What's Next for the Marvel Cinematic Universe? A Preview of the Upcoming Releases

With Captain America: Brave New World coming out in a couple of days, I wanted to share a look ahead at the upcoming Marvel Studios slate like I did with the DCU. Unlike the DCU, the MCU has been going on for 17 years and is on its 5th phase and second saga (The Multiverse Saga). The first sage, The Infinity Saga, started with Iron Man and Phase 1 in 2008 and ended with Phase 3 and Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019. The current saga, The Multiverse Saga, began the introduction of TV shows in the MCU, starting with WandaVision in 2021. Phase 4 ended with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022. The current phase, Phase 5, began with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 2023. There are currently planned entries up to the end of phase 6. With that all said, here is a breakdown of all of the upcoming MCU films and TV shows.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: This show is in a bit of a grey area of whether it is in the MCU. It was originally supposed to be an origin show about Tom Holland's Spider-Man but has since changed to kind of be its own thing. It is set in the Multiverse but it is not a part of the sacred MCU timeline. The show follows Peter Parker as he discovers how to be the iconic hero known as Spider-Man. The animation style pays tribute to the character's comic book roots and the show is described as an extended What If? episode. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will have 10 episodes and is currently being released on Disney+.

Captain America: Brave New World: This is the newest Captain America movie and the first film featuring Sam Wilson as Captain America. The movie also stars Harrison Ford as Thunderbolt Ross and will feature The Red Hulk. The movie is described as a political thriller much in the vein of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Captain America: Brave New World will release on February 14th, 2025.

Daredevil: Born Again: This show is essentially a continuation of the Daredevil Netflix show starring Charlie Cox. It features all of the same actors and characters and is expected by many to feel like Daredevil Season 4. The show follows Matt Murdock as he goes head-to-head with new NYC mayor, Wilson Fisk. Daredevil: Born Again will consist of 9 episodes and release on Disney+ on March 4th,2025

Thunderbolts: This is a new team-up movie and is essentially The Suicide Squad in the MCU. The movie follows a team of supervillains assembled by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine as they go on a mission for the government. The team members include Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Taskmaster, Ghost, The Red Guardian, and U.S. Agent. Thunderbolts marks the final film in Phase 5 of the MCU and will release on May 2nd, 2025

Ironheart: Thunderbolts is the final entry in Phase 5. The show follows Riri Williams as she creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man. Riri Willaims was first introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and this show looks to be a continuation of her story after that movie. Ironheart will consist of 6 episodes and will release on Disney+ on June 24th, 2025

The Fantastic Four: First Steps: This is the first entry of Phase 6 of the MCU and will be the introduction of the Fantastic Four into the MCU. This movie has been long awaited since the announcement of the 20th Century Fox and Disney merger. This movie will introduce Marvel's first family as they must combat the earth-devouring threat Galactus. The film stars Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as The Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing. The movie is said to be set in a 1960s retro-future world but would eventually bring our heroes to the main MCU timeline. The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released on July 25th, 2025.

Eyes of Wakanda: This is a new animated series set in the world of Wakanda. The show follows The Hatut Zaraze, a group of Wakandain warriors, as they go on various missions to retrieve Vibranium artifacts. Eyes of Wakanda will consist of 4 episodes and will release on Disney+ on August 6th, 2025.

Marvel Zombies: This is another animated show to be released this year. This show is a continuation of the What If? Zombies episode and will follow a group of heroes as they traverse a zombie infested world. The show will bring in characters and actors from phase 4 and 5 such as Wanda, Katy, Red Guardian, Yelena, Kate Bishop, Ms. Marvel, Riri Williams, Jimmy Woo, and Shangi Chi. Marvel Zombies will consist of 4 episodes and will release on Disney+ on October 3rd, 2025.

Wonder Man: This is the final MCU product to be released this year. The show will center around Hollywood actor, Simon Williams, as he is thrust into the world of superheroes as he gets superpowers of his own, becoming the superhero Wonder Man. This show is being run by Destin Daniel Cretton, the director of Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The show is also said to feature the return of Ben Kingsly as Trevor Slattery. Wonder Man is expected to have 8-10 episodes and will release in December 2025.

Avengers: Doomsday: This is the next big Avengers team-up film. This was originally titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty but was changed due to Jonathan Majors being convicted of domestic assaults. This film will see The Avengers team up to fight Doctor Doom, who will be played by Robert Downey Jr. This movie will be directed by The Russo Brothers, the same directors who did Captain America: Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. The only other characters to be confirmed for this movie are The Fantastic Four. Avengers: Doomsday will be released on May 1st, 2026.

Spider-Man 4: This currently unnamed film is the next in the Sony-MCU Spider-Man joint venture. This movie will see the return of Tom Holland as Spider-Man in a new adventure. Destin Daniel Cretton, the director of Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is set to direct this film. The 4th Spider-Man film will be released on July 24th, 2026.

Vision Quest: This is the final announced MCU show. This is said to be a spin-off of WandaVision and will feature a new story with Paul Bettany's Vision. This show is said to close out the trilogy of TV shows consisting of WandaVision and Agatha All Along. Along with Paul Bettany as Vision, the show will also feature the return of James Spader as Ultron. Vision Quest is planned to be released on Disney+ in 2026.

Avengers: Secret Wars: This is the final film with a confirmed release date. This is said to be a follow-up to Avengers: Doomsday and will presumably feature stories from the Secret Wars comic run. The Russo Brothers will also be directing this film. The only characters to be confirmed for this movie are The Fantastic Four but Doctor Strange will likely be in it as well based on Benedict Cumberbatch's comments. Avengers: Secret Wars will be released on May 7th, 2027

Blade: This was originally supposed to be a part of phase 5 but has had so much production trouble that it has been removed from the release calendar. Blade will star Mahershala Ali as the titular character Not much else is known other than this will be a new horror film in the MCU.

Armor Wars: This is the final announced MCU film. This was originally supposed to be a TV show before being changed to a film. The movie will follow James Rhodes as he much go against a threat that emerges when Tony Stark's tech falls into the wrong hands.