In a move akin to how Apple handles a new iPhone announcement, Disney and Marvel Studios took to the stage of the El Capitan Theatre today before an audience made up of the enthusiast press, filmmakers, comic book writers, and some very lucky fans for a “very special announcement.“ And it’s safe to say - they delivered.

Coming less than a week after the surprise leak of the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer - ruining ABC’s plans of airing it during this week’s episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige took the stage and announced, in its presumed entirety, the plans for Marvel’s Phase Three.

It was a move similar to Warner Bros’ shocking announcement of a full slate of DC Comics based films earlier this month, but handled very differently. More on that later.

But first…

Where did we begin?

Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe put Marvel on the map, taking Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger, and culminating them into the gigantic superhero smashup The Avengers. Written and directed by Joss Whedon, the movie made literal billions, while doing the impossible.

Phase Two expanded the universe, providing greater character integration and giving Disney multiple mega hits in Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier - and shockingly, Guardians of the Galaxy.

May 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron brings Phase Two to an end (leaving the Paul Rudd starring Ant-Man in some sort of Phase limbo), but it looks like Marvel’s most exciting days are ahead of them.

So, what’s next?

civilwar

May 6, 2016: CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

Originally announced during the press conference as Captain America: Serpent Society, Kevin Feige eventually relented as the press conference went on and brought Chris Evans (Captain America) and Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) to the stage.

Confirming one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood - Feige announced that after Age of Ultron, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting its own taste of the 2006 Marvel Comics crossover Civil War, complete with Captain America and Iron Man serving as the two sides of the conflict.

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November 4, 2016: DOCTOR STRANGE

Sorry fangirls - Marvel did not confirm the latest rumors about who will be Stephen Strange, namely, that it would be Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch - but it was confirmed that the movie will have a unique horror feel under director Scott Derrickson, where we will be entering dark parallel dimensions. Doctor Strange has never been a character I cared too much for on paper, but as Guardians showed - under the right eye, any character can become your new favorite.

I think this may actually be one of the bigger risks in the Phase Three line-up, in a series of shocking and bold choices.

guardiansofthegalaxy2

May 5, 2017: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2

Announced originally at San Diego Comic Con back in July, the latest adventure of new household names Star Lord, Rocket, Groot, Gamora, and Drax now has a new release date. Originally set for July 28, 2017, we’ll see Marvel’s space spanning duo two months earlier. And I wouldn’t be shocked if that title changes between now and then. Guardians of the Galaxy: Infinity Hunt, anyone?

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July 28, 2017: THOR: RAGNAROK

It was rumored shortly after the release of Thor: The Dark World that Marvel Studios was looking into a third film, placing writers Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost on sequel duty. That said, the announcement of a third Thor film felt a bit like a surprise. Chris Helmsworth had gone on record that his contract was good for another Thor film - along with two more Avengers films (one of which was Age of Ultron) - but the Thor franchise seems to be the least beloved of the series. Even if everyone loves Loki.

The title seems to be rather foreboding, with Ragnarok being the Norse God apocalypse. I wonder if this will be Thor’s last stand…

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November 3, 2017: BLACK PANTHER

This is where Marvel just started throwing bombs. Giving in to YEARS of fan hope and speculation, Black Panther is finally getting his own film, the first minority-lead Marvel Studios film. T’Challa will be portrayed by Chadwick Boseman (42, Get On Up), and he will be seen first as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War.

I don’t want to say it was passing the torch, but there was a great moment where Boseman was announced by Feige, and he was invited to share the stage alongside Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. The message was clear: Black Panther stands just as tall as anyone else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Also, how cool does this concept art for the movie look?

[caption id=“attachment_19681” align=“aligncenter” width=“600”]Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge[/caption]

May 4, 2018….

Ehhhhh. We’ll talk about that in a minute.

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July 6, 2018: CAPTAIN MARVEL

And this is where Marvel broke the Internet. The Carol Corps will be represented on the silver screen. Finally - even though it will have taken NINETEEN films before there was a female-lead film in the MCU, Carol Danvers will fly solo Fourth of July weekend in 2018.

There is no official word on who will be playing Captain Marvel (presumably based on the Kelly Sue DeConnick run) at this time. Speculation currently places Edge of Tomorrow’s Emily Blunt as the front-runner, having flirted with Marvel Studios in the past, having nearly played Black Widow and Peggy Carter in Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The First Avenger respectively.

inhumans

November 2, 2018: INHUMANS

Another long rumored Marvel Studios film, the seeds have been planted over the past few years in Marvel Comics for a big mainstream push for the Inhumans. Inhumans seem to have become the new mutant in Marvel Comics, with more super-powered characters appearing as the result of the Terrigen Mist, than being born that way.

Is this how Marvel Studios is putting the hurt on the X-Men franchise (currently tied up over at Fox)? Is this going to be how Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch aren’t mutants? Stay tuned, true believers.

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May 4, 2018: AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART 1

May 3, 2019: AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART 2

Continuing their ownership of the first weekend of May (gotta love how a comic book movie always lines up with Free Comic Book Day every year), Marvel ends Phase Three with what they’ve been hinting at since the mid-credit scene of The Avengers, a knock-down drag-out brawl with Thanos. A battle that will have been, at that point, SIX YEARS in the making.

It’s clear that this will be an all-encompassing battle of the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Inhumans, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Ant-Man and Doctor Strange, tossing all of the toys into one big Infinity Gauntlet fueled sandbox. In turn, it’s hard to blame them to take the Harry Potter/Hunger Games route of splitting Infinity War into two parts.

What will be most interesting is who shows up in what films.

Prior to his Civil War deal, Robert Downey Jr. was only signed for Avengers: Age of Ultron and Avengers 3. As mentioned above, Helmsworth is signed for a third Thor and two Avengers films (including Age of Ultron). We know that Chris Evans’ deal to play Captain America is running out (but…weirdly enough, Sebastian Stan’s deal as Bucky/The Winter Soldier is quite longer).

It’s the type of conversation that results in deep nerd talk, somewhere between fan-fiction and the contract talk of industry magazines like Variety. I’m sure we all have our theories as to what happens (mine puts Thor in a Gandalf The White scenario), but the fact is, over the span of one hour, by simply announcing titles and dates, Marvel Studios officially marked the world’s calendars for the next five years. And we’re all very excited.

…but didn’t we just do this song and dance a few weeks ago? With the other guys?

The Inevitable DC/Warner Bros. Comparison

Yeah, you knew it was coming. DC and Marvel have always, and will always be, intrinsically linked. They’re like Coke and Pepsi. WWF and WCW. Rivals until they die. Or awkwardly buy out another.

Today’s press conference showed what Disney/Marvel Studios has in spades over Warner Bros./DC Entertainment - planning and heart.

Looking over the slate of films announced by Warner Bros through 2020 - does it feel like there’s a plan? Does it feel like there’s a thought? Or are they picking names and dates out of a hat and seeing what sticks?

I get it - WB needs something now that Harry Potter is over and The Hobbit is almost completed. But who’s pulling it together?

It speaks a deafening volume that Marvel chose to present their slate of films in a celebratory way - in front of the press and its fans, but DC’s movies were announced during an investor’s conference call.

I love when competition inspires the best out of both sides, but right now, DC hasn’t even had a chance to throw a punch, and the battle is looking lost.

Marvel is firing on all cylinders, with 10 amazing movies under their belt, a TV show that has (so I’ve been told) gotten better, and with more amazing series coming (Agent Carter and the Netflix slate of Daredevil, Iron Fist and others). And what’s better? They all connect. You don’t need to follow the TV series to enjoy the films, but if you do? The whole thing lights up like a Christmas tree.

DC got off to a rough start with Man of Steel, seem intent to jam pack Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with as many heroes as we can tolerate, and seem to be handicapping their growing slate of successful TV series (Arrow, Gotham, The Flash, and Constantine) by releasing films that completely disregard them.

What does it say to the fan of The Flash, who 4 seasons in will find that the guy on the big screen playing him has nothing to do with the one they love on the small screen? It tells the fan that they’re not considered. That they’re just another cog in the machine. A number to be reported on a conference call.

DC has an incredible history of amazing characters. Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and their kind should make amazing movies. But they need passionate people supporting them.  Marvel Studios doesn’t have access to Spider-Man or the X-Men. Look at what they’ve accomplished.

DC can fight this war if they want. They just need to see where their advantage is. Until then? Marvel continues to reap the benefits of the world they’ve built.