Why Marvel should not have a 'Phase 4' – and what they should do instead...

It looks like the MCU films are building up to an epic confrontation in Avengers 3 with an Infinity Gauntlet wielding Thanos versus The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and the Defenders...

Editorial Opinion
By mook - Feb 12, 2014 06:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Other

After such an epic, universe-spanning, all encompassing Superhero film there might be nowhere for Marvel to go... but they will of course want to continue to release films set in the MCU. To do this I think Marvel should take a very different approach after the release of Avengers 3 - instead of pushing forward with Phase 4 they should instead look to films set within the MCU that can 'slot in' to the then established timeline...

Below I outline which films/TV shows Marvel could explore;

Damage Control
Drew Pearce (co-writer of Iron Man 3, writer/director or Marvel One-Shot: All Hail The King) has been recently talking about a film based on these characters. If it was made after Avengers 3 it could be the MCU version of Ross/Busiek's 'Marvels' book. The story can take place over several years spanning Phase 1 - 3 with the team clearing up the aftermath of events in Iron Man 1 – 3, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, Thor 2 etc.

Black Widow & Hawkeye in Budapest
Fans have been intrigued by the backstory between these two characters, and in particular what happened in Budapest, since The Avengers. This could be an action/spy/thriller set sometime before The Avengers.

Runaways
A fairly self-contained story, based on the initial story arc in the comics.

Howling Commandos
Set around the first Captain America film. Show how the group got together, got captured and teamed up with Captain America. It can also flesh out the montage section in 'Captain America' when the team are destroying Red Skulls bases, and then following them after Cap 'dies'.

Young Nick Fury
We know Fury was involved with SHIELD early on, knew Howard Stark etc. We can finally find out how he lost his eye...

Young Hank Pym
It's unclear how much, if any, we will see of Pym's adventures as a young man in the upcoming Ant-Man film so this could be set entirely in the 1960's/70's with a tone to match.

Guardians of the Galaxy 2, or spin-offs
GotG will introduce lots of new characters, planets, species and concepts to the MCU. This opens up lot's of opportunities to do one or more films entirely away from earth.

Agent Carter
The TV show will be set after the first Captain America film and basically do it's own thing but throw in some fun little easter eggs relating to what we, the viewers, know happens later in the MCU.

Namor
Marvel Studios has the rights back to the character but are unlikely to find a way to fit him in before Avengers 3. This film can be set in Atlantis at pretty much any time in the timeline – maybe even during WW2 as per his original appearance...

Netflix, Defenders, Heroes for Hire etc
Assuming we see a Defenders team up in Avengers 3 we could then see a Defenders solo movie (perhaps bringing in Hulk, Dr Strange, Namor etc). A Heroes for Hire film or TV show could also be a good way to carry on with these characters, or simply more solo series on Netflix. If he hasn't already featured, they could bring in The Punisher too.

Blade
Bit of a long shot but could Marvel work Blade into the MCU? Maybe an action packed version of The X-Files with SHIELD investigating?

Planet Hulk/World War Hulk
Following Avengers 3 we could see Hulk banished from the Earth, setting up this storyline. If successful it could lead into a World War Hulk film – which would be a good way to bring The Avengers/Guardians of the Galaxy/The Defenders back together for a big crossover film...

Would you like to see Marvel pursue this idea, and what films would you like to see in the MCU after Avengers 3?

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kinghulk
kinghulk - 2/12/2014, 6:56 AM
i say they split avengers 3 into a part 1 and part 2 that are around the some gap between each other as cap TWS and GOTG. it would be awesome.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 7:12 AM
Avengers 3 will not be Thanos. Avengers 3 will probably be a mix of a lot of stories like Dark Reign, Seige, Civil War, Under Seige and Kang Dynasty along with some elements of Inhumanity. After phase 4, sure do this but Phase 3 will absolutely not be Thanos and I don't think that they will leave a plot like that tingling after 3 phases of build up. We will probably have a fourth Phase showing us how Thanos aquires the infinity stones and it will mot likely end with a two part Infinity Gauntlet. Pay atention to what is going on around you all of you. Kevin Feige said that Thanos would be the big bad of the series and the last villain that the Avengers would face. Planning up to 2021 means that they have plans for a fourth phase. Also, Avengers is Marvel's biggest money maker and Disney won't allow them to end the series after only three movies. I think that if Phase 4 is still sucessful than we will see a fifth phase very differennt from anything before. It probably won't be what you've written in this article.
@Soto Well the Star Wars prequels were a big box office sucess and unlike Marvel they didn't release for 11 years. The Avengers made even more than any Star Wars movie so a Phase 4 should be even more sucessful. Also, by that logic Episode VII will be a big flop.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 7:18 AM
And if Marvel wants to compete with Batman Superman than their biggest bet is Thor 3. I have an idea that with the right promotion could very well pass one billion in box office.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 7:21 AM
Soto, And you don't think that Avengers won't stuck? With all the comic books, cartoons, multiple movies being released, tv shows and animated movies I can't imagine the Avengers being forgotten for a very long time.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 7:24 AM
Did you just say that Thor 3 would be a box office failure? Stop making up arguments for the sole reason of defending what you said.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 7:25 AM
@MexicanSuperman What are you talking about? Guardians of the Galaxy is coming out this year and it has nothing to do with the Avengers yet.
kinghulk
kinghulk - 2/12/2014, 7:25 AM
alpha, why do you think they wont have thanos for avengers 3?
kinghulk
kinghulk - 2/12/2014, 7:26 AM
alpha- i think GOTG this year will have something to do with the avengers due to the fact thanos will appear and it has been speculated an infinity gem will appear.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 7:27 AM
@kinghulk The first paragraf of my first comment anwser's your question. There other reasons if you want them (I can't remember any right now but there are).
Havenless
Havenless - 2/12/2014, 7:29 AM
Are you certain Marvel has the rights back to Namor? As of November Thor 2 interviews, Feige said he was at Universal.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 7:30 AM
GotG will have as much to do with The Avengers as any movie taking place on Earth. The only movie that I can think of that wouldn't be related to Avengers is Howard the Duck. Wait, it that one takes place on earth too.
kinghulk
kinghulk - 2/12/2014, 7:31 AM
i think they have already started building towards thanos for phase 3, after all 2 infinity gems have appeared, 1 might appear in GOTG. and there is potencial for other infinity gems to appear in Dr starnage, GOTG 2 and thor 2, and then save the final gem for the avengers film.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 7:34 AM
@Soto Marvel will be realising movies every year at that point. If it isn't sucessful than they will know long before they realese Avengers 3. My comment about Thor 3 didn't have anything to do what you said Soto.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 7:39 AM
@kinghulk But none of those stones were with Thanos and Infinity Gauntlet could hold two whole movies without even showing how Thanos got the Gems so I think that it's more likely for Phase 4 to show how he gets them while Phase 3 introduces the rest of the gems.
@Soto But why would they not do Phase 4? They could make all those things on the side while using the things that attract more money too.
And go to skype. I'd like to talk about Batman or Fantastic Four if you have anything to say.
kinghulk
kinghulk - 2/12/2014, 7:42 AM
i think avengers 3 will be a combination of infinity and infinity gauntlet. have thanos have lets say 3 or 4 of the gems and then have the avengers have the other 2 or 3 gems to give them a fighting chance but then they lose anyway.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 7:44 AM
@kinghulk I highly doubt that but we'll see.
kinghulk
kinghulk - 2/12/2014, 7:50 AM
i can imagine a battle on a distant planet starting the film with thanos's forces (chitauri and other species) battleing the guardians and lets say the spartax or the kree in an attempt to get the 4th infinity gem. it looks like guardians are winning then thanos shows up and kicks ass. starlord decides they need to retreat and regroup so he contacts the avengers. so a fleet assembles to protect earth wich has 1 of the remaining 2 stones with the other being on asgard.
i cant wait to see thanos on the big screen kicking everyone's ass.
kinghulk
kinghulk - 2/12/2014, 8:14 AM
too bad, i feel spliting it in 2 would really make it feel epic, if it's not gonna be 2 parts it had better be at least 3 hours long then. i want him to be done justice on the big screen, i have faith whedon will do him justice.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 8:18 AM
@GliderMan When did he say that? I'm pretty sure that if he said anything than it was that it would be the last movie, not the third one.
kinghulk
kinghulk - 2/12/2014, 8:20 AM
alpha- it could just be whedons final avengers film. then they can set up i dunno dark avengers or kang for avengers 4
JohnnyRoss
JohnnyRoss - 2/12/2014, 8:37 AM
They should never stop as long as people want to see them.

They can keep using different heroes.

If they really want to bring back the big 3, they can recast.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 2/12/2014, 8:43 AM
@MexicanSuperman What I was saying is that GotG fits with what you wrote. And all those characters have crossed paths with The Avengers way more than GotG.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 2/12/2014, 9:26 AM
@ Alphadog

Even though none of the Avengers are in GOTG (that we know of), their film is still heavily entrenched in the Avengers story that is going on. (Thanos, the infinity gems, etc)

I think what MexicanSuperman means is that he would like a Marvel Studios film, like Punisher, or Daredevil, that takes place in the MCU, but has NOTHING to do with everything going on in the Avengers films...and i agree with him.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 2/12/2014, 10:05 AM
@ Alphadog

I always liked the idea of the MCU because they could do things like the comics.

I remember reading The Dark Phoenix Saga when I was a kid, and the coolest thing to me was when Jean Grey lit up Central Park with her Firebird avatar and all those other Marvel characters in NY took notice of it. They just showed Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, Mr. Fantastic (I think?) for one quick panel looking toward Central Park. Those guys had NOTHING to do with the Dark Phoenix storyline, yet there they were, taking notice of the events.

So yeah, I definitely get what MexicanSuperman means. I would love for them to do a Punisher movie that has nothing to do with the "Infinity Events" going on in the Avengers films. Then, they could even do a quick cameo of him when the shit hits the fan in whatever movie the Infinity Gauntlet story is going to happen in. Just something that shows him noticing the crazy events that are unfolding in his city.

I don't know if that would ever happen, but to me, that is what was so exciting about them making the MCU back when I first heard about it. Its like when Stark showed up in Incredible Hulk. You just had this feeling that anyone could show up anywhere.
mook
mook - 2/12/2014, 10:54 AM
@SotoJuiceMan I think the Netflix series show that Marvel are willing to have different tones within the MCU. As well as these 'street-level' shows it would be interesting if they did a more horror/paranormal approach with Blade & Ghost Rider reboots...
mook
mook - 2/12/2014, 10:55 AM
@alphadog Here's my reasoning for Thanos/Infinity Guantlet in Avengers 3;
We've already seen the Infinity Guantlet (Thor), Thanos (Avengers), Space Stone (Cap/Thor/Avengers) and Power Stone (Thor2). We will see more of Thanos and at least one more Stone in GotG (I think the Time Stone). Dr.Strange and Thor3 could easily feature a Stone each. (We've also possibly seen the Mind Stone in Loki's Sceptre?!). This could all set up an MCU version of the Infinity Gauntlet story in Avengers3...

But let's say this doesn't happen until Avengers4 - what would you like Marvel to do next? The same format it currently has or something different?
mook
mook - 2/12/2014, 10:56 AM
@CorndogBurglar I think we will see something like that in the Infinity Film; even if characters aren't directly involved we will see cameos etc
JasonGrayson77
JasonGrayson77 - 2/12/2014, 11:20 AM
I never got why there was so much interest in Damage Control. They clean. I'm not getting why people want to see that.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 2/12/2014, 12:01 PM
@ Yoss

The ship is sinking because its loaded down with all that money!
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 2/12/2014, 12:02 PM
@ JasonGrayson

Then you obviously don't know anything about Damage Control
mook
mook - 2/12/2014, 1:03 PM
@yossarian I'm not saying abandon, I'm saying diversify. Marvel are already doing this - short films, a TV show, the Netflix shows.

I'm saying instead of churning out 'Thor 5' Marvel can use the established MCU to bring new characters and concepts to the general public - just like they are with GotG...
mook
mook - 2/12/2014, 1:16 PM
@SotoJuiceMan I agree; Iron Man, Thor, Cap and Avengers will all get trilogies. Hulk won't. Unlikely for GotG, Ant-Man, Dr.Strange etc.
ruadh
ruadh - 2/12/2014, 6:36 PM
Hawkeye and Black Widow in Budapest is kinda like the Star Wars prequels. Probably way better as a throwaway line to exercise the fans' imaginations.
sikwon
sikwon - 2/12/2014, 6:43 PM
I think inhumanity and guardians of the galaxy are the comic story lines that are giving us a bit of a hint at the future direction that the movies will take. as important as the comics are and as much as we love them there is no way that they make marvel any ware near as much money as the movies do. that means that everything is going to support and point towards an expanded cinematic universe. they are going to build on the formula that they have established because its profitable as hell. marvel knows that expansion works and that multi platform story telling works as well. I see no reason why everything under the marvel umbrella wont become cannon except for the comics. they can use the comics as a template but because of the fox and sony deals they cant be canon to the movieverse. Netflix, tv, cinema, and maybe even video games will all be cohesive. that is happening right now (with the exception of the video games). this isn't going away any time soon. even if a show fails or runs its course they will continue to put out one or two movies a year because really if they miss on a few movies, say they only make 450 million each, they have the confidence of past success to KNOW that it only takes one movie to reignite it.
mook
mook - 2/13/2014, 12:51 AM
@yossarian Don't get me wrong, I'm a massive MCU fan but I would just like to see a different approach after Avengers3. Instead of a list of sequels that are following on from each other leading to Avengers4, they could mix it up by having one-off films set within the established MCU - kind of like how the Agent Carter One-Shot went all the way back to the 1940's. Unique films 'slotting in' to the MCU.

@ruadh Might be cool as a One-Shot story?
mook
mook - 2/13/2014, 12:53 AM
@sikwon Makes sense. Agents of SHIELD is already in the MCU, along with the One-Shots and the tie-in comics. I'm sure the Netflix shows are happening in the MCU, even of they will be smaller scale and focus.
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