Marvel Unveils Phase Six at Comic-Con: Doom is Back!
Marvel Studios has delivered a blockbuster of announcements at San Diego Comic-Con, giving fans a glimpse into the exciting future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Hall H panel, a highlight of the annual event, saw a star-studded gathering of MCU favourites, including Robert Downey Jr., Harrison Ford, Pedro Pascal and Florence Pugh.
The panel kicked off with a lively rendition of Madonna's "Like a Prayer" performed by a choir, a nod to the song's inclusion in the upcoming *Deadpool & Wolverine
film, directed by Shawn Levy.
Giancarlo Esposito, known for his roles in *Breaking Bad
and *The Mandalorian*, took the stage to announce his casting as Sidewinder in *Captain America: Brave New World*. The panel unveiled a teaser for the film, which is set for release on 14 February 2025.
Harrison Ford, fresh off his role as the iconic Indiana Jones, also made an appearance to discuss his role as President Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, taking over from the late William Hurt. Ford spoke to Deadline, expressing his enthusiasm for working with Anthony Mackie, who stars as Captain America, and the rest of the cast. "I was delighted to work with them," he said, "and I had a really great time making the movie."
The next big reveal was the official title of the highly anticipated *Fantastic Four
film: *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*. Stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach took to the stage, confirming their roles in the film and announcing their appearance in the next two *Avengers* movies.
The Russo brothers, known for their work on *Avengers: Infinity War
and *Avengers: Endgame*, were officially announced as the directors for these upcoming *Avengers* instalments. They then made a surprise announcement that would leave fans reeling: Robert Downey Jr., âthe greatest actor in the worldâ, is returning to the MCU in a new role â Victor Von Doom! The reveal sent the crowd into a frenzy, confirming the actorâs return in *Avengers: Doomsday*.
Comic-Con 2024 comes hot off the heels of the massive success of *Deadpool & Wolverine*, which is projected to break box office records with an opening weekend exceeding $420 million. This is a welcome change of pace for Marvel Studios, following the relatively low opening of *The Marvels
last year, which earned just $110 million. With *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania*, *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3*, and *Thunderbolts* already released as part of Phase Five, the latter will wrap up this era with its premiere on 5 May 2025.
Phase Six kicks off on 25 July 2025 with *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*, followed by *Blade
(7 November 2025), *Avengers: Doomsday* (1 May 2026), and culminating with *Avengers: Secret Wars* (7 May 2027).
Marvel Studios is moving forward with a more deliberate approach to their content production, cutting back to two feature films per year. This shift in strategy suggests a focus on quality over quantity, promising even bigger and better stories for fans in the future.
