Disney Announces Marvel Movie Release Dates Through 2019

It's recently been proposed that Kevin Feige has Marvel movies planned as far in advance as 2028. While this sounds ambitious, it isn't exactly surprising. However, with just a week until Marvel likely unveils the names (and potentially a few stars) of their Phase Three at the San Diego Comic-Con's Hall H, Disney are letting fans know that at least the release dates for Phase Three.  

Here are the new dates, then we'll break down what they might actually be in a moment.

- July 28th, 2017

- November 3rd, 2017

- July 6th, 2018

- November 2nd, 2018

- May 3rd, 2019

We know that some films (Thor 3, Avengers 3) are absolutely going to happen. Barring something unforeseen, the early buzz on Guardians of the Galaxy is positive enough that Guardians of the Galaxy 2 seems like a safe bet (if not a sure thing). Kevin Feige continues to make noise that a female-fronted Marvel film is something they're looking to do (which leads us to two likely candidates, one being Black Widow), Black Panther's name has been mentioned, and Mark Ruffalo keeps talking about another solo outing for the Hulk that's in discussion.

Since the most densely packed area of the schedule comes between May 2017 and July 2018 (which will see FOUR Marvel films released), and with the July 6th, 2018 date the most prime piece of real estate on Marvel's schedule during that period, I've assumed that's the stretch that will lead in to Avengers 3. 

So, let's start with what we know. After next month's Guardians of the Galaxy, we're going to see the longest Marvel movie drought that we've seen in some time, and it's the last time we're going to have to wait about eight months between them until the gap between November 2017 and July 2018. So, here's what's coming, and then we'll get into the likely candidates for the new batch.

May 1st, 2015: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Marvel recently gave fans their first look at the big baddie for this one and revealed a few plot details. You can also read our breakdown of everything we know about the movie here.

July 17th, 2015: Ant-Man

The embattled Ant-Man has recently picked up a new director and a host of new screenwriters. Marvel would lose serious face if they had to bump this from its current July release date.

May 6th, 2016: Captain America 3

Kevin Feige continues to squash any speculation that this one will move in order to accomodate Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Expect this one to be a lock. We should get a title reveal at San Diego next week, too.

Now we can get into the more speculative bits about this.

July 8th 2016

Most Likely Candidate: Doctor Strange

Considering that it's the only Marvel Phase Three project that already has a writer and director, it seems a fairly safe bet that this one will be Doctor Strange. 

May 5th, 2017

Possible Candidates: Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Thor 3

2017 is the last time on the Marvel calendar that they double up for the summer, and the only time we see three superhero movies on their release schedule for the same calendar year, which is followed by an eight month layoff before a big July release. I'm just going to operate under the assumption that this stretch of films in 2017 will be the build-up to an incredibly ambitious Avengers 3.

Now, were I a betting man (note to everyone, I'm a terrible gambler, if you see me at a card table, you will take all my money) I'd say that Marvel will open strong that summer with a proven franchise. This makes Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Thor 3 possible candidates here. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 may seem premature since it has yet to count a dime of its box-office, but a strong showing this August could make it a more traditional early summer contender. Thor 3 isn't out of the question, either, if only because it has a cast in place (audiences want more Tom Hiddleston) and a proven track record at the box office. 

However, don't rule out the possibility of a new franchise stepping up to the plate, either. Marvel have made noises about wanting to get a female-fronted superhero movie out to the public (and really, it's about time). They've already got a bankable star in Scarlett Johansson and Black Widow will have appeared in supporting roles in four Marvel movies by the time May 5th, 2017 rolls around. A Black Widow movie that brings Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson along for the ride while introducing more characters from the fringes of the Marvel Universe could be good fun, but it's hard to imagine who a more "street level" Marvel superhero movie fits with the certainly cosmic Avengers 3 plan at this stage.

July 28th, 2017

Possible Candidates: Hulk, Black Panther, Captain Marvel

Welcome to the completely unsupported speculation portion of this article. This release date marks the last time on the calendar that Marvel will double up for the summer, and could be the wild card. If May is taken by something else, this could be Guardians of the Galaxy 2, or that oft-rumored Hulk solo movie with Mark Ruffalo. Marvel's Black Panther is overdue for the big screen treatment, and Marvel Comics have been quietly positioning him as someone who deserves to fight cosmic level threats over in the pages of New Avengers (a team that also includes Doctor Strange).

However, there is persistent buzz that Avengers: Age of Ultron is going to introduce Carol Danvers, a character who will become the cosmically powered Captain Marvel. Her origin story would make a fine superhero film, and Captain Marvel has the kinds of power levels necessary to take on a threat like Thanos in the next Avengersmovie. If you're going to make the leap with a female-fronted superhero film, a character with a power set more impressive than Wonder Woman might just be the one to do it with.

November 3rd, 2017

Possible Candidates: Thor 3 (yes, that one again), Thanos

This will be the third Marvel film of that calendar year. Thor: The Dark World performed reasonably well in November, so this could be another natural fit for Thor 3. But this is where things could get really interesting...

Marvel have been teasing us that Thanos is coming in a big way to their cinematic universe since the end of Avengersin 2012. We know that Thanos (who will be played by Josh Brolin) is a presence in Guardians of the Galaxy, but he isn't the main villain. He's too big and important a villain to introduce properly and then dismiss in one film. Marvel recently published Thanos Rising, a detailed, standalone Thanos origin story from the team of Jason Aaron and Simone Bianchi. Could Marvel beat Sony to the punch and make a solo movie about their most important villain as the final leg of their run to Avengers 3?

July 6th, 2018

As the only Marvel movie of the summer of 2018, and with three movies ahead of it we're just going to put this down as Avengers 3. 

Beyond Avengers 3, it's almost pointless to consider what the November 2018 and May 2019 films could possibly be. Avengers 3will wrap up Marvel Phase Three, and that first movie following in November will have to kick off Phase Four in some kind of suitable fashion. We've known since 2012 that the endgame for Marvel's current plans involved a throwdown with Thanos. Phase Four will likely start off with something quieter (by Marvel standards) or offbeat on November 2nd, 2018, while May 3rd, 2019 would have to be another known quantity, like an Iron Man 4 (unlikely) or Captain America 4 (slightly less unlikely).

All of my ramblings aside, we expect that most (if not all) of these titles up through wherever Avengers 3 falls on the calendar will be revealed at San Diego next week. We'll update this once the actual titles have been revealed.