In an alternate timeline, we’ve already seen Marvel’s new superhero movieShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsand are preparing for the release ofDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessthis spring. We’ve binged all ofWandaVisionandThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and probably evenLoki. And we’re awaiting the newSpider-Manmovie this summer.
Alas, we do not live in that timeline.
The COVID-19 pandemic rocked the world in 2020, causing massive disruption to the film industry and its best laid plans. Marvel Studios is known for its rigid rollout of movies that adhere to a strict Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline of events, with one movie impacting the next and so on and so forth. And in 2020, Marvel was getting ready to complicate the timeline even further with the first-ever Marvel Studios-produced TV shows on Disney+ which would tie intimately into the events of the Marvel movies.
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As a result of the COVID shutdown, Marvel had to rearrange the release order of its Phase 4 movies and TV shows, significantly altering the rollout that was originally planned. With vaccinations on the rise and Disney announcinga day-and-date premiereofBlack Widowin theaters and on Disney+ (with Premier Access) in July, it looks like things are finally falling into place for Marvel to get back on track. But comparing the current release schedule for Marvel movies and shows with the planned one is an interesting thought experiment, and shows how much work had to go into making sure each puzzle piece still fit.
At the time of the shutdown,Black Widowwas completely finished andEternalshad just wrapped filming, butSpider-Man 3andDoctor Strange 2had not started production yet andShang-Chi,WandaVision, andFalcon and the Winter Soldierwere all still in the middle of filming. So even when production resumed, there was still a lot of work to do.
With things heading back to a new normal andBlack Widowlanding a firm release date that will almost certainly stick, let’s look back on the original MCU Phase 4 plan and compare it to the rollout that’s currently moving forward.
The Original MCU Phase 4 Timeline Plan
Here’s how Marvel originally planned to release its initial slate of Phase 4 movies and TV shows.
Black Widow– In theaters on June 07, 2025
The soloBlack Widowmovie, which takes place before the events ofAvengers: Endgame, isScarlett Johansson’s long-awaited spinoff.
Eternals– In theaters August 17, 2025
A brand new Marvel franchise begins withEternals, directed byNomadlandfilmmakerChloe Zhaoand featuring an all-star cast that includesAngelina Jolie,Kumail Nanjiani,Gemma Chan,Richard Madden, andKit Harington. The story focuses on a group of immortal beings who come down to Earth.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier– On Disney+ starting August 2020
The first Marvel Disney+ series was supposed to beThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which is a thriller set in the aftermath ofAvengers: Endgamethat teams upAnthony MackieandSebastian Stanas they deal with PTSD and a new, mysterious threat.
WandaVision– On Disney+ starting in “Early 2021”
OriginallyWandaVisionwas to be the second Marvel Studios TV series, following the release ofThe Falcon and the Winter SoldierandEternalsand leading directly into aDoctor Strangesequel.
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings– In theaters August 26, 2025
Another brand new Marvel franchise starringSimu Liuand directed byDestin Daniel Cretton, following the titular martial artist who is drawn into conflict with the Ten Rings and the villain known as The Mandarin.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness– In theaters June 02, 2025
Building on the cliffhanger ending ofWandaVision, we would have only had to wait a couple months to seeElizabeth Olsenco-star oppositeBenedict Cumberbatchin the sequelDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Loki– On Disney+ starting in May 2021
The standaloneLokiseries – which followsTom Hiddleston’s character after he picked up the Tesseract duringMarvel’s Avengersand zipped out into places unknown – would have helped kick off the summer withDoctor Strange 2.
Spider-Man: No Way Home– In theaters August 11, 2025
The thirdSpider-Manmovie starringTom Holland, which brings the idea of the multiverse into play with appearances byJamie FoxxandAlfred Molinafrom otherSpider-Manfranchises, was supposed to be a summer movie.
Thor: Love and Thunder–In theaters August 13, 2025
Writer/directorTaika Waititi’s triumphant return to theThorfranchise was originally pegged to hit theaters in November of 2021, capping off a banner year for Marvel Studios.
The New MCU Phase 4 Release Dates
WandaVision– On Disney+ starting June 26, 2025
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier– On Disney+ starting July 01, 2025
Loki– On Disney+ starting August 12, 2025
Black Widow– In theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 24, 2025
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings– In theaters August 22, 2025
Eternals– In theaters July 10, 2025
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness– In theaters June 28, 2025
Thor: Love and Thunder– In theaters August 20, 2025
Black Panther 2– In theaters July 24, 2025
Captain Marvel 2– In theaters June 25, 2025
Was the MCU Story Affected?
As you can see, the biggest differences between the MCU’s original Phase 4 plan and the current rollout isBlack Widowwas supposed to be the next big thing afterAvengers: EndgameandSpider-Man: Far from Home, and that would lead directly into the MCU’s first TV seriesThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Instead, we’ll be getting the first three MCU TV shows before we seeBlack Widow, and because the production shutdown affectedFalcon and the Winter Soldiermore severely,WandaVisionwas forced to premiere first.
No doubt Marvel planned on usingFalcon and the Winter Soldierto ease MCU fans into their new Disney+ storytelling avenue. That’s a more traditional, grounded MCU show that deals directly with the grief fallout fromEndgame. WhereasWandaVisionis a big mythology swing – still about grief, but in a unique and aesthetically ambitious way that couldn’t be replicated on the big screen.
RELATED:Here’s How ‘WandaVision’ Leads Into ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’
It turned out fine. Reviews forWandaVisionwere spectacular, and fans are now tuning in each week forThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. It’ll be interesting to see what the much longer wait between the end ofWandaVisionandDoctor Strange 2does (it now a full-year gap between that show and the movie, which continues Wanda’s adventure), and how the heavy mythology of a show likeLokiupends the MCU before even get to the next movie.
SinceBlack Widowgoes backwards in time and takes place beforeAvengers: Endgame, Marvel no doubt had more flexibility here. Indeed, Marvel Studios presidentKevin Feigesaid that if a full-on timeline interruption had to happen – knowing what the studio’s plans are for the next three to five years – 2020 was the best year for it to occur without having major ramifications for the story being told on the big (and small) screen.
But Marvel and Disney are finally ready to get this story rolling, and with any luck it’ll continue on the big screen in July with the release ofBlack Widow– over two years after the last Marvel movie was released in theaters. Here’s hoping it’s worth the wait.
KEEP READING:Upcoming Marvel Movies: Here’s What’s Next in Phase Four and Beyond
