The Bernel Zone: RE: Marvel Studios' "Phase 3" Lineup

Marvel just recently laid all their cards on the table by officially revealing their upcoming movies up to 2018. We already know about Ant-Man, which will kick off “Phase 3” in the second half of 2015, after “Phase 2” culminates in May with Avengers: Age of Ultron. Now, we also know how the rest of “Phase 3” will look like.

It’s very different from my fantasy blueprint for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or “MCU” for short) but I’m not expecting it to otherwise. Nonetheless, there are a lot of things to be excited about.

Here are they, in order of planned released dates, with some two-cent thoughts of mine…

“Civil War” was one of Marvel’s most famous story events. It had an intriguing premise but its actual execution didn’t give justice to the potential of such premise. In the story, Marvel superheroes (and some supervillains) found themselves in opposing sides – the “pro” bloc was led by Iron Man while the “anti” bloc was led by Captain America – in regards to the Superpower Registration Act which requires all super-persons registering with the government and revealing their real names

All signs are pointing that this movie is going to have a Captain America vs. Iron Man plot. But what will they be fighting about? It’s possible that it’s also over a Superhero Registration Act, but the climate in the MCU doesn’t make it very likely.

Also, the available superheroes in the MCU are hardly sufficient to have a legitimate “Team Captain America” vs. “Team Iron Man” war. The MCU’s superhero community is still barely a community. Heck, the Avengers aren’t even a real, official Avengers team yet. There is still no base of operations (though it was teased in the first movie that Stark Tower is going to be eventually transformed into Avengers Tower), and there is still no on-call, stable roster. So far, they seem more of having the Defenders’ non-team personality – only teaming up when occasion arises. Assuming that they will only become a real Avengers team in this upcoming Age of Ultron movie, it won’t make sense for them to immediately split up afterwards and then proceed to “civil war” among themselves.

So why “Civil War”? How will a “Civil War” work? Why pit Captain America against Iron Man? This perplexes me a lot.

Anyway, I have a strong feeling that Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers is going to die in this movie, which will prompt Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier) to assume the role of Captain America, since, in the comics, in the aftermath of “Civil War”, Steve Rogers was “assassinated” and Bucky replaced him as Captain America for a while.

If it holds true, Benedict Cumberbatch as the Sorcerer Supreme is the best. casting. ever.

Make it official already, Marvel!

Expand the roster please. And let one of those roster additions be Adam Warlock. If the character is going to be introduced in the MCU – and it’s logically likely, considering where “Phase 3” is going – this is the best chance to do so.

What if Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange makes an appearance here to aid Thor? Everybody will lose their minds when two of the most charming and most adored, pretty celebrities today – Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston (who plays Loki) – share an MCU screen together. It will likely incite a mass riot.

The movie is scheduled for 2017 but the casting of Chadwick Boseman to play the titular character was already made official, while, on the other hand, Marvel is still mum about Doctor Strange, which will release sooner. My guess why? Black Panther is set to cameo in Age of Ultron.

YEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!

(ﾉﾟ▽ﾟ)ﾉ

I have wanted this much.

Now, considering that, in the comics, she’s both a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Avengers, it’s possible that she’ll serve as the bridge for the inevitable team-up of the two teams in…

I don’t mind that it’s split into two movies. If anything else, splitting it implies that it’s going to be as massive and epic as the comics’ storyline.

Heck, this might even be where Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will join the MCU!

Black Bolt is coming to the big screen!

I adore the character much, and he’s what I’m most excited about in an Inhuman movie. Having Medussa, Lockjaw, Crystal, and Maximus too are just bonuses. I would even prefer the title to rather be “Black Bolt & the Inhumans” instead. Seriously.

Anyway, an Inhuman movie is hardly a surprise, considering that Marvel has been apparent about it. The Inhumans have been given more exposure in the comics – which I had described as having the feeling of them being forcibly shoved down our throats. Moreover, rumors have always been rampant about Marvei’s plan to use the Inhumans as the MCU’s mutants (since Fox has the rights for everything X-Men).

And, oh, this movie basically confirms that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Skye is an Inhuman. Probably.

Some random musings:

→ Aw, no love for the Hulk? I guess if there’s going to be another Hulk movie, it’ll be for “Phase 4”…

→ It is imperative for Adam Warlock to be around Infinity War. For me, it won’t feel much of an Infinity saga without him around.

→ I’m calling it now. The heroes from Marvel’s lineup of TV series – Phil Coulson, Mockingbird, Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Jessica Jones – are going to be in the Avengers: Infinity War. The two-parter is a culmination of sorts, so I suppose everyone will be in it.

→ I’m not kidding about the possibility of Spidey also showing up in Avengers: Infinity War (Wolverine, however, is unlikely). There are rumors that Sony and Marvel are working up a deal to bring Spider-Man to the MCU. I really want that to happen. If it does, it’s going to be a massive coup. It will rock a lot.

→ I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the MCU, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are reinvented as Inhumans.

→ After some rumors that Marvel are contemplating of releasing three movies a year, the dates tells us that they are still sticking with their two-movies-a-year format. Bummer.

→ Seeing in the big screen Black Bolt obliterating foes with mere whispers is going to be awesome…