MCU Phase 5 Can Finally Leave Avengers: Endgame Behind

A new era has come, and the MCU Phase 5 can finally move on from the shadow of Avengers: Endgame. Having released in 2019, most of the movies and shows that have been released since have had strong connections to the most recent Avengers film, covering the massive aftermath of Thanos and the Infinity Stones. While there was a need to address the events of the five-year Blip and the fallout that it naturally caused, it's now time for the MCU to finally move forward with Phase 5.

Beginning with the recently released Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Marvel's Phase 5 movies will also include Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, Captain America: New World Order, Thunderbolts, and Blade. Likewise, the new phase will also feature shows on Disney+, such as Secret Invasion, Loki season 2, Ironheart, and more. As such, the opportunity for a fresher start outside the shadow of Avengers: Endgame can begin in earnest.

Avengers: Endgame Has Defined The MCU Since It Released

tony stark using the infinity stones in avengers endgame

Obviously, Avengers: Endgame was a monumental film for the MCU and the culmination of over a decade's worth of storytelling, beginning with 2008's Iron Man. Tying together three phases worth of movies, it makes sense that the MCU would need a subsequent phase to tackle the consequences that came from half of all life in the universe being erased by Thanos and then everyone coming back five years later. Combined with the sacrifices required to make that happen on the part of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, it's no surprise that the majority of Phase 4 was largely defined by the events of Endgame.

While technically the final film of Phase 3, Spider-Man: Far From Home served as a direct epilogue for Avengers: Endgame with Peter Parker grappling with the death of Tony Stark. Additionally, many of the Phase 4 movies, such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Phase 4's final film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, all had connections, such as Stephen Strange dealing with the choices he made, Thor recovering from the trauma of Thanos' victory, and Wakanda butting heads with nations now seeking stronger deterrents following the Blip.

Likewise, Phase 4's shows, such as WandaVision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, and Hawkeye, all directly spun out of the events of Endgame. Wanda Maximoff put an entire town under her control due to her grief over losing Vision, while Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes tackled the need for a new Captain America and the shifting political landscape thanks to the Blip. Loki stars the 2012 variant who escaped his fate thanks to Endgame's time-traveling Avengers, and Clint Barton had to reconcile with his dark past as Ronin during Thanos' Decimation as well as Black Widow's sacrifice.

MCU Phase 5 Isn't As Tied To Avengers: Endgame

It's a good thing that Phase 5 seems to be moving beyond Avengers: Endgame. The conclusion of the Infinity Saga very much shaped the direction of Phase 4, both in terms of in-universe events and the simple fact that it intrinsically changed expectations and reactions to the MCU going forward. Now, it does feel as though the new Multiverse Saga can truly begin (despite having technically started with Phase 4). To that end, it's rather fitting that the new saga's name was only recently revealed by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige as Phase 4 came to a close.

Having established the concepts of the multiverse in Loki, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, Phase 5 can start expanding upon the multiverse ahead of Phase 6 which will have the movies Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, both of which are expected to bring the overarching multiversal narrative to an epic conclusion. Case in point, Phase 5's first movie, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, introduces the key villain Kang the Conqueror along with several of his variants in the vast multiverse while only having two brief references to Avengers: Endgame.

Additionally, Captain America: New World Order, Thunderbolts, and Secret Invasion are all expected to establish a brand-new status quo for Earth and its heroes, introducing new threats, villains, heroes, and teams beyond the Avengers themselves. Phase 5 will also start entering brand new spaces The Infinity Saga and Endgame never touched with movies like Blade which will star Mahershala Ali. The movie, set to feature Marvel's most famous vampire hunter, will undoubtedly continue the MCU's early explorations of the supernatural, which began with Phase 4's Moon Knight and Werewolf By Night.

Why It's Important The MCU Escapes Avengers: Endgame's Shadow

Attempting to top Avengers: Endgame was always going to be a struggle for the MCU, regardless of where it's headed with the Multiverse Saga and beyond. This is what makes Phase 5 so crucial following Phase 4, which spent so much time dealing with Endgame's aftermath. It's no secret Phase 4 was pretty divisive among MCU fans. Although it has some of the highest-rated films to date, it's also got some of the lowest. After a full phase largely defined by the epicness that was Endgame, the challenge will be whether Phase 5 can successfully offer something new now that the middle of this current saga has been reached.

Although the reviews have been mixed for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, it did provide new elements to the MCU while not being in Endgame's shadow. In that respect, Phase 5 seems to be off to a good start, especially considering all the projects already confirmed to be included in this middle chapter of the Multiverse Saga. Avengers: Endgame definitely left some very large shoes to fill for any future MCU project. Case in point, there's no doubt that Avengers: Secret Wars (which won't release until 2026) will be compared to Avengers: Endgame. As such, the goal will be offering something different, new, and exciting for the MCU Phase 5 and beyond.

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