*Minor Spoilers for ENDGAME below*
Marvel’s AVENGERS: ENDGAME may have concluded things for their Infinity War saga and been the end of the road for a few franchise-favorite characters, but Surtur and his flaming sword will come to end us all on Ragnarök before they end the MCU altogether. Kevin Feige and co. have huge plans for the future of the series, and while we don't know exactly when certain projects will come to light, a new report puts into context a few things are on the docket for the world of heroes, including when the next Guardians of the Galaxy outing is expected to get underway
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A new report from THR began with getting into salary details for some of the top MCU stars, like Robert Downey Jr. (who reportedly made a bit more than lunch money at $75 million for INFINITY WAR) and Scarlett Johansson (apparently $20 million for next year’s solo Black Widow movie). But the most interesting bit comes when it breaks down which movies are closest to the start of shooting, which includes a 2020 shoot for GUARDIANS 3 with James Gunn back to direct.
Then there are new additions to the cinematic universe such as Eternals, which will be led by Angelina Jolie and start shooting this year, and Shang-Chi, centered on an Asian hero yet to be cast that will shoot after Eternals. And Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is planned for a 2020 shoot — the current five stars are expected to reunite — with James Gunn back in the saddle as director. Adds one source: “With Marvel and with Kevin, there’s always a long game in play.”
Shooting on the movie was delayed after Gunn was fired last summer, only to be brought back on last month. In that time Gunn took a gig directing THE SUICIDE SQUAD, which he will have to complete before tackling the next Guardians adventure. On the bright side, he has the script done, and now it’s only a matter of time before he gets back to work with our favorite outer space rogues.
Where the report gets more into the future of the MCU is in regard to the current contracts of some newer Avengers. Stars like Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier) and Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch) all have deals worked out for their Disney+ series, but are apparently different from their movie contracts. As has been hinted at for a bit, stars Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange) each have one more option left on their contracts, which will be used for the planned solo sequels, each due out who knows when. This doesn’t mean only one movie is left for the King of Wakanda and the Master of the Mystic Arts, as they can always renegotiate their contracts and sign up for more Marvel adventures.
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Perhaps the biggest takeaway in regards to contracts involves Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, who renegotiated his contract in 2017, the year THOR: RAGNAROK came out. In the report, it claims his contract will extend into the new phase of Marvel films, which could mean plans for THOR 4. Tessa Thompson recently revealed a fourth outing was pitched, but the end of ENDGAME saw her character Valkyrie being made leader of New Asgard as Thor went off to hang with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Will there be a reunion of the two that makes up the story of THOR 4? Who can say, but with Thor going through some, let’s call them “changes”, in ENDGAME there’s lots more with the character to explore, as there is with Valkyrie.
So, while movies like GUARDIANS 3, ETERNALS, SHANG-CHI and the BLACK WIDOW movie all seem to be the nearest to coming to life, Marvel obviously has a longterm game planned that should include sequels with Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel and more. We won't know much until after SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME comes out, but here's to looking forward to the next 11 years. You know, if we survive that long.