Nobody seems to have their business together quite like Marvel. The studio is sitting on a hit streak dating back to 2008’s Iron Man and it shows no sign of stopping. Both The Avengers and Iron Man 3 have already become two of the top five biggest global hits of all-time, and the studio is either deep in production or post-production on three more superhero pictures that will hit theaters in the next two years. And while Warner Bros. dithered this last month on how to follow up on a hit Man Of Steel with no other superhero films in their pipeline, Marvel and Disney staked their claim to three more release dates in 2016 and 2017 for currently-untitled films.
What’s intriguing about these slots is that they are real prime-time dates. Marvel’s next, Thor: The Dark World has been given an unconventional November release while Captain America: The Winter Soldier is striking during the comparatively quiet month of April 2014. Similarly, their biggest gamble, Guardians Of The Galaxy, will open in August next year. In contrast, two of the new three slots claimed by the studio, May 6 and May 5, are the plum beginning-of-summer dates, where whatever is released is sure to score big and where Marvel has opened all the Iron Man films, Thor, and The Avengers. And the later date of July 8 is smack-dab in the middle of summer where megahits regularly reside.
There’s been a lot of debate as to what these dates represent. Marvel has a massive stable of characters waiting in the wings and plenty of pre-established names ready to return for sequels. Rumors suggest these titles could be announced this month, fueling intense speculation. Our knee-jerk reaction is that none of these films are direct sequels in the Thor or Captain America film series, given that it seems too early to suggest follow-ups and that Marvel’s already gone pretty heavy on sequels. Also, Robert Downey Jr.’s very public negotiation to return to the role of Iron Man very clearly stated that he would be involved in 2015’s Avengers 2 and a third, undated Avengers adventure, so we’re not holding our breath for a follow-up to the billion dollar-grossing Iron Man 3. At other studios that would seem unlikely, but this is the level of confidence Marvel is working with right now.
Knowing what Marvel’s already had planned and given various conversations with Marvel head Kevin Feige, here are ten possibilities for what these films could be, ranked from likeliest to least likely.
DOCTOR STRANGE
Why This Might Be It: The character of Dr. Stephen Strange is the one that Feige has talked up plenty in recent memory, openly announcing he would be set up as part of Marvel’s post-Avengers 2 Phase Three lineup. Writers for this project were announced long ago, with Joshua Oppenheimer and Thomas Donnelly answering the call, but little has been heard since. It stands to reason that if Doctor Strange is one of these films, likely the May 6, 2016 slot, then a considerable amount of development has been completed on the project, particularly a script. Marvel may have a massive catalog of viable characters, but Strange is also one of the last big-time properties they have left, a quasi-household name who has previously found his way into popular culture through many side channels. The character has even shown up in a couple of his own movies, including a failed, feature-length pilot for a show that was never picked up, as well as one of the titles of Marvel’s direct-to-DVD animated branch. Doctor Strange isn’t exactly the most recognizable superhero to yet appear in a big film, but his Q-rating is roughly equal to that of Iron Man before his movie hit.
Stephen Strange is also a genuine actor’s role, a part fraught both with tragedy and sex appeal, and it’s easy to see that it’s a part that will allow Marvel to court a star, rather than a younger, less bankable name. The Sorcerer Supreme could also thrust an actor at the level of pre-Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. to superstardom, so Marvel has several options here.
Why It Might Not: Whispers abound that Marvel wants to turnDoctor Strange into the Iron Man of Phase Three. Except that Iron Man was far more upbeat and contained tons of humor. The Doctor Strange comics were usually somber, introspective affairs, which is why the character hasn’t been able to support any of the recent character re-launches. Even the animated DVD film was something of a slog, a plot-heavy magic-fest that sold poorly. Strange is a tough sell specifically because Marvel won’t be able to hand this off to a TV guy or an inexperienced hand like Shane Black on Jon Favreau. If they make Doctor Strange, they really have to nail it, conveying the magic elements with a certain degree of plausibility.
A lot of this also depends on how Joss Whedon handles a similar character in Scarlet Witch, set to appear in The Avengers 2. This shared universe is about to get fairly small if the heroes have two potential reality-altering wizards at their disposal, and the potential popularity of that character in what’s sure to be a mega-blockbuster could color perception of Doctor Strange as a big, summer-starting tent pole. Moreover, Strange is probably the least-compatible character with the Avengers franchise, as he’s rarely served as a member of the supergroup in the comics, usually operating alone. Marvel claims Guardians of the Galaxy will have no superficial ties to Avengers 2, but would they also be content with Doctor Strange being a standalone franchise as well? Once you’ve introduced the Sorcerer Supreme to the mix, you’ve certainly raised the possibility that your core heroes are simply too powerful and invincible.
THE AVENGERS 3
Why This Could Be It: With a second Avengers hitting in 2015, it makes perfect sense for the blockbuster of May 5, 2017 to be the third entry in that series. It’s a smaller gap than the three years between the first and second films, but with no more Iron Man for the time being, it seems plausible that Marvel would do anything to keep RDJ on-screen for them, even if it means advancing the timetable for each of their megabudget superhero team-ups.
If the two previous films in 2016 don’t feature pre-established characters, then this may be a good way to keep audiences fresh towards their core lineup of Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye and the Black Widow. This would cap Phase Three and given the runaway success of any Marvel film featuring Iron Man, it only makes sense that Marvel would want to crank these out at a quicker pace, particularly if the 2016 releases are bigger risks.
Why This Might Not Be It: Well, it seems like a near-certainty that the later date will belong to another Avengers film, but Marvel may not be as predictable as you think since Disney is already so flush with blockbuster franchises from Lucasfilms to Pixar. A lot depends on what is planned for Avengers 2. Could they be planning an ending that allows the audience to take a break from team-up movies and keep the series fresh? If this release date is for the third installment, then that will mean only three Marvel efforts in between Avengers 2 and Avengers 3. Is that enough?
HULK 2
Why This Might Be It: Kevin Feige has gone on record talking about how he’s been eager to return the Hulk to circulation after the character was the standout in The Avengers. Mark Ruffalo is reportedly signed for multiple films and he’s certainly more willing to play ball with the studio than Edward Norton ever was, and a Hulk movie that’s more embedded in the current Marvel onscreen universe could also be more appetizing than the last couple of underperforming pictures. Plus, as much as those films were disappointing to some, the Hulk character still moves a huge chunk of Marvel merchandise and continues to carry a larger Q-rating than any other hero in the on-screen Avengers roster.
Aside from The Incredible Hulk, the weakest performer of Marvel’s self-produced films was Captain America: The First Avenger. Marvel has thus taken steps to fill Captain America: The Winter Soldier with a number of fan-favorite characters from the comics, effectively turning the sequel into a team film with an increased presence from SHIELD. Could another Hulk movie also be a team picture or even a Trojan horse designed to introduce audiences to newer heroes not yet big enough to front their own solo picture?
Furthermore, rumors spread earlier this year about a solo Hulk film that would adapt the popular Planet Hulk storyline for the movies. In this tale, adapted into a direct-to-DVD animated film, the Hulk is deemed uncontrollable and is launched into space by his fellow heroes, only to land on a planet where he is sold into slavery and forced to battle other aliens in gladiator fights. It’s a great hook for a film, ensuring that this would look and feel like no other Marvel pictures while also turning the public perception of the Hulk right on its head. If The Avengers 2 ends with the green giant losing control of his powers, it’s very possible a new Hulk film could place the character in a different orbit.
Why This Might Not Be It: As much enthusiasm as Feige and company have for more Hulk, the character has already gotten two high profile chances. The first, in 2003, ended up being Universal’s then-highest budgeted film, though that picture is routinely (and unfairly) considered one of the worst comic book films ever made. The second was a less-expensive affair by a slim margin, yet remains the lowest grossing of self-produced Marvel effort. Further tainting the character’s cinematic reputation is the fact that he’s been played onscreen by three different characters over a nine-year period, developing no continuity with audiences. Ruffalo won favor with fans, but the Edward Norton entry remains a cable favorite and Ruffalo is a much less bankable leading man than his predecessors.
Furthermore, there’s the popular notion that the Hulk simply doesn’t work well onscreen and that it’s impossible to develop an audience connection when Bruce Banner’s greatest weakness of turning into the Hulk, a prospect which viewers will always be rooting for. Audiences are going to find the dynamic familiar if a new flick has Banner feuding with his inner monster. Conversely, if Banner is always in control, it forces writers and directors to invent new ways to place a nearly invincible character into jeopardy. Making Hulk and Banner live in peaceful coexistence is just going to make audience members question why we spend any time with Bruce Banner in the first place.
And while sometimes, creative folk aren’t to be trusted when it comes to discussing their latest blockbusters, Joss Whedon and Marvel have publicly denounced Planet Hulk as a potential storyline for a new sequel. As you’d expect: it only really works when the character is the Hulk for the entire runtime and they didn’t sign Ruffalo to multiple films just to sideline him.
BLACK PANTHER
Why This Might Be It: The fans have been clamoring for a Black Panther movie for a very long time and Feige is the type of executive to listens to feedback. Don’t think he ignored the brushback he received when he talked about the difficulties in bringing Black Panther to the big screen versus the relative ease of getting the public to buy into Guardians Of The Galaxy. The studio has definitely kept their ear to the ground, hiring Mark Bailey last year to take a spin at developing a character that has been a possibility for his own movie since Wesley Snipes spoke of desiring the cowl of T’Challa during the Blade days. And recent rumors suggested Marvel was seeking Chadwick Boseman for the role in the wake of the success of 42, though that remains baseless speculation.
It mostly makes sense, of course, because the story of the Panther is hella cinematic: with the popular Reginald Hudlin relaunch in the comics years ago, the Black Panther is the mantle that passes through generations amidst royalty in the small nation of Wakanda. The current king is tasked with helping enforce the country’s isolationist policy, despite a thriving economy and development of the world’s finest technology, a substance called vibranium. Wakanda is a war-like nation no government body dare anger, so strong is the might of Black Panther that the current one which is known as T’Challa.
In the comics, the Panther has experienced an elevation onto the Marvel A-List in the last decade and is well known as a frequent member of the Avengers team. Marvel’s films have featured superpowered characters and metahumans, but this would be the first not only to spotlight a character with no supernatural abilities, but also (more importantly) the first one that wasn’t a white male. It would be a tremendous gesture if Marvel helped introduce younger audiences to the first black superhero in their onscreen universe.
Why This Might Not Be It: Black Panther is a property fraught with challenges, primarily stemming from the political implications of the character’s name. Imagine Bill O’Reilly’s head blowing up Scanners-style, blasting the “gumption of a family-friendly studio like Disney for pushing a radical agenda on our kids.” This stuff writes itself, Bill; you’ve gotta get new material. Black Panther would also take place in Africa and features a predominantly black cast, two impediments towards box office success overseas, where foreign audiences blanche at all-black casts.
And does the character have the cachet to earn his own film? A star-studded animated Black Panther miniseries was commissioned for BET years ago, but the program somehow never even aired in America. Putting aside race for a second, are you going to get audiences to bite on a character who has the might of the world’s most dangerous army behind him? If Batman ruled his own nation, would it still be compelling viewing?
CAPTAIN MARVEL
Why This Might Be It: Yes, we’re entering the long-shot portion of this article. Captain Marvel in the current Marvel universe is the former Miss Marvel, a superpowered brawler who gained flight and super-strength from an alien encounter. She’s been in-and-out of circulation as a character for many years, but Marvel recently gave the character her own series and made her one of the more prominent members of the Avengers, suggesting big plans in her future.
This is also a case of diversity, with many rightly perturbed that in The Avengers, the men featured otherworldly talents while the Black Widow could only fire meekly with her little pop-gun. The Widow is a good character, but her specialty in the comics has always been stealth actions and spy wetwork, not massive battle scenes; having a character like Captain Marvel in there to muscle up with villains would be a nice change of pace.
Why This Might Not Be It: To start, the name Captain Marvel carries a lot of baggage, serving as the name for a number of characters over the years, most famously a Captain Marvel in the DC universe. Fact is, among comic characters, Marvel’s current itineration of Captain Marvel isn’t as popular as DC’s, who had previously been developed into his own movie at Warner Bros. for Dwayne Johnson. And even as she’s been placed at the forefront of several Marvel stories, her solo series has not sold well and she doesn’t have a readily-defined personality like the other heroes in the Marvel stable.
During interviews, Joss Whedon has lamented the difficulties of creating action beats in The Avengers when so many of the characters have powers based in brute force. Captain Marvel would only exacerbate this problem, which Whedon aims to solve by recruiting the Scarlet Witch (and her brother Quicksilver) into The Avengers 2. As Captain Marvel has a significant amount of support at Marvel, the fact is she carries a skill set that remains deeply familiar to Marvel’s core audience.
NAMOR
Why This Might Be It: Marvel quietly reacquired the rights to this character after Fox failed to kick-start development on a feature film that had directors like Chris Columbus and Jonathan Mostow involved for years. While it may be a trivia question, it’s still relevant that Namor is Marvel’s first hero, beating Captain America to publication in the late thirties. As the ruler of Atlantis, he provides an entirely new milieu for the Marvel films to explore, and with Guardians Of The Galaxy and possibly Avengers 2 taking us into deep space, it makes sense that a new Marvel hero would let us swim far below the surface.
Why This Might Not Be It: There are ways around this, but Namor is a buff, half-naked man in a speedo. That’s something of an eternal hard sell and possibly the sort of visual that grounded the character at Fox. Namor himself is also a tricky character, a war-hungry jerk who hates the humans so much that he’s been mistaken for a villain in the past. Making a film around an Atlantis that exists in current Marvel movie lore is interesting, but films at sea are also famously expensive, making Namor potentially the costliest of possible solo films.
MARVEL KNIGHTS
Why This Might Be It: The more characters return to the Marvel fold, the less possible solo movies there can be. So while there may be fans clamoring for a new Punisher film now that his onscreen rights belong solely to Marvel, his films have been the lowest-grossing efforts of any picture associated with the studio. Given that most of these characters are ground-level creations, it’s easier to imagine them existing in the same universe. So why not have them show up in their own movie?
In recent years, Marvel has gained back the rights to the Punisher, Blade, Ghost Rider and Daredevil. Why couldn’t you make a cheaper, more hard-edged film that teams these characters (maybe not Ghost Rider) with other gritty Marvel creations like Moon Knight, Cloak and Dagger, Luke Cage and the Iron Fist? Not every Marvel creation requires a $100 million budget and not all of them need to appeal to the little kiddies. And why lose money taking another shot at a solo Daredevil film when you can have him serve as the anchor for characters too small for The Avengers but too big for ABC’s Agents Of SHIELD?
Why This Might Not Be It: Marvel right now is in the business of hitting home runs, not doubles; years ago, they floated the possibility of making mid-range budgeted pictures, but that was before The Avengers and Iron Man 3 became two of the five biggest movies of all-time. Why waste precious resources on a smaller picture just because you have the rights to Moon Knight and don’t want them to go to waste? This seems like it could happen one day at Marvel, but not for release dates in the beginning of May and July.
WAR MACHINE
Why This Might Be It: So audiences love Iron Man, but Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t necessarily want to act in more Iron Man movies. Well, what’s the next best thing? Marvel could make a good case that the suits are what draws audiences in by building a movie around Tony Stark’s beloved buddy, War Machine. While he’s long been defined as Stark’s BFF, James Rhodes and the War Machine armor have gone on several adventures of their own in the source material, and it makes no sense that someone with similar abilities to Stark wouldn’t get an equal spotlight at least once. War Machine is an interesting compromise, and even if there is no franchise potential, it’s a canny move for a spinoff with a lead on Don Cheadle who certainly carries more audience recognition than Chris Hemsworth or Chris Evans did when they headlined Thor and Captain America.
Why This Might Not Be It: Feige has openly admitted that there have been zero conversations regarding a War Machine movie. Could he have changed his tune now that Downey has bowed out of any upcoming Iron Man movies? War Machine could be the compromise between replacing Downey as Iron Man and having no follow-up to the billion-dollar Iron Man 3. Of course, you get the feeling that if Feige were so desperate, he would follow through on his threat and shift towards an Iron Man 4 with a new Tony Stark.
INHUMANS
Why This Might Be It: Feige’s designs for future Marvel films does suggest an interest in space exploration and that’s reflected in his vocal support for an Inhumans film. The Inhumans are a race of advanced aliens trapped on an abandoned planet, and a film featuring them would take advantage of Marvel’s galactic characters while also offering a potential spotlight to other space-friendly heroes and villains.
Why This Might Not Be It: Feige’s lip-service is the only real possibility that The Inhumans is pushed as a movie concept. It’s possible these characters could creep into one of Marvel’s space-set films, but to be the main focus has got to be seen as the commercial suicide that it is.
HAWKEYE
Why This Might Be It: With Black Widow taking a main role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Hawkeye is the one member of The Avengers without a strong solo showcase. Would it be worth a shot to offer Jeremy Renner his own standout film? A recent Marvel series has boosted Hawkeye’s popularity as one of the ground-level Avengers with humor and romance that would be welcome in any of the Marvel films. And while there’s little likelihood that a Hawkeye movie would be like the current comics (it’s probably going to revolve around spy theatrics), it’s that sort of visibility that has made Hawkeye a favorite amongst some fans of the Avengers movie. And why not capitalize on Renner’s popularity? Just last year, he helped The Bourne Legacy and Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters become huge worldwide hits.
Why This Might Not Be It: Come on now, do you really want or need a Hawkeye movie? As the one onscreen Avenger with the lowest profile outside of the team, a solo movie is going to have to deal with the character having a very slim rogue’s gallery. It’s best if Marvel leave well-enough alone and have Hawkeye pop up every two or three years in Avengers sequels.
There are our predictions. What are yours?
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Doctor Strange would work just fine under the helm of Guillermo del Toro. He has the right knack for the world of Dr. Strange.
Strange is one of my favorite characters and one that has a hard time getting good treatment storywise. One of the main problems I've noticed over the years is when writers write the arcane too "light". Strange works best in the dark arts. When it's more "occult" than "magic".
You forgot Ant-Man.
Ant-Man has an actual real-deal release date of November 6th, 2015.
Deadpool?
Deadpool isn't set in stone yet. Ryan Reynolds has expressed his concern over the poor relationship he is having with the movie...says its on again, off again, on again, off again...
"Deadpool" is not under the Marvel/Disney banner, but actually owned by Fox. I suspect Fox will not lose the rights to the character, as it's part of the X-Men package. But I seriously doubt Fox is going to film the script they've had apparently sitting by the radiator for a couple of years now.