Marvel Cinematic Universe fans are heating up about Phase Four of the franchise. With the final episode of the television series Loki, MCU watchers are looking forward to the rest of Phase Four over the next couple of years. To top off the hype, the first movie of Phase Four, Black Widow, is officially in theaters, meaning Phase Four is off and running.
A lot has changed for the MCU. By the end of Avengers: Endgame, most of the original team was either dead or retired, paving the way for new heroes to take center stage. According to Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, we can expect the following movies as Phase Four proceeds:
- Black Widow (2021)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 12 Rings (2021)
- Eternals (2021)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
- The Marvels (2022)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (2023)
- Fantastic Four (TBA)
That's not even mentioning the numerous tv shows coming to Disney+ like Armor Wars, What If...?, and Hawkeye. With the chaos of the Infinity Saga over and the reemergence of some key characters on the horizon, the MCU has teased some of what is to come with Phase Four already and fans are excited. Here's what they have to say.
10 Say Goodbye To Robert Downey Jr.
Despite repeated references to Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jr. is unfortunately not one of the characters expected to appear during Phase Four. In fact, the critically acclaimed actor recently unfollowed the entire MCU cast, causing a wave of conspiracy theories in the Twittersphere.
9 Dr. Strange Versus Loki
During the premiere of Loki, we get a hint at a possible connection with the second installment of the Dr. Strange story. There's a reference to a multiverse so complex that it leads to a chaotic meltdown of time and space, exactly what we are expecting to explore with Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Could these two huge characters join forces or will they end up pitted against each other?
8 A Female Touch
With Pase Four, we are seeing a far greater number of female leads, and fans are here for it. From Black Widow to The Wasp, the presence of these strong female characters is certainly felt, both from the movies and the TV shows scheduled for release.
7 MCU Goes To Therapy
Clearly, the retirement of so many OG heroes (and the loss of Iron Man at the end of Endgame) left many MCU fans dismayed. Many are referring to Phase Four as a sort of therapy, both for the characters and the fans. To build up the franchise, we are sure to see a lot of intensity and drama.
6 Is Loki The Key?
If you haven't watched Loki yet, it's time to sit down and binge the six-part series. Many fans are finding clues to the rest of Phase Four hidden in the story of Loki. The show focuses on an alternate version of Loki, who steals the Tesseract and disappears, only to be caught by the Time Variance Authority. While Loki is one of the first stories of Phase Four, it's setting the stage for the rest of the storyline.
5 King Kang
One of the new characters teased in the final episode of Loki is Kang the Conqueror. We are expecting to see Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, but we actually meet a version of him earlier as the character He Who Remains. This variation on Kang the Conqueror is the creator of the Time Variance Authority. Could he be the main villain in Phase Four?
4 Dr. Strange, Wanda, And Loki Pull Focus
Many fans are questioning which characters will be the focus after so many of the original Avengers said goodbye at the end of Avengers: Endgame. With WandaVision and Loki leading the pack in Phase Four, some are saying Dr. Strange, Wanda, and Loki will likely have the focus.
3 MCU TV Shows Setting The Bar
In the last year, the MCU shifted focus to their TV shows. Since Disney bought the MCU franchise, both originated on Disney+, meaning the select fans who invested in the streaming platform got a sneak peek at Phase Four. And the franchise didn't cut corners with these shows. Both were met with praise, with fans falling in love all over again with the complicated character of Loki and the sweet relationship between Wanda and Vision. If these are any indication of the level of quality to expect, fans are in for a treat.
2 It's Going To Be Complicated
One thing is for sure: Phase Four will stretch the minds of the MCU fans. From complex plot lines involving multiple timelines and a multiverse out of whack to starting this new era with a flashback version of Loki, who was killed by Thanos in Infinity War, there are plenty of twists to keep fans guessing.
1 Two Words: So Stoked
Above all, MCU fans are excited. The fandom has already embraced WandaVision, Loki, and Black Widow. There's no doubt they will be looking forward to the next couple of years of MCU installments.