Considering how successful both critically and commercially Marvel's Ant Man was, it should probably come as no surprise that a sequel to the film will be released on July 6th 2018, entitled "Ant-Man and The Wasp", the first Marvel film to be named after one of their superheroines. However, 12 months ago Marvel released their Phase 3 plans dating movies all the way to May 2019, and an "Ant Man 2" was nowhere to be seen. This led a lot of people to believe that we'd have to wait until Phase 4 to see Marvel's smallest hero return in a solo adventure.
Well it appears that if one of their properties is popular amongst fans and efficient at the box office, they will be willing to change their plans and fast-track in sequels. What this has meant is a re-shuffle of the Phase 3 pack with movies moving from their original dates yet again. This is now the second time Marvel has changed their future movie line up in 2015 alone; last time people were going crazy over the inclusion of a certain web-slinger.
Updated Phase 3 schedule
Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe now looks like this:
The inclusion of an Ant Man sequel has pushed some movies forward, and others back. Black Panther, which was originally pencilled in for a November 3rd 2017 release was moved to July 6th 2018 after Marvel acquired the rights to Spiderman. It's moving in the opposite direction now, coming out on February 16th 2018. It will be the last MCU movie before the Infinity War spectacle. Fans are happy that his solo adventure will be brought to us at least a couple months earlier.
Fans are not so happy with them pushing back Captain Marvel. It will still be placed in-between the Infinity War films but will now come out on March 8th 2019, 4 months later than previously scheduled. This is the second time Marvel has pushed her back, and I don't blame them considering there is no actress or director attached to the film. And those who are complaining that Marvel is purposefully delaying the release of their first female led superhero movie for "other" reasons, I don't understand you. This new film is led by a female superhero. An iconic one at that, with an actress who seriously kills it as that particular character!
Sequel ideas
I really enjoyed Ant Man and am pleased that we're getting a sequel as there's a huge amount of story potential and interesting character arcs for Scott Lang, Hope van Dyne as well as Michael Douglas' Hank Pym. I kind of feel like the title "Ant Man and The Wasp" has duel meaning; it could be referring to the modern incarnation or Hank Pym and his wife Janet, who is currently lost in the Quantum Realm.
Speaking of the Quantum Realm, I think it's going to have a huge role in this sequel. At the end of Ant Man when Scott successfully returns, Hank begins to wonder. If Scott can return, maybe his wife can be saved. If I were to predict I'd guess that this was going to be the plot of the movie as it was eluded to in a not-so-subtle way in Ant Man's closing stages.
If you want to read more about the Quantum Realm and how it may have an important role in not just an Ant Man sequel, but other Phase 3 films, click here: http://movieswithmattharrison.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/ant-man-quantum-realm-theory.html
Phase 4?
With this news also comes three new release dates for future MCU films. Some believe these films will be part of Phase 3, which I completely disagree with. I still get the sense that Phase 3 will end with the second Infinity War film, with Inhumans acting as it's epilogue and a bridge into Phase 4.
Below are my incredibly early predictions for what these films could be. Yes, I'm sat here predicting what films will come out in 2020. Don't judge me.
May 1st 2020 - Untitled Spiderman film sequel
July 10th 2020 - Guardians of the Galaxy 3
November 6th 2020 - Fantastic Four/X-Men
A Spiderman film is almost a shoe-in. Guardians 3 is very likely. However, the third film is very difficult to predict. Possibilities are literally endless! If Marvel get the rights back for the X-Men and Fantastic Four characters in the next couple of years (which isn't actually that unlikely of a thing to happen) then we'll definitely see them incorporated into the MCU fold.
But I think at least one of these 3 films will introduce a new character or a new group of characters. As the X-Men and F4 have never appeared in the MCU before, they fit this description. But Marvel could use other characters. Nova? Namor? Spider Woman? She-Hulk? Blade? Who needs new characters when you could release either Doctor Strange and/or Black Panther 2? Could a Defenders movie be on the cards? What about finally giving us the Mark Ruffalo-led Hulk film we all want? Or will they give in and finally give us everything we could ever want... the return of Howard the Duck!
Jokes aside, predicting Phase 4 is almost impossible at the moment. The fact I'm sat her speculating films that will be released after Infinity War (which is still 4 years away) is testament to what Marvel has achieved with it's cinematic universe. If an Ant Man sequel means more content from Marvel, I can not possibly complain.
Thanks for reading,
Matt
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