The MCU has a bountiful supply of upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows in the next few years – 25 confirmed with more heavily rumored at the time of writing. The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to conquer new territory, with the streaming service Disney+ releasing several hit shows starring MCU characters over the past couple of years. While there was talk of the superhero bubble bursting, Marvel’s upcoming slate laughs in the face of such cynicism.
Kevin Feige’s ideas pad is far from empty, with sequels and spin-offs joining brand new original properties on both the big screen and Disney+ and no less than two holiday specials coming in 2022 alone. Animation sits alongside live-action, and actors with numerous awards under their belts are still joining the franchise more than a decade into its status as one of cinema’s absolute powerhouses.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe halts for no person, and 2022 saw a whole raft of new MCU movies and TV shows announced. To get on top of everything that’s already on the way, here are the most crucial of Marvel’s movie and TV show announcements for Phase 4 and beyond. In addition, a few more projects are still rumored to be in the works.
Werewolf by Night (October 7, 2022)
The MCU’s 2022 Halloween Special will star Gael García Bernal in the lead role of Jack Russell, a.k.a. Werewolf by Night. Filming for Werewolf by Night ran from late March 2022 to the end of April 2022, and the movie will release in time for Halloween. The plot is still shrouded in some mystery, but it will see a collection of monster hunters team up to compete for a powerful artifact. The special also promises to deliver classic horror movie vibes of the 1930s and ’40s, which is a significant and interesting genre departure for the MCU.
Key Werewolf by Night News:
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (November 11, 2022)
Following the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman in August 2020, Marvel isn’t recasting Black Panther for the sequel. Instead, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will focus on Shuri, who may be the new Black Panther after T’Challa’s passing. Marvel’s official teaser also introduces the film’s antagonist, Namor, and provides a glimpse of yet another new MCU hero, Riri Williams/Ironheart (Dominique Thorne). Ironheart will be getting her own MCU solo series on Disney+ later on, but Black Panther should give her a solid introduction alongside other powerful women like Shuri, Nakia, Okoye, and Queen Ramonda as they fight to defend Wakanda.
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The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (December 2022)
After 2020’s The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, Marvel is getting in on the festive fun. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is directed by James Gunn for Disney+ and was filmed in conjunction with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It will release in Winter 2022 ahead of the threequel.
Key Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special News:
Marvel’s What If…? Season 2 (2023)
While Marvel’s What If…? season 1 ended with a multiverse-splitting crossover that introduced the Guardians of the Multiverse, more is coming in early 2023. Already, some of the story details teased in the first season – like Space Iron Man – are confirmed to get more space in the second outing. On top of that, rumors of episodes dedicated to the Eternals and Shang-Chi abound, and Bigfoot may even show up.
Key What If…? Season 2 News:
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania (February 17, 2023)
Ant-Man 3 will be going large, with a new title that promises even more Quantum Realm action: Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania. Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer are all returning, joined by Kathryn Newton as a recast Cassie Lang (the third actor to play the role), who will presumably become Stature. They’re fighting against multiverse-hopping villain Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors.
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Secret Invasion (Spring 2023)
Ever since the Skrulls were introduced to the MCU in Captain Marvel, audiences have been waiting for Secret Invasion – the comic story where alien shapeshifters infiltrate Earth. That’s finally happening on Disney+ with a Secret Invasion show, starring Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelson as Talos. Although plot details are light, the trailer that dropped at the 2022 D23 Expo offered a glimpse of how Fury and Talos seem to be in over their heads while combating the Skrull threat, which may have a hidden agenda. Secret Invasion will feature a cast consisting of Kingsley Ben-Adir, Olivia Coleman, Emilia Clarke, Killian Scott, Christopher McDonald, and Noel Fisher.
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Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 (May 5, 2023)
After repeated delays due to James Gunn’s firing/rehiring and the COVID-19 pandemic, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 finally has a release date. The closing chapter of Gunn’s trilogy is set to premiere on May 5, 2023 – a full six years after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in 2017. It’s set to introduce Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock to the MCU and features Chukwudi Iwuji as the main antagonist to the Guardians of the Galaxy, High Evolutionary. It’s unknown how many of the original Guardians will survive their final outing, but Gunn has promised that the storyline features a healthy dose of sad.
Key Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 News:
Echo (Summer 2023)
Alaqua Cox made her MCU debut as Echo in the Disney+ Hawkeye series. Marvel has now confirmed Cox will front her own Echo spinoff series, which is currently in the early stages of development.
Key Echo News:
Loki Season 2 (Summer 2023)
Loki‘s narrative will continue through Ant-Man & The Wasp Quantumania, but the God of Mischief will also be getting a second season of his own on Disney+. After some speculation, it’s been confirmed that Tom Hiddleston will return as Loki, as will Sophia Di Martino as Sylvie and Owen Wilson as Agent Mobius. The series has also added Ke Huy Quan in an undisclosed role. At the 2022 D23 Expo, Hiddleston confirmed that Loki season 2’s story picks up right where season 1 left off, with Loki popping up in an alternate version of the TVA that’s openly run by Kang.
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The Marvels (July 28, 2023)
With WandaVision and Ms. Marvel introducing more members of the broader Marvel family, The Marvels will finally bring them all together alongside Carol Danvers. Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan have both had their small-screen debuts, and Ms. Marvel set up the Captain Marvel sequel by having Kamala and Carol switch places across the universe in its post-credits stinger. The Marvels should be a highly anticipated MCU entry in 2023. Plot details are sparse, but the film is said to mark a significant turning point in Phase 5.
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Ironheart (Fall 2023)
The first of two Iron Man pseudo-sequel shows, Ironheart will follow teenage genius Riri Williams as she inherits Iron Man’s armor. Ironheart will star Dominique Thorne as Riri, who was only introduced to Marvel Comics in 2015. Other Marvel updates on Ironheart remain scant for now, other than confirmation that the series will have 6 episodes and arrive in late 2023.
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The Blade (November 3, 2023)
Arriving midway through MCU Phase 5 is a reboot of Blade, with the titular Daywalker to be played by Mahershala Ali. The character has already had a soft introduction in the post-credits scene of Eternals and could feature in Werewolf by Night as well. Initially confirmed in 2019, The Blade Marvel updates have been rarer than a vegetarian vampire, with only Stacy Amma Osei-Kuffour attached as a writer. Bassam Tariq has since been confirmed as the director for MCU’s The Blade. Though not yet a household name, Tariq earned plaudits for Mogul Mowgli starring Riz Ahmed. Tariq has already described his excitement ahead of joining the MCU director ranks and promises a different take on the iconic character.
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Agatha: Coven of Chaos (Winter 2023)
Kathryn Hahn made a huge splash as Agatha Harkness in WandaVision, lighting up Disney+ with her bewitching charm and catchy-as-hell theme song. Kevin Feige had already teased more to come from Agatha, and in early October 2021, Marvel updates began claiming Hahn had signed for a Disney+ spinoff, as well as future MCU movie appearances. WandaVision head writer Jac Schaeffer is slated to helm the project. Agatha: Coven of Chaos was confirmed on Disney+ Day 2021 and received its most recent title update at the 2022 D23 Expo.
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Daredevil: Born Again (Spring 2024)
There’s long been speculation about whether Marvel would make its Netflix series MCU canon, and whether the beloved Daredevil show would ever get renewed for further seasons. Now, Daredevil: Born Again promises to return Charlie Cox’s Daredevil to the small screen, possibly alongside Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin as well after his appearance in Hawkeye. It’s still unclear how Born Again will choose to soft reboot the original series as opposed to continuing it outright, but Cox’s appearances as Matt Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home and She-Hulk have been undeniable hits for longtime viewers.
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Captain America: New World Order (May 3, 2024)
Rumors of Captain America 4 starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson arose immediately after Falcon & The Winter Soldier‘s finale, and it was quickly confirmed that Marvel would be pursuing a big-screen outing for its brand-new Cap. Titled Captain America: New World Order, the fourth installment of the Star-Spangled Man’s franchise will presumably pick up Sam Wilson’s story after he finally accepts the Captain America shield. Julius Onah will direct and has promised that New World Order will be very different from previous Captain America movies while Sam finds his place in a post-Blip world.
Key Captain America: New World Order News:
Marvel’s Thunderbolts (July 26, 2024)
Rumors of a Thunderbolts movie were long-circulating, with the MCU introducing a steady stream of anti-heroes and sympathetic villains that could have made the cut. Marvel has now confirmed that the ragtag team will get their own movie outing and that the cast will include Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova/Black Widow, David Harbour’s Red Guardian, Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster, Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost, Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent, and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier. The team will be helmed by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the mysterious character played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
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Marvel’s Fantastic Four (November 8, 2024)
After Disney acquired the studio in 2019, Marvel now owns the rights to all characters previously sold to Fox, and the first movie to explore those tantalizing properties will be Marvel’s Fantastic Four. The MCU is gaining Mr. Fantastic and the rest of Marvel’s First Family, but not much else is known about the project. Despite John Krasinski’s appearance as Mr. Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, his MCU casting is not confirmed. At the 2022 D23 Expo, Feige announced that WandaVision director Matt Shakman will head the project, but all other details are under wraps.
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Spider-Man: Freshman Year (2024)
In the wake of What If…? season 1’s success, Marvel announced other animated MCU projects. Spider-Man: Freshman Year is set within the MCU and follows Tom Holland’s Spider-Man during his earlier years – essentially a prequel to his cameo in Captain America: Civil War. Jeff Trammel will executive produce. Not strictly an MCU release but exciting for fans nonetheless is X-Men ’97, which picks up the baton of the classic 1990s cartoon. Airing in 2024 and overseen by Beau DeMayo, get ready to hum that theme tune all over again.
Marvel Zombies (2024)
The third new animated project joining Marvel’s upcoming roster of Disney+ releases is a spinoff from What If…? – Marvel Zombies. The fifth episode of What If…? season 1 debuted Marvel’s zombie apocalypse, where only a handful of heroes remained unbitten thanks to Ant-Man and Wasp’s botched Quantum Realm mission. Marvel saw its full-series potential and put Bryan Andrews in charge of directing and executive producing. Marvel Zombies promises full gore and will be Marvel’s first property with a TV-MA rating.
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Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (May 2, 2025)
Perhaps the biggest MCU announcement in 2022 was the confirmation of Phase 6’s Avengers movies, which mark the 5th and 6th installments, respectively. The Multiverse Saga’s main villain is Kang the Conquerer, and Avengers 5 is fittingly named Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Presumably, the film will see a new roster of Avengers team up to fight this multiversal, Thanos-level threat. Destin Daniel Cretton is currently set to direct, but other than that, not much is known about The Kang Dynasty. The cast possibilities are seemingly endless, however, so it should provide an epic reunion of new and old MCU heroes.
Key Avengers: The Kang Dynasty News:
Avengers: Secret Wars (November 7, 2025)
As with The Kang Dynasty, few details are available about Avengers: Secret Wars, the latest announced MCU movie which will premiere in late 2025. Even the director is still unknown, but Black Panther helmer Ryan Coogler is rumored to be a top contender. As for the story of Avengers 6, it should follow directly from Avengers 5 much as Avengers: Endgame did from Avengers: Infinity War.
Key Avengers: Secret Wars News:
Armor Wars (TBC)
The MCU’s second Iron Man-related series on Disney+ is Armor Wars, which stars Don Cheadle as James Rhodes a.k.a. War Machine. Like the comic run on which it’s based, Armor Wars explores what happens when Tony Stark’s tech is stolen and used by numerous villains. Unlike the comic run, however, Armor Wars is set after Tony Stark’s death and features War Machine as its main protagonist, with Cheadle promising that the series puts a unique spin on the source material. The show will be written by Yassir Lester and filming is expected to begin in early 2023 in Atlanta.
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Deadpool 3 (TBC)
Deadpool fans got to enjoy two-and-a-half Fox movies starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth before the studio was purchased by Disney, and Fox’s contingent of Marvel characters became MCU stars in waiting. Audiences questioned how Deadpool’s less-than-family-friendly approach would be handled by Disney, and Marvel news neglected to mention Deadpool 3 until January 2021, when Kevin Feige confirmed a Reynolds threequel that would be set within existing MCU continuity. Deadpool’s habit of breaking the fourth wall makes a crossover easier than for other Fox acquisitions, but questions over the film’s R-rated nature remain.
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Wakanda TV Series (TBC)
Black Panther fans were already looking forward to revisiting Wakanda on the big screen, but the MCU will also be returning to African climes on Disney+. In February 2021, Marvel unveiled plans for a brand-new TV series based in Wakanda, developed by the director of both Black Panther movies, Ryan Coogler. The project is both without title and release date as per the latest Marvel updates, but reports suggest Danai Gurira’s Okoye could be the focus.
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Wonder Man (TBC)
Another classic Marvel comics hero making his first MCU debut on Disney+ is Wonder Man, a character with strong ties to Vision and Scarlet Witch and one of the founding members of Hawkeye’s West Coast Avengers team. Simon Williams, Wonder Man’s secret identity, is noteworthy for being the brain model used to create Vision and for moonlighting as a Hollywood stuntman when he’s not saving the day. Because of this fact, there’s potential for Wonder Man to be a Hollywood satire, and there’s already plenty of speculation about who will play the ionic energy-powered hero, including Uncharted‘s nearly-cast Nathan Fillion.
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Other Rumored Future MCU Projects – Nova & More
Though most of the MCU projects on Kevin Feige’s slate have been confirmed by an official source, others remain within the realm of report and rumor – for now. In October 2021, outlets claimed a Nova movie is currently scheduled to begin production in 2023, picking up from the off-screen destruction of the Nova Corps, who debuted in Guardians of the Galaxy. The introductions of Kate Bishop, Yelena Belova, Ironheart, and Ms. Marvel also have rumors of a Young Avengers movie swirling, although Yelena has already been earmarked for the Thunderbolts team-up. Shang-Chi & The Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu has expressed a desire to make Shang-Chi 2, and given how Eternals ended, many are expecting Eternals 2 as another future follow-up. Check back for when Marvel updates the status of these exciting MCU projects.