Everything We Just Learned about Marvel Phase Four Television
Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) came to a close when a famous group of superheroes managed to <redacted> and thereby <redacted> Thanatos. Then, Spider-Man went on a high school trip to Europe and <redacted>.
With Phase Three in the book, Disney just revealed their plans for the next batch of superhero projects, some of which will debut on Disney+ instead of in theaters. Here’s everything we just learned about Marvel Phase Four.
Author’s note: I’ll stay as spoiler-free as possible here. Still, you should read at your own risk, especially if you haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame yet.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
One of my favorite parts of Avengers: Winter Soldier was when these two superheroes fought in the car. Then, they cheered on their buddy Steve Rodgers during a kiss with Agent 13. The two quarrel like siblings and have unmistakable chemistry.
So, Disney+ fans will be ecstatic to know that a superhero buddy series will debut in the Fall of 2020. Both Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan will return in the title roles. The major change caused by the ending of Avengers: Endgame is that The Falcon is now <redacted>. This fact should be a considerable part of the story.
Also, Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) is back as the villain this time. You may remember him from Captain America: Civil War. He’s the bad guy who actually won in an MCU movie, although a lot of people misunderstood that.
Photo: screenrant.com
WandaVision
The Wanda in question is Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch. As portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen, this hex-throwing superhero was the youngest, greenest Avenger until Spider-Man came along.
Scarlet Witch fell in love with Vision (Paul Bettany), a former A.I. butler of Tony Stark. Once known as J.A.R.V.I.S., Vision somehow became half-Siri and half-Ultron. He went from answering Tony Stark’s annoying questions to jeopardizing all of humanity by embedding an Infinity Stone in his forehead. The MCU has some pretty weird stuff, folks.
Anyway, the romance between Maximoff and her android is one of the sweetest things in the MCU. The duo will receive a spin-off series in the Spring of 2021. Again, the movie actors will return to their roles on the television series.
The tantalizing part of WandaVision is Teyonna Paris’ character, Monica Rambeau. Attentive Marvel fans should recognize that name as another woman who was once Captain Marvel and is currently Spectrum.
More importantly to the MCU, Monica is the daughter of Maria Rambeau in the movie, Captain Marvel. She’s now all grown up, possibly because of the <redacted>. Also, I don’t claim to understand the how of it, but WandaVision apparently ties into the Doctor Strange sequel.
Loki
Sure, Loki <redacted> at the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War. However, he also <redacted> in one of the Thor movies and had his <redacted and censored by Net Nanny> by Thor at the end of The Avengers. As the Trickster God of the MCU, he’s impossible to predict. Besides, at the end of Avengers: Endgame, <redacted redacted redacted>. All bets are off after that.
So, we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that Loki will star in a Disney+ series during the Spring of 2021. Yes, that’s the same frame as WandaVision. No, we don’t know that the two are connected as of yet.
What we do know is that Tom Hiddleston is back. Really, that’s the only thing that matters, right? He’s mastered this role and entertains whenever he’s onscreen. An entire series built around the character is so enticing.
Oh, the other thing that we recently learned is that Loki will have the Space Stone. So, there’s that. A Trickster God is in control of an Infinity Gem. Does anyone see a potential problem with that?
What If…?
The most exciting proposition out of all Disney+ Marvel series is What If…?, an animated project within Phase Four. What’s the big deal? Think about all of the MCU stories that you love. Now, imagine that they’d gone a different way…
Yes, the premise of What If…? relies on the multiverse concept. I’m not speaking of the one that Dr. Strange will explore in his next film. I mean that the show will explore alternative scenarios from existing MCU movies.
For example, what if Captain America hadn’t gotten transported to the present? What if Yondu hadn’t saved Peter Quill? What if Killmonger were still ruler of Wakanda? I’m using theoretical examples here rather than leaked storylines, but you get the idea.
With What If…?, Disney+ will change the way that we perceive the MCU. They have once again cast the voice actors from your favorite Marvel movies. Celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson, Hayley Atwell, Paul Rudd, Chadwick Boseman, and Natalie Portman will reprise their Marvel characters in this project.
The “star” of the series is The Watcher, voiced by Jeffrey Wright. A well-known character, especially in the Fantastic Four comics, he will act as the narrator of What If…?.
Photo: ComicBook.com
This super-powered being lives on the Moon and sees all in the Marvel universe. Left alone for so long, The Watcher, thinks about various scenarios that would have a profound impact on the MCU.
What If…? is one of the most popular comics due to its open-ended nature. Any known Marvel story provides fertile ground for a different story. Red Skull could defeat Captain America and win World War II. Obadiah Stane, aka the Iron Monger, could take and keep Tony Stark’s arc reactor heart. And Loki could stop Thor from leaving (or returning) to Asgard.
Anything is possible here, and that’s why What If…? will be one of the buzz shows of the Summer of 2021.
hawkeye
The next (and currently last) confirmed Disney+ streaming series within Phase Four is hawkeye. After the events of Avengers Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Clint Barton wants to train his successor. He chooses a young woman named Kate Bishop.
Marvel fans are nodding their heads right now, as Bishop is one of the Young Avengers as well as the West Coast Avengers. Jeremy Renner will return as Hawkeye, but Bishop hasn’t been cast yet. This series won’t arrive until the Fall of 2021, so Marvel can take its time here.
Marvel wouldn’t confirm whether Barton will be <redacted> or not in this series. Presuming that the series explores the character’s history, it’ll probably cover some of this timeframe.
So, there you have it. Marvel will bring four live-action MCU series to Disney+ by the end of 2021. Plus, they’ll introduce an animated story that can draw from the totality of the film franchise. It’s an excellent time to be a Marvel fan. Phase Four is going to be awesome.
Oh, and stating the obvious here. You’re gonna want a Disney+ subscription.
