You can’t say that Marvel doesn’t like to plan. Their mission to dominate our cinema screens and break box office records is showing no signs of stopping. The world which started back in 2008 with Iron Man, has gone on to make billions of dollars and ensure that Robert Downey Jr. has six yachts. With Ant-Man leading the charge for the third stage of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, it turns out there’s more tricks up the studio’s sleeve.
With Iron Man 3 kicking off Phase Two of their cinematic universe with a resounding wallop and ka-ching! – the remaining projects have got some big clanky boots to fill. Next up is Thor: The Dark World, followed by Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians Of The Galaxy and closing out the middle chapter is the glue that binds them together: The Avengers 2.
That brings us to Summer 2015. Where next, you ask? The head of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, Kevin Feige sat down for another chat with EW. Discussing viable options for the future of the universe, dismissing fan favourites and quickening paces, he revealed there’s still a few surprises in store.
So far, Phase Three has one confirmed title on its slate: Ant-Man. The flick, which could easily have slotted into Phase One or Phase Two, was pushed back by its director, Edgar Wright. Ant-Man follows a hero who wears a suit which allows him to shrink and communicate with a gaggle of insects. Opting to shoot Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World and The World’s End first, Wright has been involved in the project since way back in 2006 when he appeared at Comic-Con.
Wright told EW:
“I actually made the choice to make Scott Pilgrim and The World’s End before this one. And Ant-Man is such a big special-effects film, it’s almost like the further it goes on, the easier it is to do, in a way. I feel more confident now, but I can’t talk about it too much because I get superstitious. I just feel like I don’t want to jinx it.”
A firm contender in the running for Phase Three is Doctor Strange. First appearing in 1963, the pompous Strange is a surgeon that transforms into a sorcerer who must protect the planet from supernatural evils. A script was penned years ago by Thomas Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer, the guys behind the Conan The Barbarian reboot. It’s not known if this first draft will be utilised or rewritten. Some of cinema’s finest genre directors have been at times associated with the project: Guillermo Del Toro and Wes Craven to name two. From the looks of it, it’s one of Marvel’s favourites to bring to the big screen. Check out what Feige had to say about the film:
“I would love Strange to be a part of that only because he’s a great character. He’s a great standalone character. He’s got a great origin story, for the most part. And that world of pure magic, we haven’t done yet. There’s a whole supernatural/magic alternate dimension going on in the Marvel comics that we haven’t ever touched on. So I think that’s exciting.”
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