The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is officially entering Phase 5 in 2023, promising a deeper and more detailed exploration of its expansive universe for audiences. To kick off this new phase, Marvel Studios has already started “deploying its artillery,” with a series of blockbuster films set to dominate the big screen and streaming platforms.
Below is a comprehensive list of movies that Marvel will release in 2023.
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania (February 17, 2023)
The opening chapter for Phase 5 of the MCU is the third installment featuring Scott Lang, the Ant-Man. This film is considered a particularly important work for Marvel Studios in 2023 and will have a direct impact on the overarching narrative of the MCU, which is currently under construction. Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania will officially introduce the villain Kang the Conqueror to the big screen, a character expected to be the next significant antagonist in the MCU following Thanos.
According to the latest trailer for the film, Scott Lang’s family will inadvertently get caught up in the Quantum Realm. Here, they will confront Kang, who has been secretly building a destiny for himself to prepare for a full-scale invasion of the universe.
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania will welcome back familiar faces, including Paul Rudd (Scott Lang), Evangeline Lilly (Hope van Dyne), Michael Douglas (Hank Pym), Michelle Pfeiffer (Janet van Dyne), along with new additions like Kathryn Newton (Cassandra Lang) and Jonathan Majors (Kang the Conqueror).
What If…? Season 2 (Early 2023)
The animated series What If…? will also return in 2023 to introduce various intriguing alternate realities within the Marvel universe. Uatu the Watcher will continue to act as the narrator in the upcoming season. However, it remains unclear which characters will reappear in this season, including heroes from different timelines such as Captain Carter, Party Thor, and “Star-Lord” T’Challa, and how they will interact with this series.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, producer AC Bradley confirmed that events from Phase 4 of the MCU will be referenced in Season 2 of What If…?, suggesting that characters like Shang-Chi and the Eternals will have roles to play in the upcoming season.
Secret Invasion (Early 2023)
Nick Fury has “returned” to the MCU after the closure of Phase 3, and the series Secret Invasion will explain what he has been doing all this time. Based on the comic storyline of the same name from Marvel Comics, Secret Invasion is expected to bring a complex plot where Skrulls infiltrate and impersonate key figures in the U.S. government.
This series will feature the return of Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Ben Mendelsohn (Skrull Talos), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross), and Don Cheadle (James Rhodes), alongside the appearance of Emilia Clarke in a yet-to-be-disclosed role.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 5, 2023)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is considered the culmination of the Guardians in the MCU. This film will delve deeper into the past of one of the team members while also taking them on a journey to a new planet called Counter Earth – a world that mirrors Earth but exists on the opposite side of the multiverse. Here, the Guardians will face off against the villain High Evolutionary, who specializes in genetic manipulation to create new life forms.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will also introduce Adam Warlock, one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel universe. Details concerning this character have been teased in previous films, but it remains unclear what role Warlock will play in the upcoming film and how the MCU will portray him.
Familiar actors will reprise their roles in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, including Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Dave Bautista (Drax), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), and Vin Diesel (Groot). Additionally, Will Poulter will portray Adam Warlock, while Chukwudi Iwuji will play High Evolutionary.
Loki Season 2 (Mid-2023)
The first season of Loki serves as the origin of the multiverse in the MCU, when Sylvie kills He Who Remains and frees other realities. The second season will pick up immediately after these events, with everything taking place in a timeline where Kang has become the central figure of the Time Variance Authority (TVA). Once again, Loki will find himself caught up in extraordinary adventures while bearing the responsibility of preventing a multiversal war, similar to the chaos that He Who Remains once orchestrated.
Tom Hiddleston will continue to reprise his role as Loki in the upcoming season, alongside familiar faces like Sophia Di Martino (Sylvie), Owen Wilson (Mobius M. Mobius), and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Ravonna Renslayer). Additionally, Keiynan Lonsdale, the star of Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, will also make an appearance in the upcoming season.
The Marvels (July 28, 2023)
The Marvels is set to be the final film of Marvel Studios in 2023, featuring a team-up between three superheroes: Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel), Monica Rambeau (Spectrum), and Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel). Previously, Monica appeared in the series WandaVision and gained superpowers after overcoming the energy barrier created by Scarlet Witch. Meanwhile, Kamala is seen as the MCU’s first true teenage superhero.
The three characters, despite being intertwined, have very distinct backgrounds. Monica is the daughter of Maria Rambeau, Carol’s best friend, while Kamala is an avid fan of Captain Marvel. Furthermore, all three will have to confront a challenging phenomenon where their powers intertwine every time they use their abilities. This phenomenon first occurred in the post-credits scene of the series Ms. Marvel, and many aspects will be further explained in the upcoming blockbuster.
The Marvels will see the return of Brie Larson (Carol Danvers), Iman Vellani (Kamala Khan), Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), along with the participation of South Korean star Park Seo-joon (Yand D’Aladna).
Echo (Late 2023)
Maya Lopez/Echo will also return to the MCU in 2023 after appearing in the series Hawkeye as a major character. Maya is the leader of the Tracksuit Mafia and believes that Clint Barton is responsible for her father’s death. The upcoming series will explore the origin of this character and her relationship with her uncle, crime lord Wilson Fisk/Kingpin.
Alaqua Cox will reprise her role as Maya Lopez, alongside Vincent D’Onofrio (Wilson Fisk) and Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock). Previously, Charlie has appeared in the blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home and She-Hulk as Daredevil. The series Echo is seen as a gateway to the standalone series of this superhero, Daredevil: Born Again, set to premiere in early 2024.
Ironheart (Late 2023)
The works in Phase 4 of the MCU did not delve too deeply into the core of the universe, but Ironheart is set to introduce new characters related to this cinematic universe. Riri Williams/Ironheart is one of the characters that made a notable appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Ironheart is regarded as the most promising successor to Tony Stark in the MCU. This young woman has shown remarkable talent, creating her own armored suit inspired by Iron Man and participating in a battle between Wakanda and Talokan. Her character will be explored in greater depth in the upcoming series, set to premiere on Disney+ in late 2023.
Agatha: Coven of Chaos (Late 2023)
Agatha is a central character in the series WandaVision, simultaneously playing a role in helping Wanda unleash the chaos magic within her. In the conclusion of this series, Agatha was left powerless by Wanda and trapped in Westview under the guise of her neighbor Agnes.
Currently, Marvel Studios remains quite tight-lipped about the content and direction of Agatha: Coven of Chaos. However, many speculate that this series will have similar tones to WandaVision, as both are produced under the guidance of producer Jac Shaffer. Moreover, this series is also seen as a great opportunity for Marvel to reintroduce Scarlet Witch back into the spotlight, preparing for major events in the Marvel universe in the future.
Source: Marvel Studios, CBR
