Predicting Marvel's Phase 4 Movies, Knowing Only The Release Dates

[Ulquiorra]

Disney's release slate recently was filled with movies all the way up to 2023 with promises of theaters full of Pixar, Disney Animation, live action remakes, and, most important to this list, Marvel movies. Disney has slated seven untitled Marvel movies for the next few years, leaving fans to speculate just what these titles can be. Phase 4 is anyone's game at this point, but there are some key sequels and titles that are certainly making the game.

It's important to note that Avengers 4, for whatever reason, is not included on this slate -- even though Avengers: Infinity War is. The untitled Avengers movie hits theaters May 3, 2019. And we have one official Phase 4 movie on the books. Tom Holland's Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 has a release date of July 5, 2019, making this the first movie of Phase 4. While release dates are always subject to change (as we recently were reminded), we do know a few other Phase 4 movies that are definitely coming. The rest is pretty much speculation, and while Marvel likely won't announce these titles until after Avengers 4, that can't stop us from guessing what's in store for the next few years.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Release Date: 7/31/20

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the only Phase 4 movie that's but talked about in any definitive terms, with James Gunn returning to write and direct the third movie in one of Marvel's top franchises. We know that the movie is aiming for a 2020 release date, but not the specific date. While Guardians is big enough to open in May (which usually has a high-tier Marvel movie), opening in July isn't a bad spot. Seeing as how Vol. 3 is likely further along in the development process than other projects, it'll hit theaters sooner rather than later. Honestly, I feel like Marvel is hiding a release date for May 2020, which would be an ideal spot for Vol. 3.

Black Panther 2

Release Date: 5/7/21

Oh, you better believe a Black Panther sequel is coming. This movie has dominated in just about every single way and Marvel is probably already doing everything they can to schmooze Ryan Coogler back into the director's chair. It's one of the biggest success stories in Marvel's filmography so they aren't going to be sitting on it for long. The typical waiting period between Marvel sequels is usually three years, so 2021 feels right. Putting the movie in May makes sense given how much it made in February, which used to be viewed as a kind of "off-season" for movies. If it did that well in an off-season, imagine what it could do opening the summer.