After last week’s exciting Oscar win for director Chloe Zhao, we’re finally getting a look at her next project, THE ETERNALS for Marvel Studios, which hits theaters this fall. Thanks to the new video “Marvel Studios Celebrates The Movies” (which you can watch below), we’re not only getting a sneak peek at that film, but also seeing some new footage from BLACK WIDOW and SHANG-CHI, and some new titles of upcoming films and release dates. The most notable title changes are BLACK PANTHER 2 (which is now called BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER) and CAPTAIN MARVEL 2 (which is now called THE MARVELS). Check out our breakdown of the new info below.
As mentioned, THE ETERNALS is directed by Chloe Zhao (NOMADLAND) and “features an exciting new team of Super Heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, The Deviants.” These characters are some of the more weird achetypes of the Marvel comic book universe (think GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY more than THE AVENGERS), and it should be interesting to see them brought to life. Casting features Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee, Kit Harington, Gemma Chan, and Barry Keoghan. The film is currently set for release on November 5, 2021.
BLACK PANTHER 2 now has a new title, that being BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER. The tragic death of actor Chadwick Boseman raised many questions about what the future of BLACK PANTHER would be in the Marvel cinematic universe. Producer Kevin Feige even stated very publicly that the leading role of T’Challa would not be recast for a sequel, but that a sequel was indeed being made, and that it would honor the memory of Boseman. Writer/director Ryan Coogler is back, and it’s expected actresses Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira, and actor Winston Duke would return. Nyong’o was quoted saying “The way which he has reshaped the second movie is so respectful of the loss we’ve all experienced as a cast and as a world. So it feels spiritually and emotionally correct to do this. And hopefully, what I do look forward to, is getting back together and honoring what he started with us and holding his light through it.” What does the new WAKANDA FOREVER title indicate? It could be a play off of some of the comic book spinoff titles like BLACK PANTHER AND THE CREW or BLACK PANTHER: AGENTS OF WAKANDA, and there’s still the question of whether or not (like in the comics) T’Challa’s sister Shuri (played by Leticia Wright) would take on the mantle of Black Panther. After all, Feige said they would not recast T’Challa, but he did not say we wouldn’t see a “new” Black Panther. The sequel is targets for a July 8, 2022 release.
CAPTAIN MARVEL 2 is also changing its title, now going by THE MARVELS. Brie Larson is signed on for the sequel, once again playing Captain Marvel, and we know WANDAVISION star Teyonah Parris would be co-starring as Monica Rambeau, but just looking at the new title and logo, we can assume Iman Vellani will be playing a big role as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel, hot off the heels of her Disney+ series. In the comics, Monica Rambeau also became “Captain Marvel”, but went other other names as well, like “Pulsar”, “Photon” and “Spectrum” depending on the era. THE MARVELS will be directed by Nia DaCosta, written by Megan McDonnell, and is set for a November 11, 2022 release date.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA moved its release date to 2023, the third film in the ANT-MAN trilogy / franchise. Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer are all back for the sequel, which is expected to expand on the idea of the quantum realm. In ANT-MAN AND THE WASP we saw Janet Van Dyne (played by Pfeiffer) return from the quantum realm after though lost forever. The sequel is said to involve Scott Lang’s daughter Cassie (played now by Kathryn Newton), and the villain will be the time-traveling Kang the Conquer (played by Jonathan Majors) as the big bad Kang the Conqueror. The release date is now set for February 17, 2023.
Yep, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Vol. 3 is also on the list of upcoming movies, bringing back Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel, and very likely Vol. 2‘s Pom Klementieff as Mantis. The biggest question now for this team is what will happen with Gamora (Saldana), as after ENDGAME she now has zero memory of the team, and the story will likely involve them going to find her. We also think the comic book fan-favorite Adam Warlock, which was technically shown in the post-credit sequence of Vol. 2. And James Gunn is back in the director chair again, with the film schedule for release on May 5, 2023.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
