A Geeky Viewpoint

It's a question that hasn't really been dissected since the trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron dropped unexpectedly late last week.

The simple answer is nothing in the trailer gives us any indication that we may need to change our current speculation on what comes next.

A couple of house cleaning tasks:

Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios has confirmed that Thor 3 (assumed to be Thor: Ragnarok) will be a part of Phase 3 films.   I cannot confirm this myself but it does create a series of issues.
Chris Hemsworth, Thor himself has suggest that Thor 3 will be November 2017 in a couple of recent interviews.
A nice quote from Kevin Feige in an interview with Buzzfeed

The Avengers films, ideally, in the grand plan are always big, giant linchpins. It’s like as it was in publishing, when each of the characters would go on their own adventures and then occasionally team up for a big, 12-issue mega-event. Then they would go back into their own comics, and be changed from whatever that event was. I envision the same thing occurring after this movie, because the [Avengers] roster is altered by the finale of this film.

Sony Pictures apparently is going to see where Sinister Six goes before making a deal with Marvel Studios.   I say apparently because I cannot confirm this other than multiple bloggers saying its the case because of Anonymous information.

James Gunn announced the main cast of Guardians of the Galaxy "all will die horrible in the first 10 minutes of the sequel" he then laughed and added "less humans more women"  and "two maybe more members of the crew".   Speculation on Adam Warlock and trio of female characters including Martyr, Angela and Mantis Moondragon.



Yesterday it was announced that Benedict Cumberbatch has signed on to play Doctor Strange.

Lets review our Movie Release Dates and updated speculation on where movies fit:

I have long speculated that the problem with Marvel's schedule is that its one movie short.   The more I looked at the schedule and realized all the dates announced were for Phase 2, meaning that if Avengers 3 is a two parter it would be released November 2nd 2018 and May 3rd 2019, suddenly I had my missing movie slot.

• 2015 - Avengers: Age of Ultron
• 2015 - Ant-Man - Introduction
• 2016 - Captain America: Fallen Son - Speculative Secret Avengers (Mockingbird)
• 2016 - 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
• 2017 - Strongly Rumored - Thor: Ragnarok
• 2018 - Speculative - Inhumans/Ms. Marvel
• 2018 - Speculative - Iron Man 4
• 2018 - Avengers 3 - Part 1 (Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy)
• 2019 - Avengers 3 - Part 2 (Ant-Man, Wasp, Quicksilver, Spiderman, Scarlett Witch, Falcon)

I am continuing with the assumption that Avengers 3 will be a multipart story and both parts will have different set of primary heroes.

SPOILER - Highlight to read.   The second of two post credit scenes features Thor and Loki preparing for War.  

After Avengers: Age of Ultron we have Ant-Man.   A movie many people have already suggested will be a flop even though it is expected to bring in $500 Million world-wide.   What's interesting to me is how little we know about the plot in this film.   And more so how does it connect to the MCU at large. 

Following Ant-Man comes Captain America: Fallen Son, the much bandied about crossover staring Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr.   The over arching story arch is expected to be Marvel's Civil War, but the plot of the movie has been suggested is based upon the Secret Avengers story arc.   Captain America assemblies a team of former Shield Agents to work behind the scenes against Hydra and other nefarious organizations.   Captain America, Mockingbird, Hawkeye, and Falcon team up.  Tony Stark feeling that heal he unleashed as Ultron he now has to play good cop tries to stop the Secret Avengers.   In the final scene Crossbones appears to kill Captain America on the steps of New York City Hall.

Benedict Cumberlatch makes his debut in the Doctor Strange Origin story as a gifted neurosurgeon with a very bad attitude who after an accident destroys the use of his hands Doctor Steven Strange learns the way of the mystics and fighting to combat evil of a different nature.    There are some challenges to this date.   Just like we have little information on how Ant-Man connects to the MCU at large, Doctor Strange

We have a May 5, 2017 date to be filled.   There has been much speculation that Adam McKay, the director and writer will be given a Marvel project after stepping up and working with the Ant-Man script.   We have had images that of Andy Serkis looking very much like Ulysses Klaw, the arch enemy of the Black Panther.   Its hard not to draw the conclusion that May 5th date will be filled by Black Panther.  
Other possibilities - Hulk 3.

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is already slated for July 28, 2017.   James Gunn has promised less Humans and more Women is primary rolls.   I have speculated another Infinity Stone is involved here and still believe that to be the case.   Thanos is the ultimate bad guy here (as opposed to earth) and it makes sense.   In addition adding Characters to the Universe is a good thing.    However I have long speculated that Nova, aka Bucket Head, would make his debut in this film, but as he is too Human and too Male you gotta wonder on that one.

The next unfilled date is November 3, 2017 date.   Chris Hemsworth yesterday replied "won’t be Thor 3 — that will be the following year.” when asked about his upcoming films he will be working on.   Clearly indicates that the movie is near and the choices are May 5th and November 3rd in 2017 (as filming would take place in 2016.   Don't be shocked if Doctor Strange is seen gallivanting amongst the nine realms as he appears in the Ragnarok comic book story line.
Other Possibilities: Black Panther, Hulk 3

We than have May 4th, 2018.  The date many people have long suggested as release date for Avengers 3, but I have a hunch that this won't be the date.   Marvel has proven you release a good product and people will come whenever it is released suggest that Avengers 3 moves to November.   Instead I am still speculating that Kevin Feige dream to make an Inhumans/Ms Marvel film comes to life on this date.   If Avengers 3 is the end of the Infinity Gauntlet story line than they have to find the last stone, that's one more movie.   If the stone is not hidden on earth another space based movie has to happen.   Fits to nicely together.
Other possibilities; Iron Man 4

July 6th 2018 becomes the release day of Iron Man 4 the end of which sends are beloved Tony Stark/Iron Man on exile away from earth as the end of the Civil War Story Line.
Other possibilities: Inhumans/Ms. Marvel

Avenger 3 part 1, The Infinity Gauntlet sees Thanos collecting the stones challenged by Guardians of the Galaxy, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel and Potentially Doctor Strange.  
Avengers 3, part 2, The Infinity War sees Thanos bringing the Gauntlet to Earth and what ever hero can be assembled.

What have I not covered so far is how Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. connects into this, nor how Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones and the Defenders links in.   They all do.

The interesting loss in this discussion is a Third Hulk Movie, Lou Ferrigno and Mark Ruffallo have already basic stated it is coming just a matter of timing.   If you had to schedule a movie for right after the end of Avengers 3, why not Planet Hulk.   It makes sense to me so this is why I am leaving Hulk 3 out of Phase 3.

At this point I cannot find my post where I specifically wrote back in early 2012 (I will find it and I will post it) that I expect Hugh Jackman and Andrew Garfield to reprise their roles of Wolverine and Spider-Man respectfully in the Avengers 3 movie scheduled for 2018.

Back in July 2013 Hugh Jackman was quoted with suggesting Wolverine should be in a Avengers film.

Mate, I ask the same question.  I literally asked the same question the other day to Tom from Marvel who works with all the other studios, he works with Sony and Fox, that’s his job to liaise.  I said, 'Man, can this happen?' and he goes 'Look, it’s not gonna be easy because you’re working with different studios and they’re their properties.'  But I believe—maybe I’m optimistic, I understand at Marvel they’ve got The Avengers, they’ve got a lot of big things going on, but at some point I just find it almost impossible that there’s not a way to bring Iron Man, all the Avengers characters, Wolverine, the X-Men characters, Spider-Man, and somehow get them in together.  

Last year at Comic Con in San Diego Andrew Garfield stated he would love to see Spider-Man in an Avengers Film.   "I’d love to see [Spider-Man] with The Avengers,” Pause for dramatic Effect “Wouldn’t that just be awesome? Just saying.”
This same tone has been heard recently from not only Andrew Garfield, but Marc Webb, Director of the Amazing Spider-Man movies, “I would love that, as a fan, I think that would be great,” he continued with “I don’t know how that would happen, but I certainly would be supportive of it.”

Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, has been constant with his message down playing and making it sound like it is going to be impossible.   "Their are so many stories to tell." "We have our stories."  "They have their stories"

That message change ever so slightly while he was promoting Thor: The Dark World "I would say, not anytime soon would we be in a position to team up with other studios who [have] a few of our characters, because we have so many characters ourselves," he added "I would never say never."

Moving further back, prior to the release of Marvel's Avengers during a Marvel UK panel in April 2012 Kevin Feige stated "Avengers 3 might be a good movie for the Civil War story line"

Lauren Shuler Donner, Producer of the X-Men movies, was quoted in July 2013 as saying “I would love it. I would love it. I personally have close ties to Marvel because of Kevin Feige, because Kevin worked for me. But to take our characters and mingle them in the way that they were written, yeah, absolutely.”

Yesterday Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production Warner Bros. Pictures confirmed in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that Warner Bros. has plans for a Justice League movie for sometime in 2018.  
The Justice League movie will be set after Batman vs. Superman set for release in May 6, 2016.   With plans to add a new Green Lantern (suspected to be Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) as well as Flash and Aqua Man.  
Even this early in the development cycle and less than 48 hours after first breaking the news many DC fans are speaking in terms of worried and low expectations.
Even though I don't expect to hear directly from Marvel Studios on the topic its another shot from Warner Bros. directly at Marvel Studios.   I wouldn't be surprised to hear Marvel Studios announce a release date to plant a flag for this movie.

So with a Justice League movie coming Marvel Studios needs to kick it up a notch to make sure they continue their roll as leading Super-Hero film studio.

It's not so easy when you have so many egos, personalities, and studios involved, but I think we will see a clear catalyst for one hold-out to change their tune in the near future.

The release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 [TASM2 for short] is next weekend, back a few weeks ago posted a box office project which was not so rosy for the Movie.   Currently many of Sony's biggest defenders are suggesting a $95 million domestic opening there are many projections of a much lower total, like mine of $72 million.  I won't get into the weird view points of the "Avengers Bounce" for X-Men: Days of Future Past but not The Amazing Spider-Man 2 the real problem is for Sony and Columbia is decreased revenue, especially the all important opening weekend.   IF The Amazing Spider-Man 2 falls short of Sony's revenue projections (approximately $90) Sony will have to take steps.  
Let's assume that TASM2 does fall short, an $80 million opening and $200 domestic total, that would provide only about $150 million in revenue for Sony compared to approximately $140 in the previous installment, which had a $62 million opening weekend.   Those numbers are not going to pay the bills for Sony.
One rumor that keeps appearing on the inter-web is that Sony sells the rights or transfers them to Marvel Studios, a figure roughly of $2 Billion, that's with a B boys and girls, and points on future Spider-Man films.   To me the problem with this rumor is timing, if we see TASM 2 tank and TASM 3 truly tank I think Sony would be far more apt to move along this path.  One less than great movie in terms of revenue does not make a sinking ship, three on the other hand...
The second option is work at getting an Avenger's Bounce.   In the first Amazing Spider-Man film their are dozens of supposed links to the Marvel's Cinematic Universe.   You can all make your own judgments, none the less TASM did not get a bounce.  To get that bounce you need a better connection, I honestly believe had Oscorp Tower appeared in Marvel's Avengers we would not be having this discussion as it would have clearly setup the connection and the bounce would have occurred.   Who failed in those negotiations, while we don't know who wouldn't blink we know that Sony Failed to get the benefit.
The third and final option would be to allow Andrew Garfield to appear as Spider-Man in Avengers 3.   Trust me a substantial bit of money will be involved $30 to $50 millions and points.

A lot of the focus lately is getting Spider-Man into the MCU, its important to look at 20th Century Fox X-Men series of movies.
X-Men: Days of Future Past is scheduled to open in less than a month, even though it has no ties to the MCU its expected to get a Avenger's Bounce, one that The Wolverine did not get last fall.   Yet in the Thor: The Dark World we see series of potential easter egg connections.   The Maruaders, a band of mutant assassins, appear as a rag-tag band of mercenaries.  While Erik Selvig is giving his talk on the interconnection of the worlds, on the black board dozens of easter eggs appear in the writing, including the fault (Thanos Reference), as well as X-Force reference, Yost and Kyle (last names of the creators of the X-Force). 
Factoring in a more friendly relationship between Lauren Shuler Donner and Kevin Feige, who used to work at Donner along with Avi Arad, add in that multiple people are talking about it and I smell at least strong discussions on bringing Wolverine to the MCU. 

I should point out that 20th Century Fox and Marvel Studios current friendship was not always the case and a contentious court battle occurred in 1999/2000/2001 between the two over a potential TV series called Mutant X.   

So that said, unless TASM 2 blows away box office sales this weekend I suspect that more pressure will be added to bring these two characters to Avengers 3.    It appears to be a situation where everyone could win.  

I finally got a decent copy of the concept art teased by Kevin Feige showing off the Hulk Buster Iron Man Armor from the Assembling a Universe special on ABC.

From Marvel.wikia.com

According to ComicBookMovie.com Kevin Feige (the Big Guy at Marvel Studios) told Empire Magazine that Thanos has been cast for the Avengers 3.  

While he wouldn't divulge any details about how the character will be brought to life in the movie, Feige did confirm that the role has ben cast! "There is an actor. I'm not sure we want to announce it yet."

Kevin Feige announced that Christopher Yost will pen the third installment of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.   Additionally it was announced that Christopher Yost would move full time into screen writing for Marvel Studios.

I am proud of Craig and have enjoyed working with him over these past years. His creative instincts have helped shape ‘Thor’ and ‘Thor: The Dark World’ at every level of the filmmaking process. The entire team at Marvel is very happy to continue collaborating with Craig as he continues as a screenwriter working with Christopher on the forthcoming chapter of Thor’s adventure.    Kevin Feige