When Iron Man 3 was presented at Comic-Con in the summer of 2012, it was Marvel’s first time appearing at the convention since the massive success of The Avengers. The studio’s panel was kicked off by showing a video that highlighted Marvel’s previous appearances at the Con, going all the way back to the first Iron Man. It acted as a nice reminder that The Avengers wasn’t some movie put together on a whim, but something that had been in the works for years and years. To see it finally come to fruition was to see Marvel make good on its promise, and now fans are eager to see what the studio has up its sleeve in the years to come.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently commented on the studio’s future plans, and while he didn't get into specifics, he noted that they essentially have all of their movies planned out through the year 2021. Obviously a lot can change in the meantime, but Feige was quick to remind that the studio’s plans for 2015 were hatched all the way back in 2006. Hit the jump to read on.
Speaking with Wired, Feige noted that Marvel’s plan going forward involves expanding its cinematic universe to include new characters:
“Five years ago, looking at our plan, we knew that if Avengers was going to work, the movies had to stand alone. Now we have to prove to the studio that we’re more than just these five characters, these five franchises.”
We already have Guardians of the Galaxy arriving in August 2014 and Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man kicking off Phase Three in November 2015, but Marvel has thus far been unwilling to confirm further titles, even though three “untitled” films are already scheduled for release in 2016 and 2017. That’s not as far as Marvel’s purview goes, though, as Feige went on to say that the studio actually has its slate planned out much further:
“I could arguably say what we’re planning for the year 2021. Will that happen? I don’t know. But what we planned for 2015 in 2006 is happening.”
Feige has already confirmed that Doctor Strange is one of the first films Marvel will be tackling in Phase Three, and there have also been rumors about a Black Panther movie for years. Beyond that, though, it’s anyone’s guess. The Avengers 3 is all but guaranteed to hit in 2017 or 2018 and we will likely see more sequels to Thor and Captain America, plus follow-ups for Guardians and Ant-Man if those movies take off. Iron Man, however, remains a question mark since Robert Downey Jr. has yet to sign on for a further standalone film. Feige recently told us that Marvel wouldn't be announcing its 2016 and 2017 titles until next year, so it appears that we'll have to wait quite a while for confirmation.
What do you think, dear readers? If Marvel does indeed have an outline of films it will tackle through 2021, what properties do you hope made the cut? Sound off in the comments below.
