On Tuesday, Marvel Studio's held a special event, where they unveiled the slate for the upcoming Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and there were quite a few surprises revealed, including new characters and epic story lines. So join me, as I take a look at what Marvel's Phase Three has in store for us.
Captain America: Civil War
A major event, masterminded by Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar, in recent Marvel Comic's history, Civil War saw hero turn on hero with the introduction of the Super Hero Registration Act, which required all heroes to unmask and become a registered police force for the U.S. government. This didn't sit well with Captain America, who lead the dissenters against the pro-regristion side, headed up by Iron Man. Now, unless Ant-Man, the only movie between Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War, introduces an entire universe of heroes, expect the events of the third Captain America to present the storyline on a much smaller, yet no less important, scale, especially when you consider secret identities don't seem to be that important in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As we know Robert Downey Jr. has signed on to co-star, meaning Cap and Tony will be going head to head on the issue of Super Human Registration, more than likely spurred on by the events of Age of Ultron (could the SHR Act be another way of Tony ensuring the world is safe after Ultron puts paid to his idea of a global army of Iron Man inspired drones?). In fact, at the Phase Three announcement, a scene from Age of Ultron was shown, sowing the seeds of the split, and promising an epic battle of the heroes.
Doctor Strange
While Benedict Cumberbatch's name was absent from the event, indicating that maybe the deal for him to star as the Sorcerer Supreme isn't set in stone, Doctor Strange is indeed coming with director Scott Derrickson at the helm. A gifted, but egotistical, surgeon, Stephen Strange lost the use of his hands in a car accident, sending him on a downward spiral. Thinking a hermit called The Ancient One will help him, Strange is initially rejected for his selfishness, but the Ancient One senses his inner goodness. When it finally reveals itself, Strange becomes the hermit's, in actuality a powerful sorcerer, apprentice, and learns the ways of the mystic arts. Training complete, he relocates to his townhouse in New York City, protecting the world from demons and other mystical beings.
Much like Guardians of the Galaxy brought us the more cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Strange will introduce us to a world of magic and mysticism rarely seen in comic book movies. Doctor Strange has a weird and wonderful array of bad guys at it's disposal, including another apprentice of The Ancient One, Baron Mordo, and demon Dormammu, uncle of Strange's love interest Clea. It will certainly be one comic book movie unlike any we've seen recently.
Guardians of the Galaxy 2
I think it was a foregone conclusion that Marvel's bunch of a-holes would be back for a second installment. Not much is known about the further adventures of Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Gamora, Drax, and Groot, but it is expected we will meet Star-Lord's mysterious father, and no doubt further hints will be dropped as regards to the upcoming Infinity War.
Thor: Ragnarok
I'll start this by saying an actual character called Ragnarok appears in Thor canon, a robotic clone of the God of Thunder created by Tony Stark as an easily controlled enforcer during Civil War. I for one think this is far too comic book-y to be included in the slightly more grounded Marvel Cinematic Universe, but we can't really put anything passed Marvel Studios, and it might explain why Thor attacks Stark during the Age of Ultron trailer. What is way more likely is the actual Ragnarok, the end of the Asgardian Gods which is far more epic for Thor's third installment.
Said to take place seconds after Age of Ultron, we will finally see the loose ends of Thor: The Dark World tied up, and will be treated to the return of Loki, absent since The Dark World. He could possibly not be seen till Ragnarok, meaning we have been Tom Hiddleston-free for eight movies. His return will be most welcome. Odin should also get a much bigger role this time round, as when the storyline has been tackled in the comics, it had serious consequences for the All-Father, as he went to battle with his hated enemy, the fire demon Surtur.
Black Panther
The first black superhero in mainstream American comics, Black Panther has been rumoured to be making his big screen debut for some time. Chadwick Boseman will be taking on the role of T'Challa, leader of the advanced African nation of Wakanda, closed off from the rest of the world due to it's status as being the only source of miracle metal Vibranium, which Captain America's shield is composed of. The Black Panther is the ceremonial title which must be earned by the leader of the ruling Panther clan, granting him (and sometimes her) with superhuman senses, speed, strength, and agility, used to battle enemies of Wakanda, such as Man-Ape, leader of the Panther Clan's rival Jabari Clan, and Erik Killmonger, T'Challa's physical and metal equal.
It has been said we were treated to a Black Panther easter egg in the Age of Ultron trailer, meaning the rumours that Andy Serkis is taking on the role of Black Panther villain Klaw may turn out to be true after all. A super villain made of living sound, Klaw would make use of Serkis' status as motion capture actor extraordinaire going forward.
Avengers: Infinity War
Captain Marvel
Originally an officer in the Kree (the race Ronan the Accuser from Guardians of the Galaxy belonged to) military, the mantle of Captain Marvel has passed to numerous characters over the years. It is currently held by Carol Danvers (who was a super powered supporting character to the original Captain Marvel, going by the name Ms. Marvel), and Danvers will be the version we follow in the big screen debut of the character. A Kree/Human hybrid, Captain Marvel possesses superhuman strength, agility, and the power of flight, and while she mostly operates on Earth, she mainly battles extra terrestial threats which could see the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe clash with Earth in a major way. Even though her solo movie is coming after Avengers: Infinity War, Kevin Feige has said a new team of Avengers will be assembled after Age of Ultron, meaning we could be seeing Captain marvel sooner than we think.
Inhumans
The Kree do get about in the Marvel Universe, and long before sentient life became abundant on planet Earth, the alien race did genetic experiments on the primitive native population, creating the Inhumans, a genetic offshoot of the human race imbued with extraordinary abilities. With the Kree leaving them to their devices, the Inhumans developed their own society, complete with a royal family, who gained superhuman powers due to exposure to the mutagenic Terrigen Mists, led by Black Bolt, who never speaks because his voice has the power to level mountains.
While the Inhumans have kept their distance form the rest of the world, in recent years Marvel has been upping the profile of the Inhumans, with the Terrigen Mist being unleashed upon the whole world. This has seen the normal human beings into Inhumans, upping the once small society exponentially. While we know very little of what the big screen debut of the characters has ins tore for us, this seems ike the perfect storyline to jump off from.
