Upcoming MCU Movie Titles Explained

Some of the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movies have titles that aren't very straightforward, but we have enough clues to know what they could mean. Once the Infinity Saga concluded in 2019 with the release of Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home, Marvel Studios didn't wait long to begin revealing what was coming next. The next wave of movies - and the first batch of MCU Disney+ shows - were announced that summer to give fans an idea of what Phase 4 will look like.

The initial Phase 4 announcement included five movies and five TV shows that would come out by the end of 2021. The slate of content expanded to include additional movies and shows that focus on familiar and new MCU heroes. As the biggest franchise in movie history, Marvel Studios has not been afraid to get a bit weirder and embrace various comic book elements as more time has passed. One way they are doing this in Phase 4 is giving different movies unique titles. Marvel has given their films subtitles since fairly early on, and some are easier to decipher than the rest. For example, Captain America: The Winter Soldier signaled the appearance of Winter Soldier, while Thor: The Dark World is a bit more general about Malekith's plan to consume the universe in darkness.

Marvel has a good balance between sequels and new franchises with ten confirmed upcoming MCU movies with release dates. Some of these upcoming titles have straightforward names, like Black Widow or Eternals, which don't reveal much about what the movie is about; however, there are plenty of others that do include clues about the story based on their titles.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Phase 4 gives Marvel's Master of Kung Fu a solo movie, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' title is quite telling about its focus. Simu Liu stars as Shang-Chi, the first Asian superhero to lead a solo Marvel film. The subtitle potentially has dual meanings for the story. For starters, MCU fans have heard of the Ten Rings before, thanks to the Iron Man and Ant-Man franchises. Marvel will truly introduce the terrorist group in the movie as Shang-Chi is the son of their leader, the Mandarin (Tony Leung). Shang-Chi's title could refer to the legend of the looming criminal organization, but also the powerful artifacts known as the Ten Rings. These are traditionally worn by Mandarin as rings on his fingers in the comics. The MCU seems to have updated them to be armbands that grant the wearer incredible powers. Rumors have pointed to these rings being the MacGuffins of the movie.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Marvel Studios and Sony continue the "home" theme with the third standalone film for Tom Holland's Peter Parker. Spider-Man: No Way Home's title has several potential meanings based on what the expected multiverse-fueled plot includes. Before any multiverse elements are explored, the title might reference the state of Peter's life after Spider-Man: Far From Home's ending. After Mysterio and J. Jonah Jameson reveal Spider-Man's identity. Now that his secret identity is very much public, Peter may be on the run to keep those he cares about out of harm's way. There is also a high probability that Spider-Man: No Way Home's title relates to the film's multiverse elements. Whether that is because the movie's many past Spider-Man villains can't return to their original worlds or because Holland's Spider-Man exits the main MCU continuity, some of the characters in the film likely will be separated from their home universes.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

When it comes to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' title, its meaning reflects just how crazy the movie should be. Marvel Studios has teased fans with multiverse stories for a while now, but the Doctor Strange sequel is where it will be explored prominently based on this title. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and others will join forces to travel the multiverse. It is also a likely nod to H.P. Lovecraft's novella At the Mountains of Madness, which tells a thrilling mystery adventure story. Lovecraft's influence might go a step further with rumors of Shuma-Gorath being the main villain. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' title also teases that the multiverse might also be broken or the backdrop of an incredibly trying journey for the main heroes. There have even been theories that the madness refers to Scarlet Witch having a mental breakdown after the events of WandaVision, potentially due to the Darkhold's influence on her.

Thor: Love and Thunder

The fourth installment of the Thor franchise has one of the most fun titles of upcoming Marvel movies with Thor: Love and Thunder. The title conveys a sequel that will be more romantic and action-heavy than before. Love is shaping up to be a prominent theme of Thor 4, with Valkyrie searching for her queen. At the same time, Jane Foster's return will inevitably result in her and Thor at least discussing their romantic history together. Thor: Love and Thunder's title also uses thunder to reference Thor's nickname as the god of thunder and tease the introduction of his replacement. Jane Foster will become Mighty Thor in the sequel, so it will have a double-dose of thunder once she gets her powers. With two Thor's and several other MCU characters set to appear, Thor: Love and Thunder will be as big as Chris Hemsworth's thunderous biceps.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Once Marvel finally unveiled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's title, it became clear that it was a perfect choice. "Wakanda Forever" is a popular phrase that emerged from the original movie and became synonymous with it. The Wakandan phrase and accompanied gesture were used in-universe as a sign of respect and show the country's pride, such as when T'Challa used it as a battle cry before battling Thanos' forces in Avengers: Infinity War. The words take on a new meaning when it comes to Black Panther 2 since it is moving forward after the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's title now also references how Boseman's legacy will live on, and the world will never forget what he contributed to it, even beyond his acting accomplishments. It isn't known how the sequel will address T'Challa's absence, but the title indicates that he will be gone but not forgotten.

The Marvels

The most surprising title among Marvel's upcoming movies might be The Marvels, formerly known as Captain Marvel 2. Brie Larson's Carol Danvers was the star of a billion-dollar solo movie in 2019, but her sequel has become much bigger than just herself based on this title. Marvel Studios previously announced that Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) will team up with Captain Marvel. The Marvels' title elevates the three MCU female heroes to co-leads. This indicates that Monica and Kamala won't be supporting characters to Carol Danvers' story but rather that they will be given equal attention. Furthermore, it references how they each have hero names with Marvel in it. Carol and Monica have each been Captain Marvel in the comics, while Kamala is known as Ms. Marvel, which was Carol's old name. There is also the possibility that other characters with "Marvel" in their names will appear in the movie too.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

The title of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is as wacky as the MCU franchise it is attached to. After making Evangeline Lilly's Wasp a co-lead for the sequel, she and Paul Rudd's Ant-Man remain featured in the threequel's title. The Quantumania subtitle for Ant-Man 3 is where the fun should begin for the movie. The franchise has dealt with the Quantum Realm in both previous installments, but it will be an even bigger part of the third film with this title. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's title also highlights how crazy the adventure will be. This makes sense given Kang the Conqueror's place as the main villain and his ties to the Quantum Realm. After being secondary installments in the larger MCU narrative, there is a very real chance that Ant-Man 3 is one of the most important upcoming Marvel movies.

More: Theory: MCU Phase 4 & 5 Will Have TWO Versions Of Kang The Conqueror