What’s Next for the Marvel Cinematic Universe

19 minute read
Updated: | Originally published:

Marvel is still breaking records at the box office: last year’s Spider-Man: No Way Home had the second-highest grossing opening weekend ever, despite debuting during the Omicron surge in December 2021.

But it’s getting hard to keep up with everything that’s going on—and I’m not just talking about keeping track of multiple Spider-Men. Now, to understand the plot nuances in each film, you have to catch up on all the TV shows. The details of the Disney+ series WandaVision will inform the plot of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The events of the series Loki are setting the stage for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. And it’s only getting bigger. Kevin Feige told a crowd at CinemaCon on Wednesday that the folks at Marvel Studios were convening for a creative retreat where they will lay out the next decade of Marvel movies.

Here are all the movies and TV shows set to debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the next several years.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Panther
Marvel Studios' BLACK PANTHER. L to R: Ayo (Florence Kasumba) and Okoye (Danai Gurira).Marvel Studios 2018

When to Watch

November 11, 2022 in theaters

What We Know About the Plot

Director and co-writer Ryan Coogler—who helmed the first, historic Black Panther—has remain tight-lipped about Wakanda Forever. Marvel Studios has to re-write and re-conceive the sequel after the tragic passing of star Chadwick Boseman. Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has been emphatic about the fact that the studio will not recast Boseman’s role of T’Challa and has said the movie will focus on the ensemble that supported Boseman in the original film. That group includes a power house of talent, including Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Letitia Wright as Shuri, and Martin Freeman as Everett Ross. I May Destroy You’s Michael Coel is also joining the ensemble as a character Marvel has yet to reveal, and Tenoch Huerta has been cast as the antagonist Namor the Sub-Mariner, an Aquaman-like figure in the Marvel comics.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Dominique Thorne (Judas and the Black Messiah) will debut the role of Riri Williams before she stars in her own Disney+ series Ironheart, about a young woman who builds her own Iron Man suit.

Read More: In a Year Marked by Division, Ryan Coogler Proved Black Panther Could Bring People Together

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.
From left: Dave Bautista and Pom Klementieff in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.©Marvel Studios

When to Watch

Nov. 25, 2022 on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

James Gunn finally returns to the Guardians franchise with this holiday special, which is set to shoot during the production of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3. The Disney+ feature is designed to fill the storytelling gap between 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and the long-awaited third installment in the franchise.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Besides the Guardians themselves, it’s unclear if any other MCU characters will appear.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

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Walt Disney Co.

When to Watch

Feb. 17, 2023 in Theaters

What We Know About the Plot

Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) just cannot tear themselves away from the Quantum Realm. First, they went sub-atomic to travel into the realm as rescue The Wasp’s mother, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Then, Ant-Man got trapped in the realm for years, and yet returned again as part of the Avengers’ time travel shenanigans in Endgame. One might think after getting stuck down there so many times and losing so many years, this family may have had enough of the Quantum Realm, but you would be wrong.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Plot details are scarce but Marvel has confirmed that Jonathan Majors, who made his Marvel debut in the TV show Loki, will play the villain in Quantumania. In Loki, Majors played a character named He Who Remains who ensured that there was a single, stable timeline. He’s killed at the end of the show, sending the multiverse into chaos and creating branching timelines from the single “main” timeline. He Who Remains has many different variants, some more evil than others. The one who is set to be introduced in Quantumania is named Kang the Conquerer, a villain who wants to conquer all the branching timelines.

Read More: The MCU Has a Longstanding Villain Problem. Loki’s Introduction of Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror Might Just Solve It

What If…?, Season 2

Peggy Carter in What If...?Marvel Studios

When to Watch

Early 2023 on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

What If…?’s first season consisted of a series of stories from parallel universes. A couple of those stories will carry over to season two, including the saga of Captain Carter, a version of Peggy Carter (voiced by Hayley Atwell) who took the supersolider serum. Another involves a team-up plot between an alternate-universe Gamora (voiced by Cynthia McWilliams) and Tony Stark (voiced by Mick Wingert).

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

It could truly be anyone. The show loves to mix and match different storylines and characters.

Secret Invasion

Samuel L. Jackson Cobie Smulders Spider-Man: Far From Home
Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders in Spider-Man: Far From HomeJay Maidment—Sony Pictures

When to Watch

Spring 2023 on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) first met Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), the leader of a shapeshifting alien species called the Skrulls, in the 90s-set Captain Marvel movie. In modern day, the Skrulls have infiltrated earth and replaced many beloved superheroes. (You may remember Talos masquerading as Nick Fury with Fury’s permission in Spider-Man: Far From Home.) The show boasts an impressive cast that includes Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Olivia Colman (The Crown), and Kingsley Ben-Adir (High Fidelity).

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Feige has teased that Secret Invasion will be a major crossover series, so expect to see many of your favorite superheroes in this show.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2, l-r: Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Rocket
Walt Disney Co.

When to Watch

May 5, 2023 in theaters

What We Know About the Plot

Last we saw the Guardians, they were off to search for team member Gamora, who fled earth after she helped defeat her adopted father Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. The end credits scenes for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 also hinted at the creation of Adam Warlock, who will be played by Midsommar’s Will Poulter. Perhaps Adam will stand in the way of the Guardians’ reunion with Gamora.

Which Characters Will Appear

Thor presumably has some small role to play in this saga, given that he traveled with the Guardians at the end of Endgame.

Echo

Alaqua Cox in HawkeyeChuck Zlotnick—Marvel Studios

When to Watch

Summer 2023 on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

Alaqua Cox played the deaf Native American superhero Echo in Hawkeye and is now getting her own series. In Hawkeye, Echo worked for and then broke away from the gangster named Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio). By the end of the series, it’s unclear what her plans will be.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Marvel has not yet confirmed anything, but Echo has a vendetta to settle with Kingpin, who helped orchestrate her father’s death, so that villain could certainly show up in the series. Also, given that Kingpin was the major antagonist in the Netflix Daredevil series starring Charlie Cox, and Cox recently made an appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it’s likely that Daredevil will appear in this show as well.

Read More: From Hawkeye to Spider-Man: Far From Home, the MCU Is Blurring the Line Between Hero and Villain

Loki, Season 2

Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson in LokiMarvel Studios

When to Watch

Summer 2023 on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

The first season of Loki introduced the concept of “variants,” different versions of a single character that live in parallel universes. Loki met a child version of himself, an alligator version of himself, and a female version of himself, among many other variants. He fell for the female version of himself, who goes by Sylvie—which is a very egotistical, Loki thing to do. By the end of the show, Loki and Sylvie discover a man called He Who Remains. This man maintains one universal timeline, called “The Sacred Timeline,” to prevent multiversal chaos. But to maintain order, he kills off some variants who deviate from the “sacred” path. Sylvie kills He Who Remains, and in doing so releases the variants of He Who Remains, one of whom is a very smart, very evil variant called Kang the Conquerer. Loki wakes up in a universe where Kang the Conquerer rules over everyone. Kang is set to appear in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, so presumably Loki, Season 2 will tie into that movie in some way.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Besides Kang, it’s unclear. But now that the multiverse has split, anything is possible. Loki could be reunited with Thor or even his murdered mother again.

Read More: Here’s What the Loki Finale Means for Future Marvel Movies

The Marvels

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Brie Larson in 'Captain Marvel,' 2019.Chuck Zlotnick—Marvel Studios

When to Watch

July 28, 2023 in Theaters

What We Know About the Plot

Candyman director Nia DaCosta will team up with Brie Larson for this Captain Marvel sequel. As the title suggests, the film will focus not just on Captain Marvel but her growing family of super-people, including Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau. Fans of the first Captain Marvel movie will remember that Carol Danvers (a.k.a. Captain Marvel) was BFFs with her fellow fighter pilot Maria Rambeau, and an aunt-like figure to Maria’s young daughter Monica. In WandaVision, we find out that Maria has died. The now-grown-up Monica gains powers by entering a forcefield created by Scarlet Witch.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Last we saw Monica Rambeau, she had received an invitation by the Skrulls to go to space. Most likely, she will meet up with Nick Fury, who has allied with the Skrulls to try to stop alien threats to earth, and reunite with her ageless Aunt Carol.

Read More: This Is Not Another Story About Captain Marvel’s Gender

Ironheart

Marvel Studios

When to Watch

Fall 2023 on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

Dominique Thorne will play Riri Williams, an engineering prodigy who develops an Iron Man-esque supersuit. We don’t know anything else about the specifics of the show.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Riri is set to appear in Wakanda Forever, so it’s possible some Wakandan characters may show up in Ironheart. For instance, Riri and Shuri may bond over their love for tech. It would also make sense for War Machine to make a cameo in Ironheart, given the similarities between their suits.

X-Men ’97

Marvel Studios

When to Watch

Fall 2023 on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox meant that it got a hold of the rights to X-Men. So Marvel Studios is reviving the popular Saturday morning X-Men animated series that ran from 1992 to 1997 and that you may remember from childhood.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Unclear, though you can count on X-Men favorites like Wolverine and Storm.

Agatha: Coven of Chaos

Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness in WandavisionMarvel Studios

When to Watch

Winter 2023 on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

Kathryn Hahn, who played the villainous witch Agatha in WandaVision, is getting her own spinoff series. WandaVision head writer Jac Schaeffer is penning the show and says that it will be a dark comedy. Last we saw Agatha, Wanda had defeated her and trapped her in her own sitcom personality of the nosy neighbor Agnes. Presumably, Agatha will have to get out of that bind.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

It would certainly make sense for Wanda to return to tap Agatha for more witch-y knowledge and resources, that is if she indeed survived the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. But nothing is confirmed.

Daredevil: Born Again

(L-R) Charlie Cox and Tatiana Maslany in She-HulkMarvel Studios

When to Watch

Spring 2024 on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

The beloved Netflix version of Daredevil is finally being incorporated into the MCU. After popping up as Peter Parker’s attorney in Spider-Man: No Way Home and as She-Hulk’s adversary-turned-booty-call in She-Hulk, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock is returning with his own Disney+ show. We don’t know much about the plot, but expect Matt Murdock to continue to spend his days defending the innocent in court and his nights patrolling the streets of Hell’s Kitchen as Daredevil.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Vincent D’Onofrio reprised his role as the villainous Kingpin in Hawkeye and is expected to return as the main antagonist in Born Again. And don’t be surprised if Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters makes the cross-country trip to visit her new beau and help fight the mafioso.

Captain America: New World Order

Anthony Mackie in Falcon and the Winter SoldierChuck Zlotnick—Marvel Studios

When to Watch

May 3, 2024 in Theaters

What We Know About the Plot

Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson officially took up Captain America’s shield in the Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Now he’s set to debut in his own movie. The cast has not yet been announced, but it’s likely we’ll see Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp), Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and disgraced former Captain America John Walker (Wyatt Russell) as possible foes, given their crucial roles in the television series.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

No word yet on which MCU characters could pop up, but Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and maybe even a small cameo from an aged-up Chris Evans as a retired Captain America would be good bets.

More: All Your Falcon and the Winter Soldier Finale Questions, Answered

Thunderbolts

Walt Disney Company's Coverage Of The D23 Expo 2022
(L-R) Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, David Harbour, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jake Scheier, and Kevin Feige at D23 in 2022 presenting The ThunderboltsThe Walt Disney Company via Getty Images

When to Watch

July 26, 2024 in Theaters

What We Know About the Plot

Marvel has been slowly introducing the character of its new super-team over the course of several movies. Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has been recruiting heroes, anti-heroes, and villains for a secret organization we now know will come to be known as the Thunderbolts. With the Avengers seemingly broken up after the death of Iron Man, the Thunderbolts will step in to fill the void—for better or worse. Along with Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan are set to lead the film.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

The Thunderbolts will be led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Val and include Florence Pugh’s Yelena from Black Widow, Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier from the Captain America films, David Harbour’s Red Guardian from Black Widow, Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent from Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost from Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster from Black Widow.

Blade

2019 Comic-Con International - Marvel Studios Panel
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Four is announced with cast members during the Marvel Studios Panel during 2019 Comic-Con International at San Diego Convention Center on July 20, 2019 in San Diego, CaliforniaKevin Winter—Getty Images

When to Watch

Sept. 6, 2024 in Theaters

What We Know About the Plot

Mahershala Ali, who starred as a villain in Netflix’s Luke Cage before shooting to superstardom, reportedly lobbied Marvel Studios to resurrect the day-walking vampire, Blade, a favorite character first made immortal by Wesley Snipes. Stacy Osei-Kuffour, who worked on HBO’s Watchmen, is writing the screenplay. Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods) has also been cast in the film.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Ali made a brief, voice-only cameo in the end-credits scene for The Eternals when Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman discovers his calling to become The Black Knight. Harington might pop up in the Blade movie, especially if Marvel Studios is beginning to explore the dark and mystical underbelly of its cinematic universe.

Deadpool 3

deadpool
20th Century Fox

When to Watch

Nov. 8, 2024 in Theaters

What We Know About the Plot

When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, the fate of Deapool was unclear. The R-rated superhero doesn’t exactly fit in with the squeaky clean, kid-friendly image of the House of Mouse. But the Deadpool movies are the most financially successful X-Men films ever made, and Disney has wisely decided to preserve the successful superhero franchise. Knowing the fourth-wall-breaking Deadpool, you can expect plenty of jokes at Disney’s expense in his new movie. And, yes, the film will be rated R.

Shawn Levy, who collaborated with Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds on Free Guy and The Adam Project, is set to direct the movie. And in a huge surprise announcement, Ryan Reynolds revealed that Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine for the movie.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Wolverine isn’t dead! Or, at least, not in this universe anyway. After the tragic events of Logan, Jackman is back as the scruffy hero.

Spider-Man: Freshman Year

Marvel Studios

When to Watch

2024 on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

Even though Tom Holland is still reportedly mulling over whether to return as Spider-Man, fans will be treated to more multiversal storytelling starring the web-slinger. Marvel revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 that characters like Harry and Norman Osborn, who don’t seem to exist in the Tom Holland Spider-verse, will appear in the series. So expect this to be a totally different Spidey story.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Expect some animated version of Peter and MJ.

Fantastic Four

Marvel Studios

When to Watch

Feb. 14, 2025 in theaters

What We Know About the Plot

We know absolutely nothing about the plot. Presumably, the story will center on Reed Richards, Sue Storm, the Human Torch, and Ben Grimm as they battle their old friend-turned-nemesis Doctor Doom after all five characters are exposed to cosmic rays in space. We don’t even know if John Krasinski, who played a parallel universe version of Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, will play Mr. Fantastic in this film. We do know that Matt Shankman, who helmed episodes of WandaVision and Game of Thrones, is directing the film.

We also know that Chris Evans and Michael B. Jordan both played the Human Torch in previous versions of this franchise before they were cast as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger and Killmonger in Black Panther, respectively. So there’s an opportunity to have some parallel universe fun here if Shankman is interested in playing in that space.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Who knows!

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

Jonathan Majors as He Who Remains in LokiChuck Zlotnick—Disney+

When to Watch

May 2, 2025

What We Know About the Plot

If you think Thanos was scary, wait until you meet Kang. He doesn’t just want to conquer one universe, but all the universes across the multiverse. When we first meet a variant of him in Loki, the man is literally controlling all of space-time. He will loom large across all the movies and shows in Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning when he faces off against Ant-Man in Quantumania. Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed the first Shang-Chi film, will helm The Kang Dynasty.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Probably all of them. In order to defeat Jonathan Majors’ Kang, the Avengers are going to have to reform their super-team and probably recruit some help, perhaps from the Fantastic Four or the X-Men.

Avengers: Secret Wars

John Krasinski as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessMarvel

When to Watch

May 1, 2026

What We Know About the Plot

Why break a formula that works? Just as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame debuted in back-to-back years, Secret Wars will premiere just one year after Kang Dynasty. So expect this movie to be an Endgame-level event. Michael Waldron, who penned Loki, is set to write this movie, which means it will probably deal heavily with the multiverse. In the comics, Secret Wars involves the cataclysmic collision of multiple universes and heroes duking it out in he remaining worlds. It’s the sort of cross-over event comic nerds love.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Again, probably everyone.

Armor Wars

War Machine/James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) in Captain America: Civil WarFilm Frame/Marvel Studios

When to Watch

TBA in Theaters

What We Know About the Plot

In the comics, Tony Stark’s Iron Man technology falls into the wrong hands, and Tony has to clean up the mess. Given that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) died in Avengers: Endgame, it will instead be up to Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes, who still wears the War Machine armor, to stop the bad guys.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

It’s not clear, though one obvious tie-in would be Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) from Ironheart, who develops her own Iron Man tech. Feige also said that Armor Wars will be connected to the Disney+ series Secret Invasion, so it’s likely we’ll get another Nick Fury appearance in this film.

I Am Groot

YouTube

When to Watch

TBA on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

The show will feature a series of original stories about the trisyllabic tree voiced by Vin Diesel in the movies. It’s not even confirmed that Diesel will voice the character on the show. We do know he probably won’t say anything besides, “I am Groot,” because, well, that’s Groot’s whole deal.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Perhaps the other Guardians of the Galaxy, but unclear.

Wakanda Series

wakanda
A view of Wakanda, in the movie 'Black Panther'.Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Everett Collection

When to Watch

TBA on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

Ryan Coogler is developing a series based on the Kingdom of Wakanda, the home of Black Panther. Wakanda is a fictional African country unfettered by the ills of colonialism that boasts advanced technology and weapons fueled by the rare substance vibranium.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

It would be safe to assume several Black Panther characters will pop up in this show.

Marvel Zombies

Marvel Studios

When to Watch

TBA on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

Last year, Marvel Studios debuted an episode of What If…?, based on a comic called Marvel Zombies that asked what would happen if an apocalypse turned our beloved superheroes into flesh-eating zombies. Now, Disney+ is spinning the concept off into a whole animated series about undead superheroes and villains.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Any character you could turn into a Zombie—so basically anyone but Vision, I guess.

Wonder Man Series

When to Watch

TBA on Disney+

What We Know About the Plot

Disney announced that Yahya Abdul Mateen II (Watchmen and The Matrix Resurrections) will play Simon Williams, a.k.a. Wonder Man. In the comics, Williams is one of Tony Stark’s many business rivals who holds a grudge against the business tycoon. It’s unclear, given that Iron Man is no longer a part of the MCU, what Wonder Man’s story will be in the TV series. But the show looks to be headed in a comedic direction: Andrew Guest (Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Community) is writing the series.

Which MCU Characters Are Set to Appear

Ben Kingsley will reprise his role as out-of-work actor Trevor Slattery from Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi.

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Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com