The Marvel Cinematic Universe is ever-expanding. It grows bigger and bigger with every release. The main MCU films are already twenty movies deep, and there are also the television shows as well. This year has been massive for the MCU. Not only did fans get to see the biggest superhero crossover ever in Avengers: Infinity War, but they also got to see new seasons of each of the four Defenders series in Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, but there’s even more on the way for 2019.
Next year, of course, will play off the wrenching ending of Infinity War with the release of Avengers 4, which still does not have a title. Before that, though, fans will finally see Captain Marvel make it to the big screen, and after that, there will be the exciting new chapter for Marvel’s flagship hero in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Things could, potentially, even get a whole lot bigger. The imminence of the Fox merger could see next year’s X-Men-related movies technically released by Disney, tangentially a part of the MCU even if not yet fully introduced. Then, there’s the launch of Disney+, with some amazing, promised MCU series revolving around some of the biggest characters from the films.
If you’re a Marvel fan, there is so, so much to be excited for. With that in mind, here are 10 MCU Projects Confirmed For 2019 (And 10 Rumored).
20. Confirmed: Avengers 4
Avengers 4 is definitely the most anticipated movie on this list due to the gut-punch ending of Infinity War. Audiences will no doubt show up in record numbers to see how Marvel carries on from the desolation that was wrought at the end of the previous film. With half the universe gone, and many of those destroyed characters having their own movies coming down the line, it will be great to see how the events of Infinity War will be reconciled.
There are also characters that, despite the massive crossover, didn’t really factor into Infinity War, so it will be great to see them take center stage in next year’s culmination of the entire Avengers series.
19. Possibility: Gambit
Many fans are skeptical at this point as to whether or not Gambit will actually be made. It’s changed hands several times, with directors from Rupert Wyatt to Gore Verbinski attached at one time or another. However, the studio still assures fans that this movie is a priority and has even made it sound like it might be coming sooner rather than later. Channing Tatum is still attached to star as well. In fact, it seems like his desire to play this character is one of the chief reasons why Gambit was even pushed into production at all.
Whether it happens pre- or post-Fox merger, Gambit seems to be an inevitability and continues to attract high profile talent.
18. Confirmed: Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel has long been on Marvel fans’ radar, but Infinity War did a great job of setting up just how important this character is going to be to the Marvel Universe as a whole from here on out. The MCU is in shambles, the Avengers have suffered a major defeat, and the idea that Captain Marvel is going to be the one to help with the rebuild after the damage that has been wrought by Thanos is incredibly exciting for so many viewers. The trailer for the film also did a great job of establishing how different this is going to be from previous MCU movies in so many ways.
Not only is it the first female-centric MCU film, but Captain Marvel’s 1990s setting also allows fans a glimpse into the days before the Cinematic Universe took off with Iron Man.
17. Possibility: X-Force
This is highly unlikely, but fans continue to speculate. It’s hard to imagine that this would be an MCU vehicle even if it somehow arrived before the end of next year, but it would be amazing to see. Deadpool 2 did a lot for setting up an eventual X-Force movie, even christening the team before completely obliterating it. Given the way that feature ended, it’s possible that those losses aren’t permanent, but even if they are, the ensemble family created at the end of the sequel is comprised almost entirely of characters who have served as X-Force members at some time or another.
It’s totally unlikely, but fans are very excited for this one and it’s possible that Fox might try to push it out as quickly as possible.
16. Confirmed: The Punisher - Season 2
With the cancellation of Iron Fist and Luke Cage, the imminence of Disney+, and the fact that all of the Defenders-oriented Marvel shows dropped seasons in the same year, the future of Marvel at Netflix has rightfully been called into question. However, whether or not any of the other series continue beyond this point, Punisher season two is guaranteed. This season has already been shot, it’s in the can and it's going to premiere at some point next year. Even if a release date isn’t confirmed, it’s worth keeping in mind that Netflix almost always plays their premiere dates close to the chest.
The premiere of Daredevil season three wasn’t announced until very late in the game and that could be the case with Punisher as well.
15. Possibility: Loki
Though Loki was only just officially announced, fans are wondering just how soon they might actually be seeing it. After all, it was a complete and total surprise that a series centered around Loki (starring Tom Hiddleston) was even going to happen. This announcement was a terrific way to state how seriously Disney was taking its programming lineup, not to mention how much money they were willing to spend. It’s not that irrational to think this might have been shot in secret and could launch within the debut year of the new streaming service.
Even though Loki is no longer a rumor, it remains unlikely that it will actually arrive within the next year.
14. Confirmed: Spider-Man: Far From Home
After a positive reaction to Spider-Man: Homecoming, fans are very excited to see what direction Spider-Man: Far From Home will take, especially considering the fact that it will take place after the events of Avengers 4. It might be the first movie to really embody a new direction for the MCU. Either way, it will feel different as it will be the first solo Spider-Man movie not to take place in New York. Instead, as the title suggests, Far From Home will go international and will see the return of Nick Fury in the present day.
That, coupled with the live-action debut of fan-favorite villain Mysterio, definitely makes Spider-Man: Far From Home one to look out for as it draws closer to its release.
13. Possibility: Scarlet Witch
Announced alongside Loki, Scarlet Witch definitely appears to be happening. The only question is whether or not it will actually be happening within the next year. As of right now, that seems to be unlikely, but it’s hard to say whether or not Disney is simply keeping information close to the chest. Recent information suggests that Scarlet Witch’s solo series might not be as solo as fans thought, given that Vision might play a part as well. That makes sense, considering that the two of them have had their own comic series together over the years.
It does obviously raise some questions, though, considering the end of Avengers: Infinity War.
12. Confirmed: Cloak & Dagger - Season 2
One of this year’s biggest surprise hits was the Cloak and Dagger series for Freeform. Never one of the more recognizable Marvel couples, Tandy and Tyrone were always characters who deserved a chance at the spotlight and did not disappoint when they finally got it. Many, many fans were surprised at how good the show turned out to be. While a lot of people weren’t looking forward to season one, that changed once viewers actually got a look at it. Now, there’s genuine excitement to see where the second season could go.
And whatever happens to Tandy and Tyrone from this point on, it’s at least confirmed that fans will see them again in 2019.
11. Possibility: Daredevil - Season 4
At the very least, Daredevil has not been cancelled outright, at least not yet, but the future of Marvel’s Netflix line definitely looks uncertain. More than that, Daredevil season three certainly felt as though it could have been, or was possibly, meant to be the last. Many things were brought full circle, many characters reached what appeared to be the end of their arc, and other than a small tease at the end, it felt like everything circled back to the beginning in a very fulfilling way. It’s possible that it could find a way to continue, of course.
But even then, it’s hard to imagine that happening in the next year. If the show continues, 2019 would still be a stretch for release.
10. Confirmed: Dark Phoenix
There has been definite speculation with the possibility of the merger starting as soon as the new year that Dark Phoenix might actually find its way into the MCU. Whether or not this happens, Dark Phoenix is definitely on the way, even if it has suffered several release date push backs. Fans are skeptical, but the movie has promised to deliver a brand-new take on the Phoenix storyline that many consider to have been botched in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand.
Considering that Dark Phoenix marks the end of an era for this cast of X-Men, it’s entirely possible that it will also pave the way for a new beginning within the MCU as the deal unfolds.
9. Possibility: Black Widow
After many years of rumors, Black Widow is finally, and officially, in development. The character has been an integral part of the MCU since 2010’s Iron Man 2. After appearing throughout the Iron Man, Avengers, and Captain America franchises, Black Widow is one of the core MCU characters and her solo outing has been a long time coming. Not only will it be another female-led franchise, both in front of and behind the camera, but Black Widow will also get to add an element of spy thriller to the already diverse MCU.
There’s no telling what the plot might be just yet, but it is rumored to be a prequel. Still, it’s hard to imagine this one actually coming next year, unless it was shot in secret.
8. Confirmed: The New Mutants
Like any X-Men-related project on this list, it’s totally up in the air whether this will be considered a Disney release or a part of the MCU or not, but it is officially coming next year, at least for now. The New Mutants has been pushed back several times, beginning when it was just over a month from its initial release. The combination of horror and superhero movie enticed some, but there are certainly fans who are skeptical as it alienates those who refuse to watch horror films no matter if they’re centered on superheroes or not.
The bold new take has excited many other people, though it’s hard to tell how much that excitement has waned with the movie being put on hold for so long at this point.
7. Possibility: Falcon & Winter Soldier
It’s entirely possible that one of the MCU live-action Disney+ series will arrive in 2019, as the very announcement of them was a total surprise. However, it’s hard to imagine that it will be this one as it was the most recently announced. Whenever it does happen, there’s a lot to be excited for with this particular series. Both actors are great, but they also have terrific chemistry, particularly in Captain America: Civil War. Both sort of compete for the role of Steve Rogers’ best friend and they don’t like each other all that much, so pairing them up actually makes for interesting storytelling.
It’s also exciting to imagine what direction the two of them could take following the events of Avengers 4.
6. Confirmed: Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 6
The viewership for this series has been all over the place. Sometimes it appears to be extremely popular and other times it’s had its struggles. But the series has been confirmed to return for its final season in early 2019. In general, the show definitely deserves credit for the way it has reinvented itself from season to season as it's never quite been the same show from year to year. Some of that has had to do with the changing climate of the MCU, but it’s mostly a way to tell a long-form series in a way that feels fresh and exciting.
The final season will no doubt tie into the major shakeups presented in both Infinity War and whatever is coming in Avengers 4. With that being the last Avengers for some time, at least, it’s a proper time for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to come to a close.
5. Possibility: Morbius
While fans aren’t sure what to make of it, the Morbius movie is definitely coming. The Sony-related Marvel movies are still a grey area in the MCU: Spider-Man himself is the product of a partnership with Sony, Venom was presented in association with Marvel, and both the producers and filmmakers behind that feature have made it clear that they want to use Tom Holland’s Spider-Man at some point in time, which would connect them to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. How or when that happens remains to be seen.
With the staggering amount of money Venom has been making, it seems like Morbius will be rushed into production sooner rather than later, though 2019 still feels like a bit of a stretch.
4. Confirmed: Jessica Jones - Season 3
Like Daredevil, Jessica Jones has not been cancelled by Netflix. It has even been confirmed for another season and it seems like production of that season is already underway. It also feels, again like Daredevil, as though the potential third season could easily be its final one. The Marvel Netflix shows appear to be wrapping up everything that they've done. Jessica Jones has been one of the most critically acclaimed shows at the network, but it’s hard to see it lasting beyond the upcoming season.
Nevertheless, this upcoming season should do a lot to get fans excited, especially with all of the changes to the status quo that came at the end of the second season of Jessica Jones.
3. Possibility: Heroes For Hire
It’s true that both Iron Fist and Luke Cage were canceled by Netflix, but it's also true that Luke Cage and Danny Rand are pretty much the tightest bromance in the Marvel Universe, and that the partnership between them is almost more popular than the individual heroes themselves. They’ve been partnered up through most of their comic book history, and the statement of Iron Fist’s cancellation has also made it abundantly clear that fans have not seen the last of these characters, so one would think that it could only mean the two might see their own series together, possibly on Disney+.
It’s all speculation at this point, but a Heroes for Hire series based on these successful characters would make a whole lot of sense.
2. Confirmed: Legion - Season 3
Even if the X-Men are completely dissolved into the MCU, as will certainly be the case in the near future, it’s hard to imagine Legion, out of any series, addressing that in any way, shape, or form. It’s a unique show. It embraces its comic book roots, especially toward the end of the second season, while also completely doing its own thing and playing more like a surrealist art film than any kind of traditional superhero storytelling. This is what has attracted so many critics to the series as well.
Still, thanks to the serious acclaim surrounding the show, and its totally different direction from any other Marvel series, the third season of Legion remains an exciting prospect, especially now that so many cards are on the table in terms of characterization.
1. Possibility: New Warriors
It wouldn’t be surprising for New Warriors to hit at some point next year, if only because it’s been so long since the show was announced. While it’s not the most well-known Marvel property, it’s what's been part of the fun for Marvel TV as of late. They’ve been taking titles like Cloak and Dagger, Runaways, Legion, and so many others, and bringing them to audiences that those properties had never seen before. The highlight of New Warriors, though, is definitely the fact that it was announced that the show would see the live-action debut of fan-favorite Squirrel Girl.
People absolutely love this character to the point that on the comic page, she has almost become female Deadpool. She’s funny, powerful, and people can’t get enough of her.
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Which MCU projects are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments below!