“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” & More MCU Films Get New Release Dates
2021 turned out to be a pretty major year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite how unsettled everything has been for over 18 months due to the pandemic. Marvel’s Phase 4 began in earnest with Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings kicking things off on July 9 and September 3, respectively. Before the year is out, we’ll have two more Phase 4 additions—Chloé Zhao’s hotly-anticipated Eternals, and Jon Watts Spider-Man: No Way Home, bowing on November 5 and December 17, respectively. From saying goodbye to Scarlett Johansson’s formidable Natasha Romanoff to meeting new superheroes, in both Shang-Chi and Eternals, to seeing Spider-Man team up with Doctor Strange in No Way Home, 2021 will end up being a big year in the MCU.
Yet things are changing for the MCU in 2022 and 2023. Disney has announced that the MCU’s upcoming slate is going to be shaped a little differently than previously expected. The next five MCU films have all been moved, their release dates now coming a few months later than originally scheduled, giving each film a bit more time to breathe before the next installment in Marvel’s ever-expanding cinematic universe.
Here are the new release dates:
– Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness moves from March 25, 2022, to May 6, 2022
– Thor: Love and Thunder moves from May 6, 2022, to July 8, 2022
– Black Panther: Wakanda Forever moves from July 8, 2022, to November 11, 2022
– The Marvels moves from November 11, 2022, to February 17, 2023
– Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania moves from February 17, 2023, to July 28, 2023
There have been a few other intriguing developments. Two untitled Marvel movies, originally slated for July 28, 2023, and October 6, 2023, have been removed from the release slate. A third untitled Marvel film, originally slated for November 10, 2023, has been moved up a week to November 3, 2023. All these moves amount to Marvel scaling back their release schedule ever-so-slightly, to three new films a year instead of four. Considering how consistently well MCU films do, it makes sense not to flood the zone and risk the dreaded franchise fatigue.
Also, this isn’t your father’s MCU. Now, there’s an entire realm of MCU stories being told on Disney+, meaning there are more hours of Marvel mayhem on screen than ever before.
For more on Marvel Studios, check these out:
First Reactions to “Eternals” Say Chloé Zhao’s Epic is an MCU Game-Changer
This New “Hawkeye” Teaser Hits the Bullseye
Will Poulter Joins “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” As Adam Warlock
New “Eternals” Footage Reveals Epic Battle Between Immortal Beings
Featured image: Black Panther/T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman). Ph: Film Frame. ©Marvel Studios 2018
