Phase Four has been the most expansive installment of the MCU throughout the shortest amount of time, which has led to some diverging appreciation for it from the fanbase. From its beginning with WandaVision all the way to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Phase Four has examined the trauma and disorder caused by the events of Avengers: Endgame. It was characters like Wanda Maximoff, Loki, and unexpectedly, Wong, who were at the center of the Phase’s narrative and connectivity as the first part of the Multiverse Saga.
As for Phase Five, it begins officially with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in February, and interestingly, along with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, fans are noting that even the more classically comedic projects are taking on more serious tones. Currently, with six films and seven Disney + series, Phase Five is fully stuffed, though seemingly there’s more connective tissue than was present throughout Phase Four. Whether for their prominence in individual projects or over the Phase as a whole, these are presently the most important and narratively consequential characters in the MCU going into Phase Five.
Kang The Conqueror
For a while fans weren’t sure who the Thanos-level big bad of the new saga could be. That is until this summer when Marvel revealed the full slate of Phase Five and some of Phase Six, including Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. That is practically a guarantee that Kang the Conqueror taking filling that position - at least in a way. Jonathan Majors is finally debuting as the actual multiversal warlord in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania after previously playing He Who Remain, a Kang variant, in Loki.
While he’s an antagonist, Kang is the character fans are most excited to see even more so than the titular hero. In fact, given his actions in the comics and the Twitter reaction to the recent Quantumania trailer, some believe this could be Scott Lang’s last hurrah in the MCU, struck down by Kang. Interestingly, in setting the pace towards Phase Six, Phase Five could incorporate other variants of Kang to prepare audiences for what to expect in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, if that’s the path they take as some fans theorize.
Valentina Allegra De Fontaine
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sets up many upcoming Phase Five projects, including unexpectedly Thunderbolts. It was revealed that Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Valentina Allegra de Fontaine isn’t a countess like in the comics, but rather the new head of the CIA - as well as Everett Ross’ ex-wife. She first popped up in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and the Black Widow, clearly recruiting for a new superhuman team.
While she is currently only confirmed to be appearing in Thunderbolts, it wouldn’t be surprising to see her reprise elsewhere including Secret Invasion and/or Captain America: New World Order. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, she quickly proved she’s not someone to be trusted, saying she dreams about having the vastly destructive weapons of Wakanda under her sole control. As Thunderbolts is the big team-up film of the Phase, most of the preceding projects will set it up and probably delve into Valentina’s influence over certain characters and authority.
Thunderbolt Ross
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Marvel has made some smart decisions regarding recasting so far in the Multiverse Saga. T’Challa wasn’t recast for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, rather focusing on his impact on the characters, world, and franchise. Alternatively, they did recast Thunderbolt Ross. William Hurt played him starting in The Incredible Hulk up till Black Widow. He passed away earlier this year, but Ross will now be played by the legend, Harrison Ford.
He is already slated to appear in Captain America: New World Order as the new American President. His role in the Phase will likely extend beyond that. The fact that the Thunderbolts are named as such is a big indicator of the possibility that he and Valentina are working together, logical for two government officials. While he might not in the flesh like others, it would be strange for there not to be some big mentions of Thunderbolt Ross leading into Captain America: New World Order.
Daredevil
Despite some polarizing responses to Phase Four as a whole, there’s one opinion the majority of MCU fans share - they are utterly delighted that Charlie Cox is back as Matt Murdock aka Daredevil, and they are excited for Daredevil: Born Again. The implementation of Disney+ put the likes of Daredevil on ice, much to the chagrin of fans, who appreciate the characters, tone, violence, and narratives of the Netflix series.
Fortunately, however, he’s back, and he’s clearly here to stay. Even before Daredevil: Born Again, Daredevil is set to return in Echo, presumably to help teach the young hero what it takes and how to best use her powers. His role throughout the Phase can be quite consequential in bringing other related characters into the fray, whether newcomers like White Tiger or beloved veterans from Netflix including Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher.
Echo
Phase Five is going to see the first two spin-offs of Phase Four Disney+ series, Echo and Agatha: Coven of Chaos. The latter has been getting some attention recently in light of casting news and hopes that it will bring back Elizabeth Olson’s Scarlet Witch. However, the former is far more mysterious as there’s very little known about it. As such, Maya Lopez aka Echo is a character to watch diligently.
As with Daredevil, she can help expand the scope of street-level stories by introducing some new heroes. However, more than that she’ll be critical to more cultural exploration within the MCU as she returns home to reconnect with her indigenous roots, which could entail her going on a vision quest incorporating more facets of spirituality and magic.
Ironheart
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduced audiences not only to one of the best villains the MCU has ever seen in Tenoch Huerta Mejía’s Namor, but also to genius inventor, Riri Williams, aka Ironheart. Played by Dominique Thorne, she is already set to start in her own Disney+ series in Phase Five, Ironheart, which is quite remarkable since she’s relatively new to the comics having debuted only in 2016.
Importantly, she will be facing off against the Hood, a dangerous crime lord with magical powers, played by Anthony Ramos. That could be the most significant collaboration and conflict between science and magic in the MCU to date. Additionally, Ironheart will logically set up Armor Wars somewhat, while also furthering the Young Avengers agenda that popped up throughout Phase Four.
Captain Marvel
Following the season finale of Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers is in an unexpected pickle, having swapped places with Kamala Khan from across the galaxy. That’s the big dilemma of The Marvels. The two of them and Monica Rambeau keep unexpectedly switching. Interestingly, compared to the preceding projects (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and at least Secret Invasion), The Marvels has a lighter tone.
Given the title, The Marvels could introduce some new and major cosmic MCU heroes and former Captain Marvels themselves, Genis-Vell and/or Phyla-Vell. As for the current Captain Marvel, Carol is going to take over as the connective tissue between the MCU’s Earth-bound and space-faring stories from the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Captain Marvel
Ironheart will be filling the void left by Tony Stark, but that’s not the same as being the next Iron Man. Phase Four explored passing the torch with the likes of Sam Wilson in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Kate Bishop in Hawkeye. In the former, Sam came to discover the true potential of the shield and what he can do as Captain America, but now in Phase Five, he’ll have to understand the full scope of responsibility that comes with the moniker.
Captain America: New World Order will be the MCU’s first project featuring the successor as the main and, seemingly, sole protagonist. Unlike others, Sam wouldn’t fit in with other projects in Phase Five, except Thunderbolts in a small role, so this will have to be his big showing. He’ll have to demonstrate even more the type of Captain America he’ll be, how he’ll work in conjunction with other heroes and government officials, and especially, how he’ll deal with a new breed of adversaries thanks to The Leader’s return.
Blade
After hearing his voice in a post-credits stinger in Eternals, audiences will finally get to see Mahershala Ali as Blade in Blade. The film was initially slated for earlier in the phase, but now it is set to close out Phase Five in September 2024. It’s been a long-time coming since it was first announced in 2019, and given the popularity of Ali, the hero, and the Wesley Snipes Blade trilogy, the MCU’s Blade is highly anticipated.
Blade will be instrumental in the implementation of more supernatural and dark storylines building off from the foundations established in Werewolf by Night. He’s the avenue into introducing vampires and other major monsters into the MCU and significantly will strengthen fans’ desires for a Midnight Sons team-up film.
War Machine
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When Armor Wars was first announced, it was a Disney+ show. Now it is a full-length film presumably in Phase Six with Fantastic Four and Deadpool 3. This was done because the full scope of the project required a film's budget as opposed to a TV show. Excitingly, this will give Don Cheadle’s Rhodey even more due attention. He is already set to reprise in Secret Invasion, though the full scope of his role is still unknown. Presumably, since the show is supposed to lead into Armor Wars, he could have an unexpectedly prominent role.
Intriguingly, other projects can build up to Armor Wars, including The Marvels, Ironheart, Captain America: New World Order, and Thunderbolts. As such, fans could see more of Rhodey than they might’ve expected, and he could fill the void left by Wong by cameoing often.