The next six movies to be included in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are all sequels, and although they are part of the franchise’s intricate storytelling, they might also pose a problem. With the inclusion of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the MCU has now produced twenty-seven feature films. While not all of these films have garnered a positive reception, the MCU remains the highest-grossing franchise of all time, continuously making history and forever changing the film industry. However, its massive success does not guarantee invincibility, and the fact that the upcoming MCU movies are mostly sequels is a potential roadblock.
Since the release of Iron Man in 2008, the superhero franchise has consistently produced content, and over the years, Marvel films have built up to a gigantic crossover event, as seen in Avengers: Endgame. This strategy has fulfilled Kevin Feige’s vision of the films mimicking the rhythm of the comic books they are based on. Individual movies introduce new characters and allow these heroes to grow and handle things on their own. When a universe-altering event comes up, these characters come together and resolve the problem, but after that, they exist in their own worlds again. This formula has certainly worked for the film series in the past, but after a decade, it might already be time for a change.
With the Infinity Saga having reached a conclusion, Marvel is expanding with its Phase 4 slate. Beginning with the Disney+ series WandaVision in January 2021, the MCU Phase 4 brings back familiar faces dealing with the aftermath of Endgame, while also presenting new heroes and fresh origin stories. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Loki came next, followed by Phase 4’s first film, Black Widow. By August, the multiverse was explored in What If…?, while Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings shattered glass ceilings with its release. Chloé Zhao’s Eternals and the Disney+ exclusive series Hawkeye were followed by the MCU's final film of 2021, with Spider-Man: No Way Home breaking box-office records worldwide. The six movies that will arrive after it, however, are all MCU sequels, which creates a potential issue in the franchise.
Marvel Phase 4's Next 6 Movies Are All MCU Sequels
The next six movies in Marvel’s Phase 4 slate are all sequels: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Marvels, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. All of them are films following up on established characters in the franchise, including Doctor Strange, Phase 1 original Thor, Captain Marvel, Ant-Man, and James Gunn's oddball Guardians of the Galaxy. As of this writing, these are also the only remaining movies in the MCU that have firm release dates.
Why The MCU's Phase 4 Has So Many Sequels
Given how Marvel has traditionally operated, releasing sequels is a part of their world-building. This allows the franchise to continue telling their characters’ stories individually, providing them opportunities for growth and heroism and completing their development arcs. However, the MCU Phase 4, with its movies and shows, is still in a transitional phase. With the franchise’s focus moving away from the founding members of the Avengers, it needs to double down on its remaining heroes, zeroing in on who can potentially lead the superhero team in the event of another universal, catastrophic "Avengers-level" event. Additionally, these sequels are the perfect opportunity to introduce new characters, such as America Chavez, Ms. Marvel, and Adam Warlock, making the cinematic multiverse more colorful and interesting.
Why Marvel's Upcoming Movies All Being Sequels Is A Problem
Of course, the MCU’s upcoming sequels are earned and exciting in their own right, especially because viewers have not yet seen how these characters have been faring since the Blip. In a way, it is only logical that Marvel allows time for the continuation of these pre-existing narratives. But, counting No Way Home, Marvel is producing seven sequels in a row, which arguably gives off a “been there, done that” feeling. Much of the MCU Phase 3 was already anchored on sequels, so Phase 4 should have been the time to embrace newer heroes. That was exactly why the introduction of Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings worked so well, since it tapped into the curiosity of viewers over a relatively unknown character. Eternals, with its ensemble of powerful beings, also attempted to bring fans a fresh viewing experience. At this point, keeping things different is important to maintain the momentum and relevance of the MCU. After all, the decade-old franchise has already proven itself numerous times, so even though it deviates from what it did before, it will still succeed. In fact, if the MCU sustains producing these many sequels consecutively, it risks becoming stale and unappealing to its viewers.
Marvel's Upcoming MCU Disney+ Shows Don't Have Its Sequel Problem
Marvel’s 2021 Disney+ shows also had this sequel problem to an extent. Despite not really being sequels of previously released shows, WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…?, and Hawkeye are all predicated on well-established characters moving forward in their individual stories. But, the MCU Disney+ slate this 2022 hopefully changes that. The titular characters of Moon Knight, She-Hulk, and Ms. Marvel are all newcomers to the superhero franchise, and with their arrival comes another set of new conflicts and villains.
How Marvel Phase 5 Can Avoid The MCU's Sequel Problem
As Marvel injects new characters, it will inevitably open up room for more sequels in the future. While that remains an integral part of franchise-building, the MCU Phase 5 can potentially avoid this sequel overload with the new content it will tackle. Some reported and rumored Phase 5 heroes include Blade, Nova, and Captain Britain. The Thunderbolts' movie lineup is presumably assembling already, while the Fantastic Four and X-Men are on their way to being rebooted once more. Regardless, Marvel houses thousands of characters it can bring into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, guaranteeing its creative longevity.
Key Release Dates
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Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
Release Date:2022-05-06 -
Thor: Love and Thunder
Release Date:2022-07-08 -
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Release Date:2022-11-11 -
captain marvel 2
Release Date:2023-07-28 -
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release Date:2023-05-05 -
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Release Date:2023-02-17
