Kevin Feige says that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s plans have been extended until 2032. Marvel Studios is now creating new projects as it continues to expand the brand, not long after the completion of the Infinity Saga, which lasted nearly a decade. And, based on a recent comment from Kevin Feige, it doesn’t seem like they have any intentions to slow down anytime soon.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) began in 2008 with Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau’s Iron Man and has developed dramatically over the subsequent ten years. The first three Phases concluded in the films Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The series is back in full force with Phase 4 after a long absence. Marvel Studios has positioned itself as a streaming player as part of its quick development, with a slew of exclusive Disney+ content, all of which are part of the company’s next overarching storyline. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s announced schedule extends through 2023, but Feige and his colleagues at Marvel Studios have planned the franchise well beyond that.
Feige announced that the MCU’s storyline arc now extends until 2032 when speaking at CinemaCon 2022. That’s a decade’s worth of story, but he doesn’t explain how the projects would be divided into Phases or whether that structure will be maintained. As it continues its journey from the Infinity Saga to a fresh new overarching plot, the blueprint incorporates both new and old characters.
As previously stated, the MCU’s confirmed schedule only lasts through 2023, with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania being the last dated feature in the series; the Peyton Reed threequel will enter cinemas on July 28, 2023. Fans should be aware, however, that there are multiple other projects in progress, both films and television series, that are awaiting a release date. Secret Invasion, Armor Wars, and Ironheart are among the anticipated Disney+ shows. Films like the Fantastic Four revival, Blade, and Captain America 4 have yet to be included in the MCU’s release schedule. In addition to these, virtually confirmed sequels such as Spider-Man 4, Doctor Strange 3, and Black Panthers 3, as well as Deadpool 3 and others, are scheduled to be released in the following decade. These don’t even take into account other unreleased Marvel Studios projects, such as a future X-Men film. Given this, it’s easy to envision the MCU filling out its release schedule over the following decade.
It’s remarkable that Feige is prepared to provide this information, given that he previously confessed that setting out the MCU’s future content strategy had a detrimental effect. For starters, it encourages fans to concentrate on what comes next rather than the present storyline of the brand. Second, there isn’t enough leeway to modify them without eliciting a range of reactions from the audience. The Russos famously said that the MCU had no grand strategy and that Marvel Studios made it up as they went along. Perhaps things were different in the Infinity Saga, and the company adjusted its narrative strategy for Phase 4 and onwards. Otherwise, this ten-film schedule might merely be a rough outline of what the Marvel Cinematic Universe could look like in the future. Whatever the case may be, it’s evident that the franchise isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.