to Infinity War should be a satisfying one as it completes that story, but still leaves threads hanging for the next installment. While he would not reveal when the fourth film will be titled, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige did explain the reasoning behind the change further.

IGN recently had the chance to talk to Feige following a 15 minute preview for Doctor Strange, but talk eventually turned to these other films, where Benedict Cumberbatch will be reprising his role as well. While the decision to change the names was not always going to be the case, it is something they felt made more sense as they progressed throughout the pre-production phases.

There's a reason we have publicly called the first one 'Infinity War' and the second one 'Untitled,' because the movies we were developing were not -- certainly there's a connection, there are with all our movies -- but it's not a first part and a second part. It's a whole movie and a whole story, and then a whole movie and a whole story. That's about all I can say. It's certainly inspired by everything that has come before and everything that is hinted at before.

Thanos and the Gauntlet

One of the biggest reasons why these films are so highly anticipated is Marvel's ability to finally bring multiple characters together for the clash against Thanos. With so many different characters and different power sets, Feige is looking forward to seeing all of them work together to get the Infinity Gauntlet away from the Mad Titan.

We will be intercutting a lot of stories in that movie in a lot of different locales, as it sort of is in the Avengers movies as well; who is facing off against who. In this movie, it's going to be fun to mix that up. One of the things that's great about the Infinity Gauntlet is everybody tried to go up against Thanos whether they were god-like powers or not, because that's what Avengers do. The fun about those two movies that we're doing essentially at the same time is everybody's there.

Both of the upcoming Avengers films will be some of the most talked about films of their respective years based on the size of the casts alone. It may seem as though these movies are far off and only dreams right now, but production will be starting up in Atlanta in a few weeks and the release date for Infinity War being just under a year and half away. Once production starts up and more films in the MCU are released, fans should start to get a better understanding of what exactly the story will be in these movies outside of all the heroes fighting Thanos.

Doctor Strange opens November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man: Homecoming– July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; Black Panther – February 16, 2018; Avengers: Infinity War – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel– March 8, 2019Untitled Avengers – May 3, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on July 12, 2019, and on May 1, July 10, and November 6 in 2020.

Source: IGN