A recent leak of Marvel Studios’ plans for Phase 4 of the MCU has brought us quite a few intriguing tidbits. While we know at least the next 5 or 6 confirmed films in some level of production, there are also wild cards like a Nova solo movie and the intriguing-sounding New Avengers, Young Avengers and Dark Avengers. But for longtime fans of the franchise, it seems some classic heroes aren’t going away just yet, as the leak also claims that Thor 4, Ant-Man 3 and Captain Marvel 2 are all on the slate as well.
Of course, Captain Marvel 2 isn’t so much of a surprise. The introduction of Carol Danvers to the MCU earlier this year saw off a virulent internet campaign to become a billion-dollar smash, its success making a sequel a matter of when rather than if. Similarly, Thor’s ending in Avengers: Endgame as part of the Asgardians of the Galaxy teased that his story’s merely entering a new phase now that he’s given the crown of Asgard to Valkryie.
But seeing as James Gunn is back on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and is reportedly planning to focus on the core characters to give them a satisfying finale, it seems that they’ll ditch the God of Thunder sometime between the end of Endgame and the beginning of the threequel. That leaves Thor somewhere in the galaxy without much to do, though I’m willing to bet Taika Waititi can work out something beautiful from that blank canvas.
Ant-Man 3 is definitely a little surprising, though. Ant-Man and the Wasp was okay, but didn’t exactly set anyone’s world on fire and only made $622 million at the box office (which is a lot, but maybe not by MCU standards). Perhaps Kevin Feige saw the reaction to Scott Lang’s large role in Avengers: Endgame though and decided that he, Janet Van Dyne, Hope Van Dyne and Hank Pym deserve a proper ending for their story?
Time will tell, but we should get a better idea of whether or not this leak has any substance during San Diego Comic-Con next month, where Marvel’s expected to reveal what’s in store for Phase 4.
