I guess this didn’t take Nostradamus-level foresight, but with Kevin Feige’s confirmation, we now know at least one film we’ll be getting in Phase Four of the MCU: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3.
Marvel Studios president Feige capped a feature on io9 with this tidbit:
“We’re only working on what’s been announced through the end of 2019, and it is still a big chess board for 2020 and beyond, but certainly I would say GUARDINANS 3 is up there. I don’t know what exactly the order will be.”
As of right now, that “through the end of 2019” slate includes CIVIL WAR, DOCTOR STRANGE, the currently-shooting GUARDIANS VOL. 2, SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING, THOR: RAGNAROK, BLACK PANTHER, ANT MAN AND THE WASP, CAPTAIN MARVEL, and, oh yeah, both parts of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR. Even with the INHUMANS delay, that’s a massive lineup for the next three years, with three Marvel films dropping in both ’17 and ’18 (and perhaps even still ’19) instead of the usual two. There’s likely a lot of things that need to fall into place before they can really nail down concrete plans for Phase Four (presuming this Phase ends with INFINITY WAR - PART 2), and some time before they even have the breathing room to put together a real, presentable agenda.
But one thing that jumps to mind is how many of the original Phase One characters they’re set to lose. Their locked-in billion dollar earners right now (among the solo films) are IRON MAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA, and GUARDIANS, and both Downey and Chris Evans are likely to be done after INFINITY WAR, so the only cast they’ll have under contract lock-and-key are the GUARDIANS. Even if you love ANT-MAN, you have to admit that series may not have the box-office potential of IRON MAN and CAP, and Marvel’s going to need something heavy in their chamber to rev up some genuine excitement for Phase Three. We’re talking about their first Phase without an IRON MAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA, and possibly even a THOR, and a third GUARDIANS would put a lot of fears about their dwindling docket to rest (provided VOL. 2 is as good as the first one, that is). There's almost sure to be some more adventures with Tom Holland's SPIDER-MAN, though ASM 2 taught us not to get too attached to a Spidey before his film actually comes out (though it looks like audiences are about to fall in love with this webslinger in a couple of weeks). I’d also expect THE INHUMANS to find their home in 2020 or beyond, but the question becomes what other Marvel heroes are to be featured/introduced in Phase Three (I'd say sequels to STRANGE, PANTHER, and even MARVEL are strong possibilities)?
James Gunn hasn't comitted to a VOL. 3, and it's possible he'll get MCU exhaustion after cranking out two major tentpoles for the studio in three years, but I'm sure Feige will try and keep the director onboard. If that doesn't work, I doubt they'll stop going forward, and will hunt for someone to evoke the same kind of weird, funny sci-fi feel that Gunn spun into box-office gold. I'd be bummed, but I guess that's life, and I'll bet that this cast and their terrific chemistry could survive the change-up (don't forget, they got KURT now).
We’re all assuming that Star Lord and his crew will indeed pop up in INFINITY WAR, so let’s see how that shakes out before we make any guesses as to what VOL. 3 will be like or if any of the other MCU characters will venture out into space to play with Quill & Co. But the third GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is the big headliner on Marvel's Phase Four roster right now, and Pratt, Saldana, Bautista, and probably even Diesel and Cooper will now be the most familiar faces/voices that we can definitely expect post-INFINITY WAR.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 will freak out in a Moonage Daydream on May 5th, 2017.
