Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom has sent a ripple through the fabric of space-time, as Marvel fans would like to call it. Their loyal fanbase has added to the craze and excitement, leading to curiosity about the upcoming phase of Marvel: Phase 6.
But before we begin that, as true Marvel fans, we must know every little detail about every single movie and series that makes up Phase Five. Read on!
Building on the Legacy of Phase 4s
After the super blockbuster Avengers: Endgame, fans were left with questions, hopes and loose ends. And that’s what Phase Four is about (and a lot more, of course). The post-Endgame world not only saw the emergence of new threats from all over the Multiverse, but also showed a deeper, more personal genre of battles.
From Wanda Maximoff’s transformation into the evil Scarlet Witch in WandaVision to the introduction of the multiverse saga in Loki, Phase Four made “multiverse” a household word and crossovers a daily occurrence, or let’s say, a “Canon Event”.
Phase Five picked this up with astonishing pace and introduced a whole new world of characters for their ever-loyal fans. And don’t worry, the Multiverse isn’t going anywhere just yet; more characters and plot twists are awaited!
The Movies of Phase 5: Expanding the MCU’s Universe
1Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Phase Five kicks off with a BANG, with Scott Lang, Hope van Dyne, and their allies go further into the Quantum Realm.
Quantumania not only brings the iconic duo back for the fans, but also introduces an absolute unit of a villain: Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors). This dude is a time-travelling piece of menace, whose actions would snowball ahead in the Phase.
2Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Yep, James Gunn is back to direct the final chapter in the Guardians’ saga. The camera wanders among this hilarious team of misfits, diving deeper into the emotional elements.
After losing Gamora, Star Lord struggles with depression, living with the rest of the Guardians on Knowhere. We get to see into Rocket’s troubled past as he (and the team) gets targeted by Adam Warlock, and this turns out to be a really difficult challenge.
3The Marvels (2023)
Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) team up in this much-awaited sequel to the films of the former two superwomen.
In a nutshell, The Marvels battle Dar-Benn in a three-on-one showdown, ultimately gaining control over their powers and defeating the villain. No doubt: it’s well-written and the sense of humor is just great.
4Blade (2024)
Blade, the vampire hunter, debuts in MCU, with a dark, supernatural element that fans grew crazy about.
Played by Mahershala Ali, this half-human, half-vampire hunter redefined MCU’s approach to the supernatural, making way for future horror-inspired projects and possibly weaving into the darker niches of the universe.
5Captain America: Brave New World (2024)
Taking up the mantle of good ol’ Cap, Sam Wilson appears to be recovering from the showdown of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Fans, although having a tough time losing Steve Rogers as their superhero, are sticking up for his successor as well. Old nefarious villains are rumored to return, as the world “sees red”, and Sam is set up tight for the oncoming dangers.
4Thunderbolts (2024)
Although this looks like the MCU’s version of “suicide squad,” Thunderbolts unites a squad of anti-heroes and reformed villains under state control and use. Characters like Yelena Belova, Baron Zemo, and U.S. Agent are in for some heavy roles.
Exploring the morally grey areas of the MCU, this one is sure to bring more fans to the base, more to the delight of Phase Six profits.
The Series of Phase 5: Deep Dives into Character Arcs
1Secret Invasion (2023)
Nick Fury and the Skrulls work together in this Disney+ series, exploring an unknown invasion of the Earth by shape-shifting extra-terrestrial beings.
The series is one good spy thriller with cosmic-level threats, further complicating the spiderweb of plots and themes in the MCU.
2Echo (2023)
After the cosmic (and internal) showdown in Hawkeye, Echo centers on Maya Lopez, a deaf Native American superhero with stunning photographic reflexes and instincts. The series examines her past, how she is linked to criminality in the underworld, and her very own journey in becoming a hero, right from the streets.
With expected appearances from characters like Daredevil and Kingpin (yay), Echo adds to the slightly more relatable street-level stories of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
3Loki Season 2 (2023)
Aaaaand he’s back! The God of Mischief returns in the second season of the off-beat intriguing series. Delving deeper into the dark corners and mysteries of the TVA and the true deceitful nature of the multiverse, there’s an added spice of Kang.
This in turn, sets up the stage pretty well for Phase Six, featuring Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
4Ironheart (2023)
The mind-boggling genius, creator of a suit that rivals Iron Man’s famous Machs, catches the frame in Ironheart. Her journey from a young brainwave to an all-round superhero is a wonderful story, as she tries to fill the power vacuum after Iron Man left in Avengers: Endgame.
As the “Iron Woman”, she’s sure to grab a lot of attention as the new tech superhero-genius in the MCU.
5Agatha: Darkhold Diaries (2023)
As a WandaVision’s spinoff, this series centers upon the dark witch, Agatha Harkness. Her history, origins, connections to Darkhold and her place in the puzzle of the multiverse is quite engaging, to be honest.
Protagonist played by Kathryn Hahn, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries is a dark, mystical addition to the phase.
Setting the Stage for Phase 6: The Future of the MCU
After phase 4, the fifth phase is not only a continuation of the stories, but actually a critical bridge to get over to Phase Six, where the stakes are bound to be higher than ever.
With chaos ruling the multiverse and supervillains like Kang wrecking up havoc in places larger than life, this phase is going to be just as breathtaking as the former ones, if not far more.
So, grab the popcorn bucket, put your seatbelts on (silence your phone), and get ready for this epic upcoming chapter in MCU. The real action begins NOW!
About Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films and TV series, independently produced by Marvel Studios and based on characters that appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
The franchise includes comic books, short films, television series, and digital series. The shared universe, much like the original Marvel Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.
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