Marvel Studios has already mapped out its movie slate through 2042, with studio president Kevin Feige teasing a “streamlined, simplified” MCU post-Avengers: Secret Wars. Also, the major focus is on the X-Men and the eventual debut of live-action Miles Morales.
During a recent visit to Shanghai, Feige told Chinese outlet Watching Hollywood that Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will conclude storylines that began even before the MCU, including the journeys of some original X-Men. He described Secret Wars as both the end of the Multiverse Saga and the start of a brand-new MCU.
Feige says Marvel has two major goals for the next Avengers films. Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will conclude storylines that began before Iron Man, including those involving the original X-Men.
Feige said, “We want to do two things. First, to bring some storylines to a close—those that started long before Iron Man, including the original X-Men characters. Second, to simultaneously set the stage for the future.”
Feige added, “Avengers: Endgame was truly an end, and since then, we’ve tried and experimented with many new things. But [Secret Wars] is a beginning. It will establish a streamlined, simplified, single universe that audiences can keep up with. Some things will be familiar, but many, many things will be entirely new.”
Feige reveals Marvel Studios has movie plans mapped out through 2042. He says Marvel’s long-term roadmap is a guide and may evolve over time.
“We were just in a Marvel Studios meeting room, planning movies all the way up to 2042,” Feige revealed. “Whether we can make it to 2042? Who knows? Will it be those movies? Who knows? But this is how we approach and plan the vast amount of potential stories in the comics. We’re constantly changing, constantly evolving, but having some guidance helps us act more purposefully… especially with the X-Men—they’ve already had 10 movies, some very, very good, and some that I think haven’t lived up to expectations. How do we plan the Mutant Saga in a very grand way?”
Kevin Feige Confirms the X-Men Will Be at the Core of the MCU’s Future
Feige confirms that the X-Men will be at the core of Marvel Studios’ future plans. He says acquiring the X-Men rights was about much more than just bringing Wolverine into the MCU. While Wolverine is an iconic character, Feige says the X-Men universe extends far beyond him. Marvel is actively working toward establishing a new era centered on the X-Men.
Feige said, “Fundamentally, the X-Men will be at its core. Acquiring the X-Men rights isn’t just about, for example, Wolverine, who is an outstanding character, and we were able to team him up with Deadpool, which is great. But the X-Men are far more than just Wolverine, far more than the original team. Fundamentally, it’s a universe, a multi-stage saga. Much of that is what we’re working towards.”
Live-Action Miles Morales Is Coming After Spider-Verse
Marvel plans to introduce live-action Miles Morales after Sony’s Spider-Verse animated saga concludes. Feige says Marvel and Sony are actively discussing the future of the Spider-Man franchise. Also, producer Amy Pascal is already working with Marvel on the next phase of Spider-Man films.
“One of the fun things about this business is that we’re always dreaming and coming up with ideas,” Feige said when asked about the character. “There’s a line in Spider-Man: No Way Home where Electro says, ‘Somewhere there’s bound to be a Black Spider-Man.’ Audiences around the world were thrilled because they knew it might be a hint at Miles.
“The good news is that Sony has the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse series, which is very popular and excellent, and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is coming out next year. But yes, we definitely have plans, and I think a live-action Spider-Man movie has this destiny: to introduce Miles sometime after the Spider-Verse series ends. We’ve been thinking about and discussing more Spider-Man adventures, regardless of agreements or contracts. My production partner, Amy Pascal, is already working on it, and we’ve had in-depth discussions about what the next two, three, four, and five Spider-Man movies might be about.”
There are more updates and new announcements coming at the Marvel Studios Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25. It starts at 5:30 PM PT and will last for one hour.
