Predicting Marvel’s Other Two 2023 Movies | Screen Rant

Marvel Studios confirmed two of the four Marvel Cinematic Universe movies that will arrive in 2023, but there’s still a few slots open and a number of movies that could fill them. The wildly popular superhero franchise long operated under a two-films-per-year release cycle, but that changed in Phase 3 when Marvel Studios increased its output to three movies each year. Instead of sticking to that model, the MCU is expanding once again in Phase 4 to release four movies every year.

In an effort to keep fans in the know about what the MCU’s future holds, Marvel Studios currently has ten movies with confirmed release dates. 2021 brings Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, and Spider-Man: No Way Home to theaters within six months, largely due to COVID-19 related delays. Marvel Studios spread the 2022 slate throughout the year and will see Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and The Marvels arrive in theaters. It wasn’t until the middle of 2021 that Marvel began revealing what their plans are for 2023, though.

Related: Every Upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe Movie

Disney previously announced that four untitled Marvel movies will be released in theaters in 2023. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania officially has the February 2023 date now, while Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is confirmed to come out in May 2023. That still leaves mystery Marvel movies scheduled for July and November of 2023. It is unclear why Marvel decided to keep these two movies a secret, but there are multiple movies in development that could be ready by then. Let’s take a look at what Marvel’s known options are before we predict Marvel’s other two 2023 movies.

Every Possible MCU Movie For 2023

There are currently four MCU movies known to be in some level of development at Marvel Studios that still do not have release dates. When Marvel announced the beginning of the Phase 4 slate in 2019, Kevin Feige used that as an opportunity to confirm Mahershala Ali is playing Blade in a solo movie. Blade has had a slower development than expected and won’t start shooting until July 2022, but could still squeak in a late 2023 release date. The MCU’s first Fantastic 4 movie was later confirmed to be in development by Kevin Feige at the end of 2020 with Jon Watts – the director of the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy – set to direct. Marvel Studios has also confirmed that Ryan Reynolds is working on an R-rated Deadpool 3 with the writers of Bob’s Burgers. Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that Captain America 4 is in the works from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier showrunner Malcolm Spellman.

Beyond the four movies Marvel Studios is known to be working on, there are also several other titles that could secretly be in the works ahead of 2023. There are plenty of rumors about the MCU’s first X-Men movie being in development, so that could be fast-tracked potentially. Marvel Studios could also grant the wish of fans waiting to see Thunderbolts or Nova officially announced. It is even possible that Sony and Marvel continue Tom Holland’s Spider-Man franchise after Spider-Man: No Way Home and stick to their current plan of releasing a new movie every two years. We also can’t completely rule out fast turnarounds on sequels to Black Widow, Eternals, or Shang-Chi. Plus, Marvel Studios will make another Avengers movie at some point, whether that means Avengers 5, Young Avengers, A-Force, or something else.

With so many possibilities, Marvel’s 2023 slate could go in several different ways. The studio traditionally attempts to launch at least one new franchise each year, even though that plan was greatly impacted by the Phase 4 reshuffling. As it currently stands, Phase 4 will begin with three new potential franchises before releasing seven consecutive sequels. So will the rest of 2023’s movies hold more sequels, new franchises, or a mixture of both? Here’s what our predictions are.

Related: What Guardians Of The Galaxy 3’s Logo Tells Us About The Movie

Prediction 1: Fantastic 4 In July 2023

For Marvel Studios’ July 2023 movie, we’re predicting this will be where the MCU’s Fantastic 4 will be released. Jon Watts is already attached as the movie’s director and he’ll wrap up his commitment on Spider-Man: No Way Home by December 2021. He can then immediately begin focusing on Fantastic 4 and continue whatever work Marvel Studios is already doing on the movie. It has been reported that meetings with writers were already taking place at the beginning of 2021, so Marvel could even have hired one in secret by now. If the script comes together by the end of 2021, then Marvel Studios could begin casting Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm prior to starting production by the summer of 2022.

This would be a quick turnaround for Watts and Fantastic 4 based on what is publically known about the movie, but the July 28, 2023 date is a prime spot for Marvel Studios to launch one of their most anticipated franchises. Marvel’s First Family are natural fits for the summer blockbuster experience too. This could further help Fantastic 4 to be one of the biggest movies of the year and come out at a time when families can flock to the theater to experience it. Plus, it will be almost exactly eight years after Fox’s last Fantastic 4 movie, so plenty of time will have passed by then for audiences to embrace a new cast and story.

Prediction 2: Blade In November 2023

For Marvel Studios’ November 2023 date, we’re predicting this will be when Blade is released. Even though Mahershala Ali is already attached to star as Eric Brooks, Blade currently only has a writer and is still looking for a director. Watchmen‘s Stacey Osei-Kuffour is currently working on the screenplay and Marvel is searching for a director, with names like Regina King, Barry Jenkins, Shaka King, and Steven Caple Jr. have been rumored to be in contention. Still, the latest news on Blade is that production won’t begin until July 2022 at the earliest. This could put it in a great position to come out on July 2023, but the November 3, 2023 date is a better fit for Blade.

There are lofty expectations for Blade so this gives Marvel some extra time to get the movie right. Furthermore, releasing Mahershala Ali’s solo film in November fits with how the MCU has operated in the past. The November release window is traditionally where they like to test the waters with new franchises that could be a bit riskier. Doctor Strange introduced magic to viewers in 2016 and Eternals, which comes out in November 2021, looks different than any previous MCU movie. Blade could be a spot for Marvel to dive more into horror and the supernatural realm, and this release date puts the movie in theaters the week after Halloween. Plus, if Blade turns out to be special and Ali’s history of getting awards attention, Marvel Studios could benefit from releasing the movie right around awards season.

Next: Where Was Blade During Marvel’s Phase 4 Movies Trailer?

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