From the Studio that basically prints money...
Ever since Comic Con 2014 came and went, a strange
image has been seen floating around the internet. Judging
from the looks of it, we may have our very first look at
what Marvel has stored for us in the next 5 years. The
photo in question can be seen here!
Please disregard the "9GAG" tramp stamp.
Now TAKE EVERYTHING HERE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
The dates and movies in this photo have not been
confirmed as either legitimate, or as false. However, last
year Marvel announced their Phase 2 movies in a very
similar fashion with all of their movies with dates under the
logo, and quite a few of the movies and dates in this are
legitimate so hey, you never know. This photo appeared
on 9GAG and made its way across the internet like a
wildfire. Let's break this poster down movie by movie.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
This film is coming out on May 1st, 2015. Everything here
checks out. No need to look in to this title any further.
Ant-Man (2015)
As we learned from Comic Con this year, Ant-Man is still
happening, and will still star Paul Rudd and Micheal
Douglas. The footage we got this year was... interesting, to
say the very least. ("Superheroes... what a goddamned
joke.". So far, nothing has been said about a change in
release date, so as far as we know, Ant-Man will still hit
theaters a mere 2 months after Avengers: Age of Ultron.
So far, all of the information on this photo is legitimate.
Captain America: The Fallen Son (2016)
Here's where things get a bit more complex. We know that
Captain America 3 (or if this photo is legitimate, "Captain
America: The Fallen Son) will open on the same weekend
as Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. We even have
Directors set to helm the project. So at least the release
date is legitimate. Now, let's break this down. The title
gives one the impression that this film will pick up about
where the The Winter Soldier left off, where Cap and Falcon
are off to find Bucky Barnes AKA The Winter Soldier, who
has just been freed from Hydra control, and is not
journeying to find out who he is, and why this guy keeps
calling him "Bucky", hence the "Fallen Son" in the title.
Given the ending of Captain America: The Winter Soldier,it
would seem only natural this this storyline is the next
chapter in Steve's story. I think it is safe to say, that this
movie, is legitimate.
Doctor Strange
This is another one that Marvel Studios has already
confirmed and has a Director tied to. For those who don't
know about the "Sorcerer Supreme", Doctor Stephen
Strange was a brilliant but arrogant Neurosurgeon living in
NYC. His life changed forever when an accident severely
damaged his hands to the point where they would
uncontrollably shake, leaving him out of a job as a
surgeon. With nowhere else to go, Stephen rushed to find
treatment for his hands, his search led him to an ancient
monastery where Stephen would become versed in the
Mystical Arts, and learn to wield magic to protect our world
from the evil forces of the inter-dimensional demon
known as Dormammu and Dormammu's student, Baron
Mordo, as the World's Sorcerer Supreme! Now as I have
stated before, this film has been confirmed and a director
has already been signed on, so this being on the photo
only boosts the credibility.
Thor 3: Ragnarok
The third installment in a series that managed to make a
ton of girls "geeks" overnight. When we last left Thor, our
hero decided to leave Asgard to protect Midgard and be
with Jane Foster, his one true love. Leaving a very sneaky
Loki to take the throne. We still have the events of "Age of
Ultron" to see, however, it doesn't seem impossible for
Thor to feel the need to return to Asgard after the end of
AOU, especially if he were to catch some sort of message
from someone in Asgard that Loki has taken the throne.
Now, Ragnarok has dual meaning in the Marvel Comics.
On one hand, you have the saga, Ragnarok. Which was
the Asgardian Apocalypse, the end of their world. If the
MCU decided to go this route, Loki would probably have
some sort of hand in starting the Asgardian end of days,
and Thor would have to not only fight his Brother, but
would also have to save his entire world from destruction.
A story worthy of a movie in its own right. On the other
hand, however, you have Ragnarok. A cyborg clone or
Thor himself created by Tony Stark combining his own
DNA with Asgardian DNA to replace Thor with the REAL
Son of Odin was MIA. Now, this story in itself would be
really interesting. Who's to say that before learning his
mistake with Ultron, Tony didn't make a clone of Thor?
Who's to say Thor doesn't die in AOU and in Thor's
absence, Tony deployed the clone? Thor has died and
come back again many times in the comics, so to see a
movie where Thor must face off against a version of
HIMSELF, while also going through the trials that a
required for coming back from Asgardian death would be
amazing! Unfortunately, we only have the success of Thor:
The Dark World and Chris' remaining movie(s) in his
Contract to hold as evidence of this movie's legitimacy.
But here's to hoping that Thor 3 is true!
Guardians of the Galaxy: War of Kings
At San Diego Comic Con 2014, Marvel Studios confirmed
a sequel to the then unreleased "Guardians of the Galaxy",
they even provided a release date of, wouldn't you know it,
July 28th, 2017. Just. Like. In. This. Picture. James Gunn
is also set to direct again, meaning that this movie is real,
however the Title may not be, just like Captain America. If
this is the title of the sequel, we may very well be able to
see more of this Galaxy that Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax,
Groot, and Rocket protect. For those who don't know the
comic book characters, a minor spoiler is ahead
In the Marvel Comics, Peter Quill/Star-Lord isn't fully
human. He is actually half Spartoi, a race of aliens nearly
identical to humans, for the exception that they live to
about 300 years old. He received his Element Guns from
his father, J'son of Spartax, the Emperor of the planet
Spartex (You ever wonder why his middle name is
Jason?) who had left them on Earth, while he was repairing
his ship and falling in love with Star-Lord's mom.
Click to see the spoiler
Given that information, it is VERY likely that Star-Lord's
heritage comes in to play, and drags the Guardians into an
Intergalactic War. It is also rumored that Nova (whether
we will see the Richard Ryder or the Sam Alexander
version of the character is yet unknown), and Adam
Warlock, a being of nearly infinite power who just so
happens to have an Infinity Stone in his head, will also
appear in this sequel.
HE is coming
For those of you who had no idea why the camera took so
long on this shot at the end of Thor: The Dark World, this
is Adam Warlock's cocoon. This pretty much says "Yeah,
Adam Warlock exists. He's not showing up yet, but he
exists."
In conclusion, a Guardian's sequel is coming, it has a date
and a director, so at the very least, a sequel is confirmed.
However, take it all with a grain of salt, because at the time
of writing this article, GotG has not yet been publicly
released.
Black Panther
This is a project that fans have been DYING for ever since
the scene in Iron Man 2 where we saw that there were
more heroes around the world, and saw a blip on Africa.
For those who have never heard of this superhero, Black
Panther is basically Batman, except better.
Sorry, Caped Crusader.
Why is he better? Well, T'Challa, AKA, Black Panther, is the
ruler of his own country called Wakanda. Wakanda is, in
the Marvel Universe, the leading producer of to Vibranium.
His back story is just as dark as Batman's, in the fact that
he watched his father be ruthlessly murdered by a
Scientist named Claw. After his father's death, T'Challa
became the ruler of the country. However, a country was
not the only thing T'Challa inherited. T'Challa was also
given the Black Panther spirit, granting him fantastical
abilities such as Olympic level physical attributes, like
Strength, Speed, Stamina and such, as well as heightening
all of his other senses as well, scent, sight, and such like.
He also has a Ph.D in Physics, and his armor is made
entirely out of Vibranium, meaning it is as indestructible as
Cap's shield. He also has a connection to one of the gods
of his tribe. In addition to all of this, did I mention that he
was the world's first Black superhero?
This movie is interesting because the evidence we have
for it is actually rather scattered. We have words form
Kevin Fiege that he plans and wants to make a Black
Panther movie, however we also have another piece of
evidence. This piece, however, is a bit more clever and
really "blink-and-you-miss-it" as opposed to some other
evidence. Now, before you look at this, I urge you to take it
with a grain of salt.
Please excuse my poor screenshot skills
"Booking a flight to Wakanda". I shouldn't have to say
anymore, but I will. If this guy isn't pulling our legs, then
his tweets were a very clever way of telling the world that
he, Mr. John Boyega is to be our T'Challa, son of T'Chaka,
King of Wakanda.
I personally think he'll be a good fit, but then again, he
could be lying to us. We just don't know at this point. Only
time can, and will tell.
Avengers: Civil War
Okay, now this title is VERY interesting.
For those of you who don't know. Marvel's Civil War
storyline was exactly as it sounded, a war between the
Marvel heroes. Basically, what happens is that SHIELD and
the US Government begins to push the Superhuman
Registration Act, which was a law that required anyone
with superhuman abilities to file with the United States and
allow themselves be be branded as separate from the rest
of the population because of it. Naturally, not everyone
was a huge fan. In the end, pretty much every superhero
was in a Pro-Registration, or Ant-Registration camp, each
of them being led by Tony Stark and Captain America
respectively. Seeing a movie where the ENTIRE Marvel
Cinematic Universe is against each other would be insane,
seeing who sides with who, and the fights that would
result because of it... OH! it just gives me the chills.
Unfortunately, there is no evidence other than the fact that
Robert Downey Jr. is signed on to do a 3rd Avengers
movie, that this would be the plot. The plot of the next
movie could very well be the fight between our Beloved
Avengers and the Mad Titan Thanos we've been waiting
for. At this point, however, all we can do is speculate.
World War Hulk
Rumor upon rumor upon rumor has been spread about
this storyline coming into being in the MCU, however, time
and time again we have been told "No, it's not happening!"
by Marvel big wigs. Could this photo be evidence that
Marvel was throwing us off? For those who don't know
about the Planet Hulk and World War Hulk storylines, allow
me to give you a run-down.
It all started when a group of the most powerful
superheros decided that while Bruce Banner was a stand-
up guy, the Hulk was far too dangerous to keep on Earth.
So they sedated him, and launched him into deep space,
to a peaceful and serene planet that was uninhabited by
any other life, thus granting Banner's wish of being left
alone. However, the ship's course was altered and ended
up crashing onto the planet Sakaar. The Hulk was
captured and then subjected to fight in Gladiator style
games against other creatures that were captured by the
forces on Sakaar. Hulk fought many people, including the
Silver Surfer, but eventually broke free from his captivity
and ended up fulfilling a prophesy about the "Sakaar Son".
Hulk. embracing this title, became the ruler of that world.
He went on to have a son named Skaar, and made his way
back to Earth, having vowed revenge against the heroes
that sent him away. When he got back to Earth, he and a
few of his companions from Sakaar, went on a rampage,
defeating some of the Earth's greatest heroes, and forcing
them to fight in a Gladiator style arena.
Now, in order for this to work, this would have to be a
REALLY long movie, covering all of the above, or the
movie would be about something totally different, perhaps
introducing the Red Hulk or She-Hulk, maybe even Doc
Samson? Anyways, Marvel has said in the past that while a
solo Hulk film based on the Planet Hulk and World War
Hulk storylines was something they weren't opposed to
doing. If this does happen, I would be very anxious to see
how they played it out. Unfortunately, this is one of the
only 3 projects on this list that hasn't got any real evidence
towards it's validity... except the following rumor. NOTE:
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Rumor has it that the 3rd act of Avengers: Age of Ultron,
will feature the Hulk trapped on a spaceship that has a
course set for deep space. Meaning that he very well could
be headed for Sakaar.
Click to see the spoiler
Even still, while a movie based on these events would be
flippin' sweet, I myself have my doubts about the dates, or
even this movie. However, I've been wrong in the past,
and in the case of this movie, I wouldn't mind being wrong
again!
The Inhumans
Out of all the titles on this list, this is the title that comes
most out of left field. The Inhumans are not just a comic
book series, or a team of superheroes. No, the Inhumans
are an entire society of superpowered people. Prehistoric
Humans who were exposed to a mysterious substance
called the Terrigen Mists
The main cast of the Inhumans consists of the Royal
Family of their city. The King, Black Bolt, a hero so
powerful that him merely whispering is enough to level
entire cities, he gives a new meaning to "Strong but Silent
types". Alongside him is Medusa, a woman who's hair can
be manipulated to act as whips and such. She and her
cousin Black Bolt have an interesting relationship with
each other. They basically fall in love and get engaged, but
considering the fact that their society is all based on Royal
Bloodlines, it doesn't seem weird that the family would...
you know what, lets just stop that train of thought there.
Less creepy Fun Fact: There was a point in the comics
where Venom had succeeded in killing Spiderman, and
Medusa, with her strong sense of Justice, doled out the
maximum punishment she could, 50 lashings from her
superpowered hair. It was strong enough to act like a
regular whip, breaking the sound barrier every time,
causing Venom even more pain due to the symbiote's
vulnerability to sound. However, I digress.
Some of the other members were Karnak, one with the
ability to actually sense a weak point in an opponent's
weak points, and a martial arts master, Gorgon, one with
Super Strength and the ability to create seismic waves,
Triton, who could breathe underwater, Crystal, a woman
who could manipulate the four elements and the younger
sister of Medusa. Fun Fact: Crystal eventually meets
Quicksilver, the two fall in love and get married, they even
have a child together, and Quicksilver is even accepted
into the Inhuman's society as a full member, which was a
really big deal. However, what family would be complete
without a pet? Most families have a dog... and so does
this one. Lockjaw, the family dog, also has powers too,
that's right. Their dog, aside from being gigantic, can
teleport, and has super strength. Lockjaw also fights
alongside the Pet Avengers. How cool is that?
Not much has been said about this movie, or group of
heroes before, more than the internet speculation that
Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch would be members of the
Inhuman society. An Inhumans movie would probably be
about Black Bolt and the rest of the family fighting
Maximus the Mad, Black Bolts brother who wants the
family throne and Medusa to himself, maybe featuring a
subplot about Quicksilver and Crystal's romance. Who
knows. This is really the only movie with absolutely NO
preface, not hints, no official dates released by Marvel, no
directors no anything. Which makes it hard to believe in it.
However, everyone had the same reaction with Guardians
of the Galaxy, and now it's one of the most anticipated
movies of the year, so in the end, only time can tell if this
one is happening.
In conclusion, everything in this article MUST be taken with
a grain of salt. However, if this leak is legitimate, and this is
the Phase 3 and beyond lineup, we're all in for a real treat!