Anna Daniels
When you’ve created a franchise as diverse and far-reaching as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you have to be prepared to take some criticism from fans. After all, you can’t please everyone.
As the planning for the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s “Phase 4” is well underway, there have been lots of complaints and requests from viewers about what they hope doesn’t happen. Whether they are voicing concern that the MCU is about to introduce too many new characters or explaining why they don’t want the X-Men brought into the fold, there are lots of vocal critics.
At the same time, there are plenty of MCU fans who are absolutely thrilled about the upcoming Phase 4 projects. With plenty of new material on the horizon, virtually every fan has something to look forward to. Here are the projects they’re most excited about.
The Phase 4 schedule has been revised
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Marvel had announced that its Phase 4 projects would be coming out some time ago, and the schedule was set through 2021. We were supposed to get Black Widow and The Eternals in 2020 followed by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Thor: Love and Thunder the following year. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man film was also supposed to come out in 2021, a collaboration between Marvel and Sony.
Now that filming and production has been disrupted for an indefinite period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans aren’t quite sure what to expect. This has pushed projects like Black Panther II and Captain Marvel 2 even further into the future, likely well into 2022. While it might be disappointing to have to wait even longer for these films, it gives plenty of times for fans to build anticipation.
Fans are clamoring for Doctor Strange and Thor
In a Reddit thread about the most anticipated projects, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness comes up again and again. Fans are anxious to see Cumberbatch return to the screen as neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange. The director shakeup after Scott Derrickson left the project — apparently over “creative differences,” says Digital Trends — has added an extra layer of mystery and suspense to this particular film. It’s still not clear who will be taking over, but Sam Raimi has confirmed involvement with the project and looks like the most likely candidate.
Meanwhile, many are excited to see Thor: Love and Thunder. This will be the fourth installment of a solo feature for the character, a first in MCU history. Rumors have been swirling about what to expect, and many believe that Christian Bale is going to make an appearance as an important — but currently unnamed — character. Fans can’t wait to find out more.
Television programming is also highly anticipated
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It’s not just the films that fans can’t wait to see. The MCU is also filled with action-packed television shows. The one that fans are most ready to see is WandaVision. Part of what makes the show so highly anticipated is that fans truly have no idea what they’re going to get. After all, Wanda is a heroine who can bend reality, so all bets are off on just what the show will entail. Fans have been anxiously looking for clues about everything from the plot to the cast to the costumes, and there are some signs on the horizon that the project will be fascinating indeed.
Another television series that fans are eagerly awaiting is Ms. Marvel. The details surrounding this show are a little sparse, but that hasn’t kept fans from getting really excited about the possibilities for the show and the character’s eventual crossover into the films. Filming was initially supposed to start in the summer of 2020, but now that everything is pushed back, it will likely be awhile before it gets back on track.
At the end of the day, many fans will be happy to see anything coming soon. With the delays in filming, they’re getting antsy. As one wrote when asked what they were most looking forward to, “Anything. This Marvel drought sucks and we have no idea when it will end.”
Written by: Cheat
