Avengers: Endgame marks the end of the road for many stars of the MCU, particularly the OG Avengers. The next generation of heroes we expect to hang around for a good few years yet, though, right? Well, maybe not, as two of the biggest faces in the franchise are said to have just one more film apiece left on their contracts with Marvel Studios.
In an illuminating report on the contracts of the cast of the MCU, The Hollywood Reporter writes that both Benedict Cumberbatch and Chadwick Boseman only have one option left on their deals with Marvel, which will likely be used for sequels for their respective series – Doctor Strange and Black Panther. If this is true, it seems both stars signed up for five picture deals as they’ve currently appeared in four MCU movies each. Cumberbatch and Boseman both showed up in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, while the former likewise starred in Thor: Ragnarok and the latter in Captain America: Civil War.
Before fans of the Sorcerer Supreme and the Wakandan warrior start sobbing, though, this isn’t to say that neither of them will be returning after Doctor Strange 2 and Black Panther 2. After all, Marvel has successfully renegotiated terms with their stars before, as both Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. have stuck around longer than they originally planned. So, if the actors are willing to, there’s every chance they could remain in their roles beyond Phase Four.
Then again, Cumberbatch and Boseman are two acclaimed talents with their own busy careers, so it’s fair enough if they do end up hanging up their cloak and sheathing their claws, respectively, once their contracts are up. After all, we’ll have had five Marvel movies from them by that point, so it’s not like fans can complain about not getting enough of these characters.
Not much is known about Doctor Strange 2 and Black Panther 2 as yet, but both are in production and as soon as we learn more about what they’ll bring us, we’ll be sure to let you know.
