Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has officially confirmed that Denzel Washington will the cast of Black Panther 3, following Washington’s earlier revelation about his involvement in November 2024.

According to People, the confirmation came during Coogler’s recent appearance on the 7pm in Brooklyn podcast with host Carmelo Anthony, where the director discussed his long-standing desire to work with the Training Day star.

“Denzel is family at this point…I’ve been trying to work with him since day one,” Coogler said during the podcast. “I think he’s the greatest living actor, and in of what he means to our culture, forget about it. I’ve been talking to him about this for a long time.”

Washington’s projects and retirement plans revealed

The 70-year-old Washington had previously disclosed on Australian Today that Coogler was writing a specific part for him in the next Black Panther film. The actor also shared his plans to appear in Othello and King Lear before retiring from acting, expressing his desire to work with only the best filmmakers at this stage of his career.

Coogler itted being caught off guard by Washington’s public disclosure of their discussions but confirmed the truth behind the statement. The director has long ired Washington’s work, particularly his collaborations with Spike Lee, expressing excitement about their project together, Highest 2 Lowest, scheduled for release in August 2025.

The Black Panther franchise has seen significant success since its debut in January 2018, with the original film starring the late Chadwick Boseman, followed by Black Panther 2 in November 2022. The third installment is currently scheduled for release in February 2028, according to IMDb.

Meanwhile, Coogler’s latest directorial venture, Sinners, recently hit theaters, featuring his frequent collaborator Michael B. Jordan alongside Hailee Steinfeld and Miles Caton. The film tells the story of twin brothers facing evil upon returning to their hometown. Coogler shared an emotional moment about showing the film to his mentor Spike Lee, describing the experience as “surreal.”

In the multiverse anything is possible right? We’ve seen countless variants of heroes in the MCU over the last few years, sometimes we even get little nods to fan castings like John Krasinski in Multiverse of Madness. Well one fan casting involving Ryan Gosling might be deemed too controversial for the MCU, but is it actually being considered?

We’re talking about the Gosling – Black Panther casting of course. A fan casting which has been a bit of a meme for a while now. But now rumors are circulating about a new Black Panther and some think that The Fall Guy star could be in the running to play the Protector of Wakanda from another universe. 

So is there any truth to this whatsoever? And why has this rumor resurfaced now? Well to answer both of those questions we’re going to have to do a deep dive on the original meme as well as look at what’s going on in the Marvel Comics right now.

The original of the Ryan Gosling fan cast

The meme featuring Gosling as Black Panther has been around for a number of years now. An image with Gosling’s face photoshopped over Chadwick Boseman’s first appeared online in 2018 and subsequently became popular in the early 2020’s. The picture often features in discussions about race-swapping characters in movies.

In December 2023 it was reported that Gosling was in talks to play a character in the MCU which prompted a return of the meme. Many jokingly speculated we were really going to see Gosling take on the role, at least I hope these people were joking.

Why are people talking about this casting again?

Recently the speculation surrounding Gosling and the MCU has started up again. Numerous outlets seem to be reporting on the rumor that the Drive star could potentially be a multiversal Black Panther variant. The reason for this particular fan casting being the subject of conversation once again is thanks to a recent Marvel Comics story.

According to Superherohype.com, Marvel Comics recently revealed the new Black Panther, a man by the name of Ketema. Marvel Knights: The World To Come #1 saw Ketema unmask himself and reveal to all that he is a white man with blonde hair, sound familiar? The revelation saw some backlash and naturally people instantly drew a connection to Ketema and the Gosling meme.

So now that white Black Panther is technically canon, all those controversial memes depicting Gosling as the King of Wakanda suddenly seem a bit more plausible. On X people responded to the news with a mixture of amusement and puzzlement. 

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s likely to happen really. The people in charge of the MCU nowadays have made plenty of awful decisions over the years, but I don’t think even they would be foolish enough to go anywhere near this casting choice.

The MCU factory is closed with a sign outside reading “Under Construction.”

There have been a few leaks here and there, but few more intriguing than the buzz around a potential Denzel Washington role in the yet-to-be-confirmed Black Panther 3. There’s also growing speculation about whether we’ll ever see a formal ing of the Black Panther torch. One of the franchise’s stars, Lupita Nyong’o, has finally given fans a glimpse of what the cast might be thinking.

Let’s be real — the MCU’s prime days are behind us. Even high-level executives would likely it as much. Misguided attempts to keep fans engaged in a post-Thanos world led to criticism over the rushed and overcrowded nature of recent projects. For what it’s worth, Marvel seems to have taken these criticisms seriously, focusing on streamlined, linear storytelling reminiscent of what first won fans over. With the warm reception to trailers for Fantastic Four: First Steps and Captain America: Brave New World, the MCU might just be buying itself some much-needed goodwill.

It’s also clear that Marvel has opted to move forward rather than lean on tried-and-tested franchises that have historically held up their universe. Thor is on an indefinite break, there’s a new Captain America, James Gunn has moved to DC, and even returning stars like Robert Downey Jr. are playing entirely new roles. Black Panther, however, exists in a unique purgatory within the MCU. Introduced at the tail-end of the Infinity Saga, it was clearly meant to be a foundational pillar for Marvel’s future. But Chadwick Boseman’s tragic ing changed everything.

Director Ryan Coogler even rewrote the entire script for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, turning it into a moving tribute to one of our screens’ most graceful stars. Fans and critics were touched, but as time ed, many began wondering whether the franchise would eventually the mantle to a new Black Panther. Online discussions buzzed with speculative casting ideas for Boseman’s replacement.

The excitement only grew when Denzel Washington hinted in an interview that Coogler was writing a role for him in the next Black Panther movie. Coogler, currently busy with his vampire film starring Michael B. Jordan, Sinners, has remained elusive on the subject. Fortunately, Lupita Nyong’o, currently on the awards circuit campaigning for her animated film The Wild Robot, addressed the rumors during an appearance on The Awardist, Entertainment Weekly’s podcast. Nyong’o gave a characteristically polished response:

“Well, I won’t believe it until I hear it from Ryan himself, because what if Denzel has a role and I don’t? Let me stay humble and ignorant until the leader of the pack actually says something.”

Marvel producer Nate Moore has also confirmed that there are no current talks of recasting T’Challa, with all attention focused on the next Avengers film. Only after that will they consider Black Panther 3.

The most logical step seems to be making Shuri (Letitia Wright) — whom audiences have already grown fond of — the franchise’s next Black Panther. Wright might have fallen out of favor during the depths of the pandemic due to her vocal anti-vaccine rhetoric, but if fans are willing to give her another shot as Wakanda’s main hero, Marvel truly has no need to get on the phone with their casting director for the next Black Panther. Nyong’o also touched on a potential recasting saying, “Honestly, I do not put any energy into trying to imagine a future that I have no control of. So we’ll see. And when we know more, we’ll know more.”

As Nyong’o and Moore implied, it’s wise to wait for Coogler to finish his current project and see where Marvel’s storytelling lands after the next Avengers. They haven’t let us down so far.

The current phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has given us mixed feelings. But as the curtain falls in 2025, with the release of Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World, it’s clear the best may be yet to come.

At the heart of the excitement is Brave New World’s charismatic lead, Anthony Mackie. As the new face of Captain America, Mackie has taken on a monumental role, and let’s be real, the stakes couldn’t be higher this time. But it looks like Sam Wilson’s in good hands, as a promising crossover with the brilliant minds of Wakanda have quite a bit to do with his new suit.

Wakanda to the rescue: The suit’s Vibranium secrets

Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, the Twisted Metal star gave fans a peek into his journey as Captain America, teased what’s coming with Red Hulk, and most importantly, revealed the story behind his jaw-dropping new suit. When asked about the new Captain America suit, Mackie couldn’t help but smile as he spilled the beans. 

It’s a high-tech suit. I went to Wakanda, met with everybody there, and we had dinner. It was a great time. They threw me a welcome party. It was dope. But when I was leaving, they gave me a suit, right?

Classic Mackie charm aside, the Wakandan involvement in the suit’s creation makes perfect sense. Wakanda has been a powerhouse of innovation in the MCU, crafting everything from Bucky Barnes’ vibranium arm to Shuri’s mind-bending suit. Their signature blend of vibranium and engineering brilliance has set a gold standard for superhero gear, and the new Captain America suit would be no exception to this formality. With vibranium enhancements woven into its design, the suit provides Sam with the durability, agility, and functionality needed to go head-to-head with the MCU’s toughest foes. 

Unlike Steve Rogers’ suit, which simply represented a classic superhero outfit with so much emphasis on his raw strength to get work done, Sam’s outfit is all about adaptability. The wings? Possibly reinforced with vibranium for maximum flight efficiency. The shield harness? Seamlessly integrated into the suit for quick access and tactical use. And while it retains the classic star-and-stripes aesthetic, its darker, more modern design reflects Sam’s unique journey as a hero.

From counselor to Cap, Sam Wilson holds his own

With Chris Evans leaving behind some big boots (and a hefty shield) to fill, Mackie’s Sam Wilson has already proved he’s not just up to the task but ready to make it his own. Mackie has always had a knack for teasing just enough to keep fans on their toes, and his appearance at the Disney APAC Content Showcase was no different. With his signature wit and charm, Mackie shed light on how Sam Wilson’s approach to being Captain America differs from his predecessor, Steve Rogers.

Sam isn’t a super-soldier. With him being a counselor, he uses more of his brains than brawn. He uses more of his wit than his fist. He’s more of a friend to everyone.

This unique perspective could make Sam’s Captain America stand out. He’s not trying to replicate Steve Rogers’ tenacity but is carving out a space for a hero who relies on intelligence, empathy, and sheer determination. And let’s not forget, he’ll need every ounce of those qualities when he comes face-to-face with Red Hulk, a raging beast of an opponent. Played by none other than Harrison Ford, Red Hulk is set to push Sam to his limits, challenging not just his physical capabilities but his mental resolve. So, how does someone without super-soldier serum take on a hulking, rage-fueled monster? The answer lies in the suit and the brilliant minds of Wakanda.

Was Training Day really that long ago? That’s the question fans have all been asking in light of recent Denzel Washington news.

In a conversation with Australia’s Today (via Variety), the iconic actor reported that retirement is in his future. While this is a major loss for Hollywood, no one can really blame him. Washington has been firing on all cylinders since the ’80s, a fact that is easy to forget when he keeps pumping out hits. The Malcolm X actor reminded the outlet that he is now about the play a repeat character in the Broadway production of Othello.

“I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70.”

There are very few things that Washington hasn’t done at this point in his career, and he wants to only do high-caliber projects. But before retirement, he has some heavy hitters in the works.

“After [Othello], I am playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking to Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther. After that, I’m going to do the film Othello, After that, I’m going to do King Lear. After that, I’m going to retire.”

Washington’s schedule still appears to be jam-packed, and there is one role that stands out specifically among the rest.

King Lear will be the perfect send-off

Denzel Washington has had a lot of experience with critical acclaim and theater runs. The Oscar-winner may be most ed for his dramatic roles on the screen, but he has also been a friend to the stage, especially in Shakespeare ventures. Only in 2021 did the actor take on one of the playwright’s most famous parts. In Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, Washington co-stars with s McDormand in the play that made everyone afraid of saying the title in the theater. He has proven his aptitude with the material, making Othello and King Lear anticipated returns to form. King Lear, in particular, seems like a calculated decision for Washington to make as his final role.

King Lear is famous for elevating many older actors with its subject material. Played in the past by actors such as Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen, the play follows a wizened king who separates his kingdom between three daughters. A tragedy in every sense of the word, the story deals with the mental decline of Lear and the death of his favorite daughter. A meaty role for any actor, fans can look forward to a new interpretation.

Of course, there is also Washington’s plans to enter the MCU, which will be a crowd pleaser for fans. It is the one thing he hasn’t done yet, and that is understandable. Comic book movies have not always had the best reputation, and Marvel hasn’t had the greatest run recently. However, a union between Ryan Coogler and Washington seems obvious in retrospect.

Before Marvel, Coogler made a name for himself alongside Michael B. Jordan with films such as Fruitvale Station and the Creed franchise. Now the director is helming a Jim Crow-era vampire film with Jordan in the lead. Coogler’s MCU work is not the most impressive thing he’s done, but Black Panther continues to stand apart from other Marvel works.

The second Black Panther film, Wakanda Forever, was a heartfelt meditation on grief, following Chadwick Boseman’s death from cancer. The film hands the mantle of the Black Panther over to Shuri (Letitia Wright), who is in the grips of grief following the death of T’Challa (Boseman). Black Panther has always been more than just a comic book film and fans can trust Coogler to deliver. While there has been no confirmation of a Black Panther 3 or who the actor will be portraying, the choice to add Washington to the cast couldn’t be better.

Washington habitually works with acclaimed actors and cinema is better for it. His highly- anticipated collaboration with Ridley Scott is next on the release docket. Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal, a star-studded film that will be a return to form to cinema. Full of rhinoceroses, baboons, and shark-infested waters, Scott holds nothing back in the sword and sandals epic. Fans can see Washington’s role as Macrinus when Gladiator II premieres in theaters on November 22.

When Denzel Washington deservedly received his AFI lifetime achievement award for enriching American culture through film and television, the late Chadwick Boseman took to the stage and declared that without Denzel Washington, there’s no Black Panther.

Boseman didn’t just mean that metaphorically either; he went on to share that if it wasn’t for Denzel Washington raising funds for Boseman and his classmates when he was still in acting school, they would’ve never been able to attend a summer program at Oxford University, a monumental stage of his training.

Of course, Boseman tragically ed away a year later, which completely upended the Black Panther franchise. Even though Ryan Coogler managed to craft a fitting sequel that partly honored Chadwick Boseman’s iconography, Marvel has yet to update us on whether they will move forward with another film. Now, however, we’ve gotten an update from an unlikely source. Denzel Washington has revealed that not only is Ryan Coogler working on a third film, but Washington himself will be in it.

If this film manages to escape development purgatory, unlike the long-gestating Blade, it would mark Denzel Washington’s first comic book movie. It would certainly be a joy to see him chew the scenery as a Marvel villain, especially given that the MCU’s chokehold on culture seems to be waning. For many fans, it’s no stretch to think that Denzel Washington could be the X factor needed to revitalize the MCU, especially at a time when its influence appears to be in decline. But for now, it remains a mystery what kind of role Coogler is crafting for one of our greatest living actors.

Washington casually revealed the news during an interview on Australia’s TODAY show, where he was promoting his new film Gladiator 2. He also went into detail about what attracts him to a film now that he’s past 70 and has amassed just about every accolade an actor could hope for. Washington shared that in every new role, he looks for one thing: working with the best filmmakers.

That means right before his work on Black Panther, he plans to collaborate with Steve McQueen on an unnamed project. But for now, the focus is on his role as Macrinus opposite Paul Mescal in Gladiator II. True to form, Washington has been spending the entire press run praising Mescal to anyone who will listen.

When it’s all said and done, seemingly, Denzel Washington’s legacy may ultimately be defined not just by his iconic on-screen performances, but by his influence off-screen. Just recently, Glen Powell shared how Washington had a profound impact on his career by advising him to focus solely on his journey, rather than comparing himself to fellow actors. While this might sound like common advice, it carries significant weight when it comes from someone as accomplished as Washington. Since then, Powell has soared in his own right, taking unorthodox risks like starring in Anyone But You at a time when romcoms were out of favor, and co-writing Hit Man, both of which became massive hits. To this day, Washington still jokes that Powell owes him credit for his career.

Washington is receiving rave reviews for his role in Gladiator 2, and we urge you to see it when you can because, as he shared in his TODAY show interview, he only plans to make a handful more movies before finally retiring.

Say what you will about the state and trajectory of the entertainment industry, but the future of thespianism is in very, very good hands. From Florence Pugh to Austin Butler to Anya Taylor-Joy, Hollywood’s young players positively ooze exciting talent.

At 35, Daniel Kaluuya still absolutely qualifies as a youngster, even if the Academy Award winner has since expanded his professional creative chops to writing, directing, and producing; a sign of profound creative maturity since his breakout role in Jordan Peele’s 2017 horror flick Get Out.

It’s that very role, however, that has earned him his latest honor seven years later; a statue in his likeness that’s to be erected in London’s “Scenes in the Square” trail, per Variety.

Here’s the kicker, though. The statue, which will be unveiled in October, will stand alongside the likes of, among others, Harry Potter, Batman, Wonder Woman, Mary Poppins, and Gene Kelly.

This is, of course, perhaps the strangest assembly of Avengers that Kaluuya could possibly up with.

For one thing, sans Kelly, Kaluuya’s statue would be the lone actual person standing alongside a swath of cartoon characters (or, in the case of Mary Poppins and Mr. Bean, live-action characters that qualify as cartoon characters). For another thing, Get Out very directly and very incisively deals with some extremely heavy topics pertaining to racism and fetishization, whereas Bugs Bunny deals with ruining Elmer Fudd’s day, and Paddington deals with what can only be described as transcendent pleasantness.

So, of all the places to honor the star of the thoroughly challenging Get Out as one of the most singularly prominent British talents in the acting world, an ensemble of fictional characters whose success is predicated upon their age and theme-specific accessibility, might not be the best one.

That said, a few too many people seem to be missing the point of this honor, believing that the statue is only pertaining to Kaluuya’s role in Get Out.

To be clear, Kaluuya himself is the icon in question, rather than his Get Out protagonist Chris Washington. That’s not to discredit the film’s role in his professional journey, of course, but since Get Out, Kaluuya has gone on to Black Panther, Judas and the Black Messiah, a Peele re-team with Nope, the Spider-Verse franchise, and his directorial debut The Kitchen. And that’s not even getting into the awards and nominations he’s scooped up in his time.

So yes, it’s very strange that Kaluuya is counting Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Irone Throne as his monumental contemporaries, but what’s not strange whatsoever is his prestige as an artist being recognized in such a way remarkable way. Hats off to you, Kaluuya; we can’t wait to see what you do with Barney.

On the fourth anniversary of his tragic death, Chadwick Boseman has been commemorated by his Black Panther co-star, Lupita Nyong’o. The actress, who portrayed Boseman’s onscreen love interest, Nakia, in the first installment of the Marvel film, took to Instagram to reflect on the grief she’s still enduring, years after the King T’Challa actor ed away after a battle with colon cancer.

“Grief never ends,” the actress wrote alongside a black-and-white image of Boseman and another of her by his side, “grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It’s the price of love.”

The Us star concluded the message by writing “ing Chadwick Boseman. Forever.” Nyong’o wasn’t the only co-star of Boseman’s to reflect on his legacy yesterday, with Viola Davis also sharing a touching tribute on the fourth anniversary of his death. Davis, who worked with Boseman on 2014’s Get on Up as well as his final film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, said on Instagram that her late co-star “live[s] on in me.” 

“Authenticity, ion and love were all woven in one extraordinary human…..CHADWICK BOSEMAN,” the How To Get Away With Murder star added. “Your flame will never be extinguished.” Elsewhere, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, who almost cast Boseman in the role of Drax, also shared an anniversary tribute to the actor on social media.  

Nyong’o, Davis and Gunn were among the celebrities who first reacted to news of Boseman’s ing in 2020. At the time, Nyong’o said she missed Boseman’s “laughter and silence in equal measure,” while Davis wrote “Man you are missed!”. 

Jamie Foxx, Jane Lynch, and Kerry Washington also paid tribute to Boseman in 2020, alongside his Marvel family castmates Brie Larson, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle, and Zoë Saldana. Boseman kept his years-long battle with colon cancer out of the public eye, though it was reported after his death that he filmed projects like Black Panther during and between surgeries and chemotherapy.       

Boseman has been commemorated in various ways in the years since his ing. Last year, he was paid tribute with Rihanna’s performance of “Lift Me Up” at the Academy Awards, and was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Elsewhere, footage of the late actor appeared in Wakanda Forever, the Black Panther sequel that premiered in 2022. 

“He believed he was ordained to get that role,” Black Panther director Ryan Coogler said in 2022. “He would be like, ‘Yeah, I had [T’Challa] on vision journals and I wanted to do this role.” 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become the most in-depth and successful franchise of all time during its 16-year run at the box office. While it began with Iron Man in 2008, for fans following the narrative, that’s not where the story actually begins.

There are currently 34 movies in the MCU — soon to be 35 with Captain America: Brave New World — released in five phases. Phases One through Three, known as the Infinity Saga, collectively bring viewers closer to the arrival of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and its epic follow-up, Avengers: Endgame. Meanwhile, phases Four through Six, known as the Multiverse Saga, began in 2021 and will eventually bring viewers closer to Robert Downey Jr.’s ultimate MCU comeback as Doctor Doom in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and its subsequent multiversal showdown in 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. : Kang is a thing of the past.

Phase Four began in 2021 with the Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and continued into 2022 with three major franchise sequels: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Phase Five began in 2023 and also included four franchise sequels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, and most recently Deadpool & Wolverine.

Following the success of Marvel’s Disney Plus streaming hits like WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki, we’ve received fresh entries like Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Secret Invasion, Loki season 2, and soon Agatha All Along. They aim to continue the budding tradition of bringing focused character studies to the small screen, but in light of criticism over reduced quality, Marvel has scaled back these productions a bit. Nevertheless, these shows tie into the larger Marvel universe, which is actually more of a multiverse now. However, those shows won’t be mentioned on this list, as this list pertains to feature films only.

There are numerous ways to enjoy Marvel films, including the order in which they were released, or drawn out of a hat at random, although that last option isn’t recommended for first-time viewers. However, in this article, we’ll be breaking down the chronological timeline of all films in the MCU so you can watch them in the correct narrative order. An at-a-glance lineup of Phases One through Three can be found below:

Below is a breakdown of every MCU film in narrative-timeline order, all of which, save Deadpool & Wolverine, are available to stream now on Disney Plus. Thanks to Marvel’s official The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline, we now have a clearer picture of not only what is and isn’t MCU canon, but also whether the nuggets of information we’ve compiled over the years do, indeed, fit into the slots we’ve given them. Spoiler alert: they do.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Taking place first in the timeline, Captain America: The First Avenger provides the origin story for one of Marvel’s most popular heroes, Steve Rogers, played by the dynamite Chris Evans. This film mostly takes place in 1942 and showcases Rogers’ journey from a scrawny infantry soldier to full-blown Captain America who faces off against Red Skull.

Captain Marvel

Next up is Captain Marvel, which is set in 1995, much closer to modern times. This movie is the first in the timeline to explore space travel and intergalactic threats. As we are introduced to both Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) and soon-to-be S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the pair gets involved in the conflict between the Kree and the Skrulls, with surprising results.

Iron Man

The third film in the timeline was the very first Marvel film to be released: Iron Man. The billionaire philanthropist-turned-superhero Tony Stark has his origin story told in this fan-favorite film. Thanks to its box office success and fans’ adoration of Robert Downey Jr.’s performance, the film ultimately kicked off the entire MCU franchise.

Iron Man 2

Picking up shortly after the events of the first Iron Man, Iron Man 2 continues the story of the suited superhero now with his identity known to the public. Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), the son of a scientist who previously worked at Stark Industries, is back with a grudge and creates his own weaponry with the goal of taking revenge for his fallen father. The film also introduces a soon-to-be Avenger in Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

The Incredible Hulk

While many fans may choose to forego 2008’s The Incredible Hulk in their MCU binge given that it features Ed Norton in the role instead of Mark Ruffalo (who later became the official Banner), it’s still technically a part of the MCU timeline. This movie gives fans a unique take on the Hulk’s origin story and hints at more things to come in the closing credits.

Thor

Thor’s initial big-screen debut took place in 2011 and gave fans their first look at Asgard and other realms via the Bifrost. This one finds the titular god traveling to Earth to defend the world from Loki and a Frost Giant threat. For many moviegoers, this was their introduction to the beloved character, played by Chris Hemsworth, and for many it solidly delivered.

The Avengers

The first crossover film in the timeline came with The Avengers, which was set at the conclusion of Marvel’s Phase One. The Avengers brought together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, the Hulk, and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) to protect the Earth from Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and the Chitauri invasion. The movie also played a key role in introducing the Tesseract as the first of the Infinity Stones. These stones were ultimately the key to all future plans in the MCU.

Thor: The Dark World

The second Thor film in the MCU, Thor: The Dark World, gives us a closer look at Asgard, its inner workings, and the relationship between Thor, his brother Loki, and their father, Odin. The film also gives us insight into the second Infinity Stone, the Aether, which was wielded by the movie’s antagonists, the Dark Elves. Though it’s largely considered one of the less-impressive Marvel films, it serves its purpose and thankfully paves the way for a wonderful Thor threequel.

Iron Man 3

In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark deals with anxiety after experiencing the intergalactic invasion of the Chitauri. After diving into full damage control mode and assembling an army of suits, he’s forced to choose between being Iron Man and protecting those he loves. Meanwhile, he must also deal with the looming threat of “The Mandarin.”

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Hailed as one of the best films in the entire MCU franchise, Captain America: The Winter Soldier introduces viewers to more of Captain America’s past and throws Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, back into the fray. The movie also reveals the hidden HYDRA threat still present among the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D that ultimately leads to its demise.

Guardians of the Galaxy

When it was announced that Disney was going to bring the Guardians to the big screen, many were skeptical, but Guardians of the Galaxy turned out to be one of the best space films ever, let alone one in the MCU. It introduced us to Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), and Groot (Vin Diesel), an unlikely team that attempts to stop the plot of Ronan the Acc (Lee Pace) from using the Power Stone to destroy Xandar.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Taking place shortly after the first film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 gives us a closer look at Peter Quill’s backstory and heritage while also introducing a new member to the squad in the form of Mantis (Pom Klementieff). The story also dives deeper into the sibling rivalry between Gamora and Nebula (Karen Gillan) and shines a light on their relationship with their adoptive father, Thanos, which would pay off in just a few short films.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Crossing over once again, the cast of the original Avengers film s forces to defend the Earth from the threat of Ultron (James Spader), a supercomputer developed to be a peacekeeping program by Tony Stark, which overrides its programming and now seeks to eliminate all mankind. In the latter half of the film, the Avengers get a few new additions in the form of Vision (Paul Bettany) and the Maximoff twins, Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

Ant-Man

Ant-Man tells the story of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a thief who is recruited by Dr. Hank Pym to assist him with stopping the plot of his former protège, who cast him away from his own company. During the film, Lang becomes Ant-Man after being gifted a suit and trained to use Pym Particles to shrink his size, giving him superhuman strength and the ability to control ants.

Captain America: Civil War

While not an Avengers film by name, Captain America: Civil War brings most of the superhero cast together for a face-off over a disagreement on the Sokovia Accords following the events of Age of Ultron. Civil War was also used to introduce a few new characters to the Avengers’ roster, including Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland).

Black Widow

Finally getting her own origin film after being part of the MCU for over a decade, Natasha Romanoff heads back to her roots in Black Widow, which launched earlier this year. The film introduced us to Natasha’s sister, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), who fans got to see again in Hawkeye and who will undoubtedly be appearing again, possibly in a villainous team-up compliments of a certain character who appears in the post-credits scene.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Despite what the movie may have led you to believe, it does not take place eight years after The Avengers. Marvel finally addressed the snafu after years of sweeping it under the rug in the official Marvel Studios: The MCU — An Official Timeline book, confirming it was indeed only four years after the Battle of New York. Taking place right after the events of Civil War, Spider-Man’s MCU debut chose not to retell the hero’s origin story, instead giving us a coming-of-age film that finds Peter Parker juggling his duties as Spider-Man with the demands of high school. There are plenty of comic book Spidey villains teased throughout the film, but his biggest threat is the Vulture, menacingly played by Michael Keaton, who is apparently bad with math.

Black Panther

Instead of an origin story, when we pick up in Black Panther, T’Challa has already taken on the mantle as the titular hero after the ing of his father in Civil War. This film gives viewers their first look at the inner workings of the afrofuturistic Wakanda, as well as an epic tale of personal and ideological rivalry between T’Challa and Killmonger (Michael B Jordan).

Doctor Strange

The first time we are treated to Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in the MCU is in his self-titled film. The story explores the origins of Stephen Strange’s character and teases the ideas of multiple dimensions, cosmic beings, and time-traveling threats. As you’d expect, the Time Stone is also a crucial element of the film and only becomes more important from here on out. Other standout characters in the film include Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), Wong (Benedict Wong), Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton).

Thor: Ragnarok

Directed by Taika Waititi and taking on a different style and tone than the previous Thor films, Ragnarok has a more comical personality while maintaining high-quality action sequences. The film addresses many of the loose ends following Age of Ultron and follows Thor and Loki as they attempt to stop their half-sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett) from taking over Asgard. The ending of this film offers a jaw-dropping lead-in to what quickly becomes the beginning of the end of the Infinity Saga.

Avengers: Infinity War

The first part of the epic culmination of all the previous MCU films, Avengers: Infinity War finally gives us our first major introduction to Thanos (Josh Brolin), who has been working behind the scenes to gather the Infinity Stones with the goal of wiping out half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers. The movie takes place in 2018 and ultimately, leaves fans with a stunning cliffhanger that segues directly into Avengers: Endgame.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

The sequel to Ant-Man, this film takes place at the same time as the events of Infinity War in 2018 and does a great job of telling its own story within the Ant-Man comic book canon. This one digs deeper into the relationship between Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and her mother (Michelle Pfeiffer), and also introduces a mysterious new villain, Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen). Just like Infinity War, the final moments of this film leave viewers breathless for answers in anticipation of the impending Endgame.

Avengers: Endgame

The epic conclusion to over a decade of storytelling, Avengers: Endgame has everything fans could ever want in a Marvel film. It takes place in October 2023, five years after the events of Infinity War, and sees the remaining Avengers attempt to regain hope of defeating Thanos and restore what was lost after his infamous “Snap,” which was later renamed “The Blip.” In the closing act, Endgame boasts one of the most epic action sequences in all of cinema, blasting expectations wide open and forever changing the MCU as we know it.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi is one of the latest heroes to the MCU, and in this first film exploring his character’s origin, we learn more about his role amidst the greater events playing out within the franchise. Alongside his friend Katy (Awkwafina), Shang-Chi is drawn back into the life he used to know and must face the father (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) he thought he left behind. During the iconic bus fight scene between Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings operative Gao Lei, we’re shown the dates July 21 to 28 in a Jazz Blues Festival ment. Since Katy’s grandma also mentions the “Day of the Dead,” a festival resembling the Chinese Qingming Festival — which takes place in April — and the film itself spans two weeks, we can assume the movie takes place in April 2024. This would put it before Far From Home.

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Picking up right after Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home addresses the events that took place during the previous film while also introducing some new faces and returning characters from the past. It takes place during the summer of 2024, eight months after The Blip. This is the perfect bridging point to close out Phase Three and enter Phase Four of the MCU — after watching Shang-Chi, of course.

Eternals

With its many flashbacks telling the story not only of the Eternals themselves but also the history of the universe, it can be difficult to give this film a true place in the MCU timeline. That said, its present-day moments take place around the same time as Far From Home in 2024, likely just afterward given that the events of the film were not mentioned in the Spider-Man sequel. Fans and critics were largely split on the film (to put it mildly), except in regard to that colorful cameo by Harry Styles in the post-credits scene. Whether Styles will actually return to the MCU is another matter entirely.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Logan took place in 2029, so Deadpool & Wolverine must also take place during or after that, meaning it should be at the bottom of this list. Well, no. The Merc with the Mouth’s first foray into the MCU actually occurs in 2024. We know this because after Happy Hogan rejects Wade’s request to the Avengers (on March 14, 2018, on Earth-616) the time stamp on the screen tells us we jump six years into the future — back on Earth-1005 — which would place the film in 2024. And because we see Wade celebrating his birthday and he’s said in the comics that he’s a Scorpio (on the cusp of a Libra, thank you very much) — and because Deadpool & Wolverine showcases a decent amount of fall foliage — we can safely assume the film occurs in October 2024. As for why Earth-10005’s Wolverine is already dead at the beginning of Deadpool & Wolverine when Logan’s death shouldn’t have occurred for another five years — well, it’s likely that Wade jumped forward in time using the TVA’s TemPad. That, or we’re just going to file the mistake away with all of Marvel’s other embarrassing timeline errors.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Spider-Man: No Way Home takes place immediately after its predecessor, Far From Home around Nov. 2024. The film brings Peter Parker on the most mind-blowing adventure of his life ⏤ which, unfortunately, no one but he will . The film saw him grapple with everything from losing his Aunt May, to facing off against villains from completely different universes. It also led to Peter finding an unexpected brotherhood with alternate versions of himself, perfectly brought to life by Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire in tear-inducing appearances that will stand the test of time.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Benedict Cumberbatch’s return as the title character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness picked up after the events of No Way Home. It saw Strange deal with the implications of multiversal travel while facing new friends and foes, some of whom created serious trouble for him (ahem – Wanda). Wanda’s future was thrown into flux after she was presumably killed off in the movie’s final moments, but she is rumored to return in a Disney Plus spin-off series, which may or may not happen since Marvel subtly announced that the Earth-616 version of the character is canonically dead. Strange, too, received a cliffhanger ending, something we hope will be addressed in the rumored Doctor Strange 3.

In the meantime, you can rest assured that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness takes place after Spider-Man: No Way Home, which takes place right around the events of Hawkeye, which takes place around Christmas 2024.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Thanks to Disney Plus, we now know that — in the eyes of Marvel Studios — this film takes place after Doctor Strange 2. It also takes place after Ms. Marvel, which is believed to take place around Sept. 2025 because of the school’s homecoming dance. However, in Love and Thunder Jane Foster’s eppendorf vial’s tag includes the date April 30, suggesting it takes place in the beginning of 2025. Unfortunately, since we don’t know exactly when Thor and Jane broke up, the God of Thunder’s comments about their breakup happening 8 years 7 months and 6 days before the movie doesn’t exactly paint a clear picture either. Our best bet is to just assume Love and Thunder takes place in April 2025, especially when looking at the next MCU installments on the timeline.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

According to Black Panther Wakanda Forever producer Nate Moore, we have a place in the timeline to slot Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Moore says that this film takes place alongside the events of Thor: Love and Thunder, around the start of 2025, so for all rewatching purposes you should be able to enjoy either film first. This placement would make a lot of sense, since neither film directly affects the events of the other. Secret Invasion, on the other hand, almost had us questioning the timing of things when our favorite CIA from Wakanda Forever was revealed to be a Skrull (that was all put to rest in the season finale, though).

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

For those who are sticklers for dates, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania takes place during the start of 2025, like Wakanda Forever. How do we know this? A news clip in Wakanda Forever mentions Scott Lang’s book tour, and because book tours don’t last entire years, Quantumania definitely takes place before The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which occurs later that year during Christmastime, which also means it takes place before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, Disney Plus messed with the timeline when it decided to place Quantumania after The Guardians Holiday Special, which it most certainly is not, resulting in MODOK-sized canon headache, if you ask us. It wouldn’t be the first time Disney Plus goofed with the MCU’s timeline, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as the time Quantumania was accidentally erased from Phase Five. (Don’t worry, it’s not).

The Marvels

Ms. Marvel provides us with a pretty good guestimation where The Marvels takes place on the MCU timeline. Because the Disney Plus series is believed to take place around Sept. 2025 and Kamala Khan’s body-swapping problem doesn’t go unaddressed long, The Marvels likely takes place before 2026, which means it comes before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Carol Danvers’ intergalactic team-up with Captain Rambeau and Kamala to defeat the Kree general Dar-Benn in the highly-anticipated sequel to her billion-dollar predecessor, Captain Marvel, also happens to be the shortest movie in MCU history. Should any information in the movie, which will premiere in just a few short days, contradict this entry, we will revise it ASAP.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

It’s hard to give Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 an exact place on the MCU’s timeline since it is unaffected by previous films and has little effect on the overall MCU storyline. However, it’s safe to say that this intergalactic, twisty-turny threequel takes place in 2026 since it occurs after the events of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special in Dec. 2025. As a rule of thumb, here’s every MCU movie you should watch before starting Vol. 3.

As African media grows in popularity in the Western world, we’re constantly being introduced to some phenomenal talents. One of these, in the past few years, was Connie Chiume, who had begun making a name for herself outside of her home country of South Africa. However, on Aug. 6, at the age of 72, the vibrant actress died.

Chiume had a minor role in Black Panther, before returning in a larger capacity in the acclaimed sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as Zawavari. She also starred as herself in Beyonce’s epic musical, Black Is King, and the 2000 drama, I Dreamed of Africa. Needless to say, Connie Chiume was an exceptional star who embodied the pride of her continent Africa. Earlier in March, she was honored with the Living Legend Award at South Africa’s Cultural and Creative Industry Awards.

How did Connie Chiume die?

Connie Chiume, the legend whose smile could light up any room, ed away from an undisclosed illness. Her family took to Instagram to share the news of her death, which occurred “after a period of illness.” Also in the post, they thanked the medical staff who treated her, as well as the fans who have sent in “messages of and condolences during this difficult time.”

ing Connie Chiume

The news of Connie Chiume’s death led to an outpouring of messages from notable entities and individuals. Fellow Black Panther actors, Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke are some of the stars that have shared their condolences, with Nyong’o referring to Chiume as a “library!” Furthermore, the South African government has also recognized and paid tribute to Chiume.

On X, the official handle for the government declared that the actress’ “outstanding work will always be ed.” Evidently, with a long, illustrious career that speaks for itself, and with numerous awards and nominations under her belt, Connie Chiume has left a legacy of talent behind.

Deadpool & Wolverine is now only an adamantium claw away from us, but the further afield future of the MCU is also almost in our grasp thanks to Marvel Studios’ at San Diego Comic-Con this July, which could preview as many as 20 movies and TV shows (!).

One of those? Captain America: Brave New World, which ironically for a movie starring the former Falcon, has had a deliriously difficult time taking flight. Much to the dismay of Kevin Feige and Marvel’s ants, no doubt. But first, Hugh Jackman weighs in on Deadpool 3‘s latest trailer…

Deadpool & Wolverine brings Logan’s journey full circle, but Hugh Jackman is not here for the nostalgia

Honestly, the magic of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s marketing needs to be studied as we must’ve had at least a dozen cameos spoiled at this point, but it still feels like there’s so much more to come when the movie gets here in July. Just look at the new trailer, which somehow gets us hyped for the return of Tyler Mane’s Sabretooth of all characters. One person who’s over all the nostalgia-bait, though? Hugh Jackman himself. The Australian icon took to X to share said teaser, posting it along with the in-character caption: “Stop bringing up my past!” You know he loves it really.

Black Panther‘s Letitia Wright teases more from Shuri in the MCU is on the horizon

Letitia Wright has essentially done exactly what you should do if you’re a major star who becomes at risk of getting canceled. , during the height of COVID, when Wright started sharing hardcore anti-vaxx sentiments on social media? No, I thought not, as the actress won the world over again by offering up a stellar performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and has wisely retired from socials ever since. Two years on from BP2, Wright is now hinting at an imminent return as Shuri, telling The View that “there’s a lot more to come” from the world of Wakanda in the MCU. She’s totally in Avengers 5, right?

Captain America 4‘s head-to-toe reshoots have caused the budget to soar to $375 million

Eurgh, this one stings. The much-vaunted follow-up to Marvel’s Captain America trilogy — perhaps the MCU’s finest trilogy of them all — seems to have endured one of the most shambolic production periods of any Marvel movie ever. As we already knew, the movie’s headed back before cameras after a round of wholly negative test screenings, but now some leaked details (via World of Reel) indicate just how transformative these reshoots are. Beginning in May and lasting until August, the reshoots are said to have turned it into a “brand new movie” (but maybe not a brave one) and have added a full $100 million to the budget, bringing the total figure to an eye-watering $375 million. With any luck, these reshoots have fixed all its problems, but sadly a superhero film being overhauled in post has rarely been a good thing (clue: it rhymes with Smustice Smeague).

Steve Rogers is finally back in action, with the newly unveiled game Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra seeing the newly-empowered super soldier bashing the fash in occupied Paris. Along the way, he’ll be tangling with that era’s Black Panther Azzuri, T’Challa’s grandfather, with the pair united against the same enemy but with different goals.

It’s now been five years since Avengers: Endgame, it’s nice to see Rogers slinging the shield again, and we welcome the period setting, but has Chris Evans returned for one more Marvel performance as Captain America?

Is that a digital Chris Evans?

While this game’s Steve Rogers appears to be physically inspired by Evans’ MCU character, from his facial features down to his costuming, Chris Evans will not be playing the character in the game.

In Rise of Hydra, Drew Moerlain will be playing Captain America. Moerlain has decent experience with video game performances, having appeared in Horizon Forbidden West, Red Dead Redemption II, and Grand Theft Auto V. Judging by his IMDb page this game will be a substantial step up from those titles as his previous work is mainly providing voices for background NPCs. Aside from games, Moerlain has also appeared in NCIS: New Orleans, V/H/S, and The Ballad of a Hustler.

Azzuri will be played by voice-acting veteran Khary Payton, best known for voicing Cyborg in multiple DC projects. Payton also played Ezekiel Sutton in The Walking Dead and recently appeared as The Penguin King in The Super Mario Bros Movie.

As Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra seems to be inspired by the MCU rather than set in it we wouldn’t expect any other MCU cross-casting. That said, the game is taking heavy inspiration from The First Avenger, so we’re eager to see more of what’s in store for us.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra will be released in 2025 on all major platforms.