The future of Marvel Cinematic Universe is only looking more interesting. From the standalone Black Widow movie to the upcoming line-up for Phase 4, the cinematic universe is clearly set to dominate the next decade. MCU’s chronology, especially the different timelines of the phases is a great way of mapping out the future of the studio. It doesn’t just help the fandom get an idea about how the universe is shaping up but also makes it easier for them to track its history.
What Kevin Feige and his team have been able to achieve in terms of design is quite unparalleled and also exemplary, and the set-up of the films itself has fans in awe about how ambitious a superhero universe could look like. Redditors, too, have a lot to say about the MCU and its future, obviously. And here are just some of the un-missable Reddit threads about the MCU which hardcore fans can’t afford to overlook.
The Phase-ology Lessons
What Kevin Feige and Co are trying to do with the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most extraordinary things to have happened in Hollywood, and also the most elaborate. Fans may still be a little puzzled about the chronology and where the Phase 4 films fit in.
This helpful Redditor made a super convenient chart tracking the chronological, phase-wise plan of MCU which lays out the timeline and the names of films, including the stand-alone Black Widow movie and Shang-Chi.
Justice For Bucky’s Arm
His super heavy metal arm is definitely one of the coolest things about the Winter Soldier, and when the Wakandans made him one out of Vibranium, fans immediately assumed his arm would be a big part of his role in the last two Avenger films. But as this Redditor correctly points out Bucky simply uses the powerful arm to hold rifles and uses it like he would use a regular arm.
This thread also saw some comments about how Bucky has almost always been at the back burner when it came to ensemble cast MCU films but is actually one of the most promising standalone characters.
For The WandaVision Fans
There has been a lot of debate over whether WandaVision is canon to the MCU. The broader narrative of the show clearly has a connection with Wanda’s storyline in Avengers: Endgame, so technically it should find a place in the universe. WandaVision director Matt Shakman insists that the show’s sole focus is on Wanda and her journey to self-fulfillment, especially since she has so much untapped potential and has been wronged so many times.
So, this Redditor’s post questioning the timeline of the show invites some interesting comments from fans which should offer some perspective on how WandaVision is placed in the MCU.
The US Agent Dilemma
The outrage over a regular, non-powered Captain America has poured over to Reddit, of course. There are so many reasons why John Walker was a bad pick to take over Captain America’s mantle, and this Reddit thread sums up pretty much all of them. Clearly, US Agent as Captain America makes no sense, but some of his actions also throw the abilities of the original Captain America under doubt.
As this Redditor points out if Walker could do so many things that Captain America could, doesn't it make the Cap's powers - which he acquired from the super-soldier serum - less significant?
Thor Stans Unite
This thread earned over 30,000 upvotes and with good reason. This Redditor asks the Thor fans to share the things they liked best about Taika Waititi’s treatment of Thor: Ragnarok and fans clearly had a lot to say.
Many comments also suggest that Waititi’s direction is also a refreshing change of pace for the MCU as a whole, and not just for the Thor franchise because his filmmaking steered away from the formulaic narrative and introduced a lot of interesting elements which aren’t usually spotted in superhero movies.
Long Live, Iron Man
Iron Man’s death is one of the most argued upon subjects within the MCU fandom; he’s not just the most crucial character but also the architect of the Avengers’ team design. Killing off someone as significant as Tony Stark was definitely a huge gamble on MCU’s part. This Redditor thinks Iron Man is simply too important to the cinematic universe’s future projects to simply do away with.
In Spider-Man: Far From Home, which is the last film of Phase 3, Iron Man’s presence is largely felt even though he is dead. But this 'absent benefactor' formula may not be the best recipe for the next films, especially because Iron Man is simply too pivotal to the broader narrative of the superheroes and his influence is inescapable.
Loki For The Win?
Fans are still speculating over what Loki’s standalone show could look like. But before it releases this June, it’s important for fans to explore something crucial. Is Loki the most competent villain in the MCU?
He’s in the top three for sure, but considering how much he was able to sabotage in the Thor films and in Avengers and Infinity War, he is clearly very skilled in what he does. This Reddit thread chalks out Loki’s cumulative influence on the Avengers timeline and anyone can see how much the God of Mischief has been able to accomplish.
The Thanos Issue
Many fans actually saw some merits in Thanos’ broader plan, but the truth is Thanos was a hardliner whose plan had very little to do with saving a planet and more to do with domination, so he was obviously moved by narcissism.
This Reddit thread sees some very valid arguments against Thanos as Redditors point out that by eliminating so many minds from the face of the earth, he’s actually set back the Universe hundreds of years, in a massive global upset.
The Fabulous Iron Man
The fact that Iron Man, the first film of the MCU, was a runaway hit definitely had a lot to do with how the studio envisioned the future of the cinematic universe. Iron Man was Marvel Studios’ first independent feature and fans like this Redditor have often noted how impressive the film was in tenor and visual appeal, as compared to the later films; the first MCU film was a lot more meticulous and was also the first film fully shot by cinematographer Mathew Libatique.
There’s no great mystery to it, of course. Aside from the impeccable casting, the film simply had a lot more riding on it as it was the gateway to something much bigger and the studio put its best foot forward. As a result, Iron Man is arguably the best standalone film in the entire cinematic universe.