A Geeky Viewpoint

There are currently two primary rumors that drive or divide speculation on what the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

First set of Speculation is based that Sony Entertainment is on-board.   We know that Sony Pictures and Marvel Pictures (and or Marvel Entertainment) have had high level talks.   We do not know the exact context of those discussions we must assume that the involve Spiderman and connection to the MCU.   Previously there had been discussions on making cameo or marketing connections between Spiderman and MCU, most notably the failed plans to put the Oscorp Building in The Avengers.    There are really three outcomes of the latest round of discussion:
1) Sony sells (or gives back) the rights to Spiderman to Marvel Studios
2) Sony continues to go it alone
3) Sony and Marvel create an agreement that allows Marvel to use Spiderman in Ensemble films.

For a long time I believed that Sony was looking for Marvel to make them an offer they cannot refuse to transfer the rights back to Marvel (option 1).   Up until last night the information we had clearly indicated that's what many people wanted or hoped would happen.

After last nights announcement involving Robert Downey Jr and Captain America 3 option 3 suddenly looks very much to be in play.   I know that a certain individual, Avi Arad, is very much against option 1 and 3, but he may suddenly be in the very small majority, especially if Marvel Entertainment is willing to provide financing to Sony for the Spiderman movies as opposed to the usual financing options that Sony uses (Bank of America / Merrill Lynch).

My looking at the Future Marvel/Sony timeline look like for a Civil War Story Arc assuming Sony is in the fold.

• 2015 - Avengers: Age of Ultron - The end of this movie would see the destruction of a small section of a city in New England laying the ground work for the US Government Super Hero Registration act.
• 2015 - Ant-Man - Introduction
• 2016 - Captain America 3 - Ground work Civil War - Steve Rogers in Hiding and Bucky taking up the Mantle of Captain America.
• 2016 - Doctor Strange - Introduction -
• 2016 - (SONY) Sinister Six - Minor Reboot of Spiderman
• 2017 - Speculative - Inhumans (Ms. Marvel)
• 2017 - (SONY) The Amazing Spiderman 3 - Conclusion of the Sinister Six story Arc
• 2017 - Guardians of the Galaxy II - Infinity Gauntlet
• 2018 - Avengers 3 - Part 1 (Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Ms. Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy)
• 2018 - Avengers 3 - Part 2 (Ant-Man, Wasp, Quicksilver, Spiderman, Scarlett Witch, Falcon)
• 2018 - Speculative - Black Panther
• 2019 - Speculative - Captain America 4
• 2019 - Speculative - Iron Man 4
• 2020 - (SONY) - The Amazing Spiderman 4 - Civil War Story Arc
• 2020 - Avengers Civil War

Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones followed by the Defenders Mini Series will be released on Netflix.  There is only one movie missing from the list, Thor: Ragnarok and to be honest that has me scratching my head.  In addition you see Hawkeye and Hulk left from the list, but I understand those from a financial point of view. 




If we look at the Civil War Story Line excluding Sony and Spiderman.
I will note there is a real problem with this storyline as it lacks a true man in the middle without Spiderman.   Someone like Black Panther or Falcon has to be elevated to that position that Spiderman is in during the comic storyline and really that's less interesting for the fan base.

• 2015 - Avengers: Age of Ultron - The end of this movie would see the destruction of a small section of a city in New England laying the ground work for the US Government Super Hero Registration act.
• 2015 - Ant-Man - Introduction
• 2016 - Captain America 3 - Ground work Civil War - Steve Rogers in Hiding and Bucky taking up the Mantle of Captain America.
• 2016 - Speculative - Doctor Strange - Introduction - Infinity Gauntlet Story Arc.
• 2017 - Speculative - Black Panther - Introduction - Civil War Story Arc
• 2017 - Guardians of the Galaxy II - Infinity Gauntlet Story Arc - Nova
• 2018 - Avengers 3 - Part 1 (Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy)
• 2018 - Avengers 3 - Part 2 (Ant-Man, Wasp, Quicksilver, Spiderman, Scarlett Witch, Falcon)
• 2018 - Speculative - In Humans (Ms. Marvel)
• 2019 - Speculative - Captain America 4
• 2019 - Speculative - Iron Man 4
• 2020 - Avengers Civil War

The second major rumor that is running right now is the Joss Whedon is looking to step down (from his second best dream job, running the X-Men universe is his first) and that the Infinity Gauntlet story Arc be suspended until after the Civil War Story Arc.
There are many problems with this rumor.
1) Lack of connection between the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers
2) Contract issues
3) Very difficult to incorporate Sony/Spiderman

Never the less here is what it would look like.

• 2015 - Avengers: Age of Ultron - The end of this movie would see the destruction of a small section of a city in New England laying the ground work for the US Government Super Hero Registration act.
• 2015 - Ant-Man - Introduction
• 2016 - Captain America 3 - Ground work Civil War - Steve Rogers in Hiding and Bucky taking up the Mantle of Captain America.
• 2016 - Speculative - Black Panther - Introduction - Civil War Story Arc
• 2017 - Guardians of the Galaxy II - AHHHHH, no clue - Nova
• 2018 - Avengers 3 - Part 1 - Civil War
• 2018 - Avengers 3 - Part 2 - Civil War conclusion
• 2018 - Speculative - Inhumans (Ms. Marvel) Introduction
• 2019 - Speculative - Thor: Ragnarok
• 2019 - Speculative - Guardians of the Galaxy III - First part of the Infinity Gauntlet.
• 2020 - Avengers: Infinity Gauntlet

With what we know today, at 1PM local option 1 looks like the best fit.  Lets not take that for granted that another rumor or denial or ...

I also want to point out I totally understand the frustration Marvel Entertainment is having with 20th Century Fox when it comes to the Fantastic Four movies.   While that might be another discussion lets point out that radical changes to the storyline of the Fantastic Four (ages, not from space, coming of age story line) makes it virtually impossible to connect with the MCU.   The fact that the movie is a low budget (wow I just called 85 to 100 million low budget) also isn't helping 20th Century cause.  
However the X-Men universe is shaping up nicely and hey there are X-Men posters in Marvel HQ and X-Men legos and X-Men toys and ...    
My personal opinion from connecting the dots is that the FF is what is keeping Wolverine and Beast from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

AN unsubstantiated rumor has the Russo Brothers (director CA: The Winter Soldier and CA3) moving up the ladder to direct Avengers 3 and 4 films, moving the Infinity Gauntlet story Arc to Avengers 5. 

Personally I have problems with that because by Avengers 3 you will have all stones ready for the final story.

UPDATE - As this is an evolving story I have updated the post to have as much current and relevant information as possible.

Okay I am going to start this with several caveats, okay one big caveat, when dealing with Marvel Rumors it's important to remember that by the time I click on the publish button the rumor mill has probably changed twice.

It's being reported the Robert Downey Jr and his agents at CAA are in final negotiations for him to join the cast in Captain America 3 and potentially additional movies beyond the third Avengers film his is contractually obligated to do.   And the agreed upon price is $40 million dollars plus points on money beyond the $715 million dollars that CA: The Winter Soldier made in the Theater.   So I am guessing its not a bit part.   Has been confirmed that if everyone signs on the dotted line Tony Stark will have a major role in CA3.

The rumors are strong that Captain America 3 will lay the ground work for Avengers 4(1) (2), which will be the climax to the Marvel Civil War.   Based upon the 2006/7 seven part crossover event written my Mark Millar that pitted Super Hero vs. Super Hero.

Captain America 3 would have Sebastian Stan character (Bucky) assume the mantle of Captain America with Steve Rogers going into hiding (3). Sebastion Stan is signed for three additional movies beyond CA3.  Chris Evans is only signed for one additional, his sixth, movie.

If you remember last week we had rumors of Sony Pictures executives making pilgrimage to pay homage to Marvel Studio executives, with todays information on RDJ and CA3 we may know more about what's happening with those discussions.

It appears that Marvel Pictures has offered to provide financing for the next Spiderman film(s) to Sony Entertainment IF the masked Web-Slinger can appear in the Avengers 4 film (and potential ensemble films beyond).   Marvel gets additional rights on approving Sony's stand alone film story lines and Sony gets to use some of Marvel other characters in their films.  
Sony Pictures is currently betting the farm on The Sinister Six in hopes it doesn't have to partner with Marvel, but several insiders are already suggesting that Sony Entertainment already sees the writing on the wall and getting Spiderman in to the official MCU is a big deal.

For those keeping track there is a rumor swirling right now with little supporting evidence that The Amazing Spiderman 4 would be a part of the MCU Civil War canon. 

UPDATE: If RDJ does indeed join the cast of CA3 it also gives credence to the rumors that Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans) and The Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) would be replaced by Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, and members of the Guardians of the Galaxy Characters in Avengers 3.  The question remains does that give validation to the rumor that Avengers 3 will be a two part movie?

UPDATE: Every character so far that is in the works for the Marvel Cinematic Universe is involved in the Civil War Story Arc.   In the comic book Civil War storyline the background is driven by secondary or even tertiary characters which causes a devastating destruction to a small city in Connecticut.   The result is the US Government implements a requirement that all Superheroes register.   Supporting the Government side is Tony Stark and Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) who are joined be Ms. Marvel and Black Widow.   Opposing the initiative is Captain America, Bruce Banner (The Hulk), Matt Murdock (Daredevil), Luke Cage, Sam Wilson (The Falcon) and the Black Panther.   Caught in the middle is your friendly Spiderman, Peter Parker.  
It will be interesting to see how, or rather who Marvel aligns the characters in the Civil War storyline.  Not having access to Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) is a minor problem moving Stephen Strange (Dr. Strange) into that roll is fairly easy, however you have laid the ground work for the relationship between Black Widow and Captain America (Steve Rogers) it may break the work they have done there.
RUMOR: The destruction caused by the Avengers Defeat of Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron is what lays the ground work the US Government Super-hero registration as opposed to c-listers destroying a large portion of NE Connecticut.

RUMOR: Black Widow will have a smaller role in CA3

UPDATE: It is interesting to note that Marvel Studios has THREE films scheduled for release in 2018 as opposed to the standard two films they have been releasing and plan on releasing in past and future years.

SPECULATION: Moved to Here

Random Thoughts:
Hulk Buster Armor anyone?
Why Mockingbird on Marvel Agents of SHIELD, of all the Superheroes why her?
Where will Nova be introduced?  
Totally makes sense to bring the Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow) to Agents of SHIELD.
West Coast Avengers an 8 Part TV Series with Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) makes total sense if you can make it work with his schedule. 

While the Marvel Civil War can be made with just the addition of Spiderman(4) there are additional rumors that Marvel Entertainment really wants to Secret Wars and AvX which require the X-Men via 20th Century Fox cooperation, being the two studios have an old and ancient hate...


(1) Captain America 3 is scheduled for Release on May 6 2016, with as far as everyone believes is the conclusion of the Infinity Gauntlet story arc in Avengers 3 set for May 2018, so the ground work for Avengers 4 will take place before the release of Avengers 3.

(2) The Avengers: Civil War is a tentative working title that I am using not necessarily the announced film, Marvel Studios may simple call it Marvel's Civil War as it may include characters from all over the spectrum.

(3) This has long been rumored that Sebastian Stan will assume the role of Captain America, and the rumor is based upon contracts between Chris Evans (6 movies) and Sebastian Stan (6 movies).

(4) Spiderman technically isn't required to do the Civil War storyline, however he is a central character in the seven part comic story arc.   I personally would be hard pressed to see Marvel attempt this story line without Peter Parker.


http://variety.com/2014/film/news/robert-downey-jr-to-join-captain-america-3-exclusive-1201312229/