Marvel Studios' slate is packed with upcoming titles that make up the rest of Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 4. The end of the Infinity Saga in 2019 was quickly followed by a full slate announcement for what was the original Phase 4 plan. This included dating five movies and confirming plans for the first five MCU Disney+ shows. Miraculously, all of these projects have now been released - even if COVID-19 forced repeated delays and production headaches for most of the projects.
When Marvel Studios first announced the Phase 4 slate, president Kevin Feige said that the two-year window of projects was the entirety of Phase 4. That created plenty of confusion as this would make Phase 4 the shortest (despite a high volume of projects) and since there was no Avengers-level film announced that could give audiences a similar culminating experience. It has since become clear that this was not entirely true, as Marvel Studios has plans for dozens of other movies and shows that now appear to be part of the MCU Phase 4 slate.
The never-ending output of Marvel Studios has put the MCU in a position where several shows and movies are already done filming and now gearing up for their respective release dates. Not everything that Marvel has in development is confirmed or likely to be part of Phase 4, though. There will be an endpoint to the Phase 4 slate and its mixture of major storylines like the emergence of the multiverse and many young heroes, leaving Marvel with room to do even more in Phase 5. Here is a potential view of what the rest of Marvel's Phase 4 plans look like, and how the slate could end during 2024.
I Am Groot
Marvel Studios returns to the world of animation in Phase 4 with I Am Groot. The five episode animated series of shorts comes from the mind of James Gunn and features fun adventures with Baby Groot. The series' events are not confirmed to be part of the actual MCU continuity, though. It is expected that some of the other Guardians of the Galaxy cast members will return alongside Vin Diesel, who once again voices the lovable tree. I Am Groot begins streaming on Disney+ on August 10, 2022.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Fourteen years after the release of The Incredible Hulk, Marvel Studios is finally giving audiences another Hulk-centric project - but this time it is Bruce Banner's cousin Jennifer Walters who takes the focus. She-Hulk stars Tatiana Maslany as the superpowered lawyer. The show is designed to be a half-hour legal comedy littered with Marvel characters. It is confirmed that Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Abomination (Tim Roth), and Wong (Benedict Wong) will return to the MCU, while rumors point to Daredevil (Charlie Cox) returning as well. She-Hulk's villain is expected to be Titania (Jameela Jamil). The show begins streaming on Disney+ on August 17, 2022.
What If...? Season 2
It is expected that Marvel's What If...? season 2 will also have a place in the MCU Phase 4 slate. The first season of the animated series debuted on Disney+ in 2021 to a mixed reception, but Marvel Studios already had confirmed plans to make a second season. Details on what stories season 2 will contain are mostly under wraps, although the Gamora/Tony Stark episode cut from season 1 will kick off the new season. Marvel's What If...? season 2 will likely begin streaming in the fall of 2022 on Disney+.
Werewolf by Night Halloween Special
The Marvel Phase 4 slate includes another venture into new territory with an untitled Halloween special reportedly focusing on Werewolf by Night. The special is believed to be roughly an hour in length and a true venture into horror for the MCU. Gael Garcia Bernal plays the lead role, reportedly Jack Russell a.k.a. Werewolf by Night. There are also reports that Laura Donnelly joined the cast - as either Vampire by Night or Elsa Moonstone. Rumors about the Werewolf by Night special also suggest Blade (Mahershala Ali) and Man-Thing could appear. The special is expected to stream on Disney+ around Halloween 2022.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The Black Panther franchise returns as part of Marvel's Phase 4 slate. Director Ryan Coogler helms the anticipated sequel, which underwent major changes following the passing of star Chadwick Boseman. With Marvel opting against recasting T'Challa, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is expected to give bigger roles to Shuri (Letitia Wright), M'Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) - and one of them will likely be the new Black Panther. The sequel's story revolves around Wakanda and Atlantis going to war, which means the debut of Namor (Tenoch Huerta), and rumors suggest Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) plays an integral role. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever releases exclusively in theaters on November 11, 2022.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Another piece of Guardians of the Galaxy content is coming in Phase 4's 2022 plans. James Gunn created the special as a Star Wars riff and to explore where the Guardians of the Galaxy went in Thor: Love and Thunder and set up the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. All of the main cast members are confirmed to appear in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, and Gunn has also teased a few surprise cameos. The special will stream on Disney+ near Christmas 2022, but no official release date has been announced.
Secret Invasion
Samuel L. Jackson gets his long-awaited starring role as Nick Fury in Marvel's Phase 4 slate thanks to Secret Invasion. The Disney+ series is a loose adaptation of the major comic crossover event that saw Skrulls infiltrate the Avengers, governments, and more to take over Earth. The MCU's Secret Invasion will be quite different, as Nick Fury works with Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) and the Skrulls. Other cast members include Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, and Kingsley Ben-Adir as mystery characters, while Martin Freeman's Everett Ross is one of many expected cameos. Secret Invasion should release on Disney+ in early 2023.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Another upcoming movie in Marvel's Phase 4 slate will be Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Directed by Peyton Reed, the sequel brings Scott Lang a.k.a. Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne a.k.a. Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) back for starring roles. Plot details have yet to be revealed, but Ant-Man 3's title indicates how big of a role the Quantum Realm will play in the film's events. Other cast members include Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), and Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton). Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania releases exclusively in theaters on February 17, 2023.
Loki Season 2
Tom Hiddleston should get another chance to play the god of mischief in Phase 4 thanks to Loki season 2. Marvel Studios announced the second season in the Loki season 1 finale post-credits scene. Filming began in the summer of 2022 with Hiddleston leading a returning cast that includes Owen Wilson's Mobius and Sophia Di Martino's Sylvie. With another season of multiverse adventures tied to Kang on the horizon, it seems Loki season 2 should be ready for a spring or summer 2023 release - easily placing it in what should remain of Marvel's Phase 4 slate.
Ironheart
Following her debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams returns to star in Ironheart. The Disney+ series began filming in 2022, putting it on track for a 2023 release as part of Marvel's Phase 4 slate. Ironheart so far does not have any confirmed returning MCU characters, but Shuri and others from the Black Panther franchise could appear. The show's cast otherwise includes Anthony Ramos, Alden Ehrenreich, Lyric Ross, and more.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The Guardians of the Galaxy return in Phase 4 once again in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. James Gunn's sequel will close out his trilogy and be an end to the story of the current iteration of the Guardians team, which includes Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Nebula, Mantis, and Kraglin. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 also includes the debut of Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) and reportedly features High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) as the main villain. Other returning characters include Ayesha and Stakar, while Daniela Melchoir and Maria Bakalova have two other new roles. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 releases exclusively in theaters on May 5, 2023.
X-Men '97
Another animated project in Marvel's Phase 4 plans should include X-Men '97. Marvel Studios' revival/reboot of X-Men: The Animated Series brings back almost every voice actor from the iconic 90s animated show. Story details are not yet confirmed, but it is expected that longtime viewers of the property will learn what happened to the X-Men after the events of the season 3 finale. It is unclear if X-Men '97 will have any larger impact on the MCU multiverse or mutants. The show should debut on Disney+ sometime in 2023.
Echo
The MCU Phase 4 slate will also see Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) return to star in Echo. Following the great response to her debut in Hawkeye, the deaf Native American assassin will be the focal point of a new story. Marvel Studios is reportedly giving her some additional star power in support, though, as Daredevil (Charlie Cox) and Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio) are expected to return. Since Echo began filming in early 2022, the series is well on track to debut sometime in 2023.
The Marvels
Another remaining Marvel Phase 4 movie is The Marvels, which stars Brie Larson's Carol Danvers. The Captain Marvel sequel features an exciting ensemble around its main character, as Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) have starring roles after breakout appearances on Disney+. The Marvels' mystery villain is played by Zawe Ashton, while it is also confirmed Nick Fury returns to build off the events of Secret Invasion. Rumors also suggest an abundance of other MCU characters could make their returns, potentially giving Phase 4 a major event film that connects mutants, the cosmos, and more together. The movie will release in theaters on July 28, 2023.
Armor Wars
With production reportedly beginning in the fall of 2022, Armor Wars should be another remaining show to fit in Marvel's Phase 4 plans. The series gives Don Cheadle's War Machine a starring role for the first time in the MCU. Armor Wars' story is expected to follow Rhodey as he deals with Tony Stark's technology falling into the wrong hands. There are no additional MCU characters confirmed to return yet, but Justin Hammer, Ironheart, Sharon Carter, and Joaquin Torres are strong possibilities to help tie together a variety of storylines.
Blade
If it does not happen before, Mahershala Ali's MCU debut as Blade will come in what we predict will be the final film of Marvel's Phase 4 slate. Announced in 2019, Blade is expected to begin filming in the late summer or early fall of 2022. It is directed by Bassam Tariq and features additional cast members like Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre. There is also great speculation that Black Knight (Kit Harington) or Moon Knight (Oscar Isaac) could return and give Marvel a major supernatural event film that can tease what comes next for this corner of the MCU, ranging from monsters, vampires, witches, and more. Marvel Studios has yet to give Blade an official release date, but it should be ready in time for the November 13, 2023 slot Disney already planted its flag on.
Agatha: House of Harkness
In what could be the final MCU project of 2023 and Phase 4 overall, Agatha: House of Harkness will see Kathryn Hahn return as her wicked witch character after WandaVision. There are not many details known about what the series will follow, but this could be a possible place for Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) to return. It could also be a place for other magical Marvel characters to debut as part of Agatha Harkness' past and future. With production expected to begin in late 2022, a winter 2023 release for Agatha: House of Harkness on Disney+ seems plausible.
