Confused as to what movie is coming out when? We’ve got you covered.
It can be hard to keep track of all the worlds and dimensions the Marvel Cinematic Universe will go to next. Luckily, we have you covered with this timeline of all the upcoming movies from Phase 3 and beyond. The list will be updated as new release dates are announced and everything from Doctor Strange to Avengers 4 swings into theaters.
‘Doctor Strange’
Nov. 4
Benedict Cumberbatch is bringing the mystic arts to the MCU as the Sorcerer Supreme in what will be a big move for Marvel, which has been judicious as it builds out different areas of the universe. Director Scott Derrickson’s film also stars Tilda Swinton (The Ancient One), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Baron Karl Mordo), Mads Mikkelsen (Kaecilius), Rachel McAdams (Christine Palmer) and Benedict Wong (Wong).
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’
May 5, 2017
Marvel Entertainment
Back in 2014, the ragtag team of space adventurers was the lowest-profile property Marvel had brought to the big screen to-date, and it ended up becoming one of its most beloved. The second installment from writer-director James Gunn is adding Kurt Russell as the father to Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill (in the comics, Russell’s character Ego is a living planet). At San Diego Comic-Con, Gunn showed off footage highlighting baby Groot (Vin Diesel) and also revealed Sylvester Stallone will have a role in the film. Dave Bautista (Drax), Zoe Saldana (Gamora) and Bradley Cooper (Rocket) are also returning for the project.
‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’
July 7, 2017
Courtesy of Marvel Entertainment/Youtube
This is the film Marvel fans never thought would happen, with a landmark deal between Sony and Marvel allowing Peter Parker to swing into the MCU. Tom Holland returns after his beloved introduction in Captain America: Civil War and will be reunited with Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark) and Marisa Tomei (Aunt May). Michael Keaton and Zendaya are on board the film, which is being directed by Jon Watts and said to have the aethsetics of a John Hughes 80s film. Spider-Man: Homecoming follows a tough decade onscreen for the webslinger, with Spider-Man 3 (2007) receiving a poor response (though fans have warmed to it in intervening years) and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) delivering deminishing returns. Holland’s turn in Civil War was beloved, so the expectations couldn’t be higher for this new installment.
‘Thor: Ragnarok’
Nov. 3, 2017
Jay Maidment/Marvel/Disney
Even though this is the third entry in the Thor franchise, this is one of the most intriguing of the upcoming MCU slate. Why? Not only does Thor (Chris Hemsworth) team up with Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) for a cosmic road trip, but the film is also directed by Taika Waititi, who has been endearing himself to the Marvel faithful with his hilarious Thor mockumentary and cheeky Twitter persona. His previous films — What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople — promise he’ll inject a healthy dose of humor into the already pretty funny MCU.
‘Black Panther’
Feb. 16, 2018
Marvel Studios
Marvel has assembled a team worthy of royalty for Black Panther, which stars Chadwick Boseman as the titular king of Wakanda. Ryan Coogler is directing the film, which also stars his Creed lead Michael B. Jordan as the villain Killmonger as well as Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia) and The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira (Okoye). Boseman’s hero was first introduced in Civil War, which ended with him providing asylum for Bucky/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan).
‘Avengers: Infinity War’
May 4, 2018
Finally (!) Thanos (Josh Brolin) will get up from his chair and take on the Avengers himself. The Russo Bros. are returning to followup Civil War with the film that takes its name from the six-issue Marvel Comics series, published in 1992.
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’
July 6, 2018
Marvel/Screenshot
Hope van Dyne/The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) will finally suit up as a hero in her own right for the followup to Ant-Man, which will once again be directed by Peyton Reed and star Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man. It’s likely the film will further explore the quantum realm — which we briefly saw in Ant-Man and in which Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) wife Janet was lost years ago.
‘Captain Marvel’
March 8, 2019
Getty Images; Courtesy of Marvel
Brie Larson is stepping into the role of Carol Danvers, who in the comic is a hotshot pilot who gains alien powers after an accident. No director is attached, but the script comes from Guardians of the Galaxy co-writer Nicole Perlman and Meg LeFauve (Pixar’s Inside Out).
Untitled ‘Avengers 4’
May 3, 2019
Zade Rosenthal/Marvel 2016
The Russo Brothers are directing a fourth Avengers title (previously going by the name Avengers: Infinity War — Part II). Not much is known about this project, other than the Russos have said it’s very different from Avengers: Infinity War, which is why this film won’t share a name with their third installment.
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