Marvel dropped a pretty big schedule shake-up earlier today with news that, now that Phase 2 has officially concluded, Phase 3 will be getting a make-over. First up was the news that Ant-Man is getting a sequel, the aptly titled Ant-Man and the Wasp. The ramification of that news, however, is that the studio's release date schedule is now shifting. Here's a look at the changes in brief:

  • February 16, 2018 - Black Panther (Previously July 6, 2018)
  • July 6, 2018 - Ant-Man and the Wasp (Previously unannounced)
  • March 8, 2019 - Captain Marvel (Previously November 2, 2018)
  • May 1, 2020 - Untitled Marvel Studios Film
  • July 10, 2020 - Untitled Marvel Studios Film
  • November 6, 2020 - Untitled Marvel Studios Film

Marvel didn't reveal much at all beyond the new release date schedule, but luckily we've kinda been following these superhero films for a while since folks seem to think they're fun. Adam's already gotten us up to speed on the Ant-Man sequel, so let's take a look at these other moves


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Image via Marvel

Black Panther has actually shifted almost five months earlier than its previously announced date. That's curious considering the recent report that Marvel wasn't seriously considering any directors until they have a finished screenplay. Last we heard, African-American filmmaker and screenwriter Joe Robert Cole, who previously wrote and directed the 2011 indie thriller Amber Lake, was nearing a deal with Marvel to do just that. With this new release date firmly stamped by the studio, it sounds like the deal is done and that they have confidence in their writer and their timeline.

Captain Marvel, however, has shifted in the other direction by four months. The closest thing we have to substantial news on that front is Emily Blunt saying she hasn't even been approached to play the character and has no idea who she is. So, there ya go. The interesting thing here is that Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War - Part I is currently slated to open after Black Panther, but before both the Ant-Man sequel and the Captain Marvel standalone. Avengers: Infinity War - Part II opens in May of 2019, just after all of the above films. So it sounds like Black Panther might find his way into Part I, which might just introduce Captain Marvel, who should appear in Part II. And don't forget that Inhumans is due out on July 12, 2019, after this whole rigmarole is over and done with.(Don't even get me started on what Marvel has in mind for their untitled 2020 films.)

We'll update with more info once we receive it, but in the meantime, check out some of our latest Marvel Cinematic Universe stories provided at the links below:


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Image via Marvel