It’s 2025, and we’re still talking about the sexist backlash to Captain Marvel. Brie Larson was cast as the MCU’s very first leading heroine way back in 2016, and somehow the casting of an Oscar-winning actress in literally the lone female-led Marvel movie around at the time quickly became a lightning rod for insecure men everywhere. Despite the resulting 2019 film making over $1 billion at the box office, the online criticism the star and the character have faced has remained the biggest talking point of conversation.

Sure, 2023 sequel The Marvels tragically crashed and burned, earning just a fifth of its predecessor’s total gross globally, but that likely speaks to general superhero and Marvel burnout rather than the negligible power of X s with Joker avatars spamming social media with complaints about the “M-She-U.” Nevertheless, almost a decade later, Larson is still being quizzed on why so many “fans” didn’t like her casting, as if it’s something she ever had any control over in the first place.

Brie Larson interview turns awkward when she’s asked why some men hate Captain Marvel

In an interview with The Telegraph to promote her West End debut in a new stage production of Elektra (no, not the Daredevil character), Larson was asked by journalist Claire Allfree why some men felt threatened by her casting as the MCU’s Carol Danvers. The actress was clearly reluctant to go down this road, as she is noted to have “blankly” replied “I don’t know. I… don’t pay attention.”

When Allfree pressed the matter further, Larson responded, “What I would like you to see is that by continuing this conversation, you are putting me in connection with something that has nothing to do with me.”

Not taking no for an answer, Allfree then questioned Larson on whether she thinks female superheroes like Captain Marvel were viewed as “aberrations” by certain male audiences due to the “pigeonholing” of actresses in Hollywood. Once again, Larson wouldn’t budge: “I don’t think there is a way for me to answer that without it becoming a problem for me,” she declared.

Somehow not taking the hint yet, Allfree tried to probe further, causing Larson’s publicist to intervene and request that the interviewer move onto a different line of questioning. Honestly, Larson’s decision not to engage with this toxic conversation is likely the best tack to take. If you go back far enough, it was the actress’ comments about wanting more non-male critics and press junket journalists that kicked off the backlash in the first place, so she’s right when she implies that anything she says will be used against her.

It’s no surprise, then, that Larson seems to have grown weary of offering her opinions in interviews. In the same chat, Allfree notes that the 35-year-old appeared “unwilling to engage” on the topic of sexism in the acting industry. “I don’t feel that everything I’m saying is a stance,” was what Larson did say. “There are times that I speak out and there are times when I don’t.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Larson speaks about how much Carol means to her — referencing how she has brought Danvers’ “agency, her sense of self” into her everyday life — so her reluctance to talk about the negative parts of playing the character doesn’t necessarily mean she’s putting the role behind her. Whether she returns for Avengers: Doomsday and/or Secret Wars or not, though, (and we hope she does), can we all agree to stop asking Larson the same question? It’s hardly fair that while other Marvel heroes get such descriptors as “amazing” and “incredible” in front of their names, it’s always the Controversial Captain Marvel.

Fans have become so familiar with Brie Larson’s supersuit that a recent picture of the Marvel star in a bikini has sent them into overdrive, to the point of asking for her hand in marriage. 

The Captain Marvel star shared a bunch of images from a recent weekend-long trip to Mexico, and while there’s vicarious fun to be found in all the snaps of beaches, tacos and drag queen performances, it’s the shot of Larson in a black bikini that fans are truly marveling at (I’m sorry, I had to). 

The photo in question shows Larson chilling beachside in a stunning one-piece bikini, having a giggle and enjoying what looks to be a tropical-flavored cocktail (vacation goals!). Naturally, Larson’s beach-bound look caught the attention of legions of hopeful fiancés, with one presumably Mexican fan outright declaring that Larson “can marry me and have both nationalities.” 

One even envisioned “sharing the rest of our lives together,” with another writing they “could never get tired of looking into your eyes.” Elsewhere, fans described Larson as “my heaven” and “my sunshine”, and said that they “we will be fantastic and amazing together.” Meanwhile, I can’t even get the person on Tinder to reply to me. 

So plentiful are the declarations of love that Larson would be wise to compile them to use as her actual wedding vows which — much to these fans’ dismay — will probably be saved for her artist boyfriend Alex Greenwald, not the random s in her comments section. 

Those eagle-eyed fans who looked beyond the bikini picture would have seen what looks to be a fabulous Mexican holiday, with Larson snapping everything from adorable chihuahuas in a nightclub to hotel room mirror selfies and a pit-stop at a Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant. 

In the accompanying caption, the Oscar-winning actress listed off even more highlights from the trip, like losing her sunglasses in the ocean after being “smashed by a big wave,” seeing old friends, and somehow avoiding a hangover. 

Making me even more jealous, Larson made the trip to attend the wedding of Joanna Bennett, the actress’ longtime friend who served as her body double for Captain Marvel. Alongside that credit, Bennett has also done stunt and body double work on Aquaman and Justice League, so her new husband probably thinks twice before getting on her bad side. 

“I love you so much!” Bennett wrote amongst the swathes of thirsty fans in Larson’s comments section. “Thank you for being there on our big day my bestie for the restie.”

Unsurprisingly, it’s not the first time Larson has endeared fans with an all-black outfit, since a recent photoshoot of the actress in a simple black dress was show-stopping enough to launch calls that she be cast in the next James Bond film.

Then, fans demanded Larson take on the role of Tinkerbell after she shared images of herself in a green slip dress. At this rate, Larson should forgo the traditional audition process and simply wear a movie-inspired outfit to secure her next big role. 

In other Larson news, the actress celebrated turning 35 earlier this month on an extremely popular date for celebrity birthdays, sharing the day with fellow birthday celebrators Julie Andrews, Emerald Fennell, and Zach Galifianakis.

For all its faults, Marvel has stuck by Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel even after both the actress and the character were subjected to a senseless hate campaign that wound up affecting 2023’s The Marvels, resulting in the worst box office performance in MCU history. Thankfully, the studio is reportedly standing its ground and counting on the Oscar winner to lead the Avengers double-bill coming our way in 2026 and 2027.

The information comes from trusted Marvel insider Alex Perez of The Cosmic Circus, who told the website’s readers to expect great things from the Avenger. It seems Carol will be leading this new version of the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes post-Endgame alongside Anthony Mackie’s Captain America as they take on Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

“Thank you for never giving up on her @MarvelStudios… it’s been really hard on her,” one fan wrote on X, with others celebrating the news with various memes and gifs. “This is how I win,” another Carol enthusiast gloated.

While the news doesn’t exactly come as a surprise considering Carol has held a prominent role in the Avengers comics for years now, fans of the character were beginning to get a little anxious following the disastrous The Marvels roll out. To say this is a relief may be an understatement.

The problems began with deceitful trailers that mentioned and featured images from Endgame despite the movie barely touching on the events of the 2019 blockbuster. Deceitful reviews painted the film as the worst thing Marvel had ever made when it’s undoubtedly better, more sincere, and more entertaining than the likes of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and Thor: Love & Thunder.

Multiple articles also targeted director Nia DaCosta, twisting her easily explainable early exit during the film’s post-production phase and her absence from the cast and crew screening into disdain and carelessness for the project. The result was a worldwide box office of $206.1 million that didn’t come close to The Marvels‘ estimated break-even point of $439.6 million.

The reception was a stark contrast to Captain Marvel. The 2019 film, released in between the two major Avengers movies that wrapped up Marvel’s Infinity Saga, grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide, becoming the first female-led superhero film to the billion-dollar mark. The dip in the character’s popularity becomes a lot clearer, however, when you take into the backlash Brie Larson received after she dared to suggest that the Hollywood film critic pool, and particularly the Marvel fandom, weren’t diverse enough, which could impact the unbiasedness of their opinions. Everything changed from that point on, and suddenly the actress’s public image went from likable goofball to stand-offish.

The same thing has happened across male-dominated franchises that have tried to diversify their storytelling only to be met with reactionary boycott missions. It’s come to a point where studios have had to take over stars’ social media to protect them from the abuse and doxxing threats. In a less inspired idea, they have also begun forming fan-led focus groups to anticipate what might rub them the wrong way.

Still, those who were sensible enough to understand where Larson was coming from, and who appreciate her run as Captain Marvel couldn’t be more excited to see her glow again as the face of the Avengers. Plenty of “this is what she deserves” and “ready to defend her with my life” were had in commemoration.

Avengers: Doomsday is expected to hit theaters in May 2026 with Avengers: Secret Wars following a year later. With Daniel Cretton, a frequent Brie Larson collaborator, landing the Spider-Man 4 director gig, Captain Marvel fans are hoping to see more of their favorite superhero around those shores, too.

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.

To quote the Distinguished Competition, you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. In the unique case of Robert Downey Jr., however, he’s managed to do both. After the sacrificial death of Iron Man in Endgame, the Tony Stark legend is back for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars as Victor Von Doom himself.

In a twist none could have predicted, Downey is once again at the center of a two-part Avengers event, only this time on the side of evil. Last time it took Iron Man himself to take down Thanos, so which of Earth-616’s remaining heroes is mighty enough to beat the only man to both save and potentially destroy the Marvel universe? Honestly, it’s possible even the studio hasn’t worked this out yet, as Downey is the only formal casting announcement we have for these two movies.

For the moment, it’s up to the fandom to name their own choices for who could face up to the Downey Doom — and three contenders have risen to the top of the pack. There are now literally dozens of Avengers running around the cosmos, but clearly the world is in need of a new Big Three — like Tony, Steve Rogers, and Thor were in the Infinity Saga — to lead the charge against Victor. Enter these guys.

As pitched by @mcuspideydaily in a viral tweet, the Multiverse Saga’s Big Three could be Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Sam Wilson’s Captain America (Anthony Mackie), and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson). “THIS is the trio I want from the next Avengers film,” they argued. “I know they would have such a good dynamic.”

These are three smart choices to build Doomsday and Secret Wars around, for sure, each for a different reason. For starters, as soon as Downey’s Doom casting was announced, everyone went “Oh, Peter’s gonna be heartbroken.” The idea of Spidey fighting a man with the face of his beloved mentor could easily be the emotional lynchpin of the entire film. Similarly, having a character like Sam, who is still grappling with upholding the legacy of the founding Avengers, battle a variant of the original Avenger is dripping with thematic resonance. Meanwhile, Carol Danvers remains the Avengers’ biggest gun, and giving her a prominent role in Doomsday would be a massive vote of confidence in Larson after the unfair reception of The Marvels.

Having said all that, expanding the trio to a quartet and adding Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange into the mix wouldn’t be so bad either.

Counter-point: Shuri’s Black Panther, anyone?

Of those not mentioned, other heroes deserving of a hefty chunk of screentime in Avengers 5 and 6 include Shang-Chi (one of Phase Four’s most popular additions, bizarrely not seen since his introduction), Scarlet Witch (due a redemption after her Doctor Strange 2 character assassination), and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, for, if nothing else, the fanboy thrill of having Jackman battle arguably the only Marvel star who matches up to him in longevity and legendary status.

There may be some assembly required before Avengers: Doomsday is ready to take over the world, but all the pieces are coming together to make May 2026 the most exciting Marvel month since Endgame‘s release seven years prior.

Deadpool & Wolverine may be the only two heroes with their names in the title, but the third movie outing for the Merc with the Mouth is expected to be a-flush with fan-favorites from both the X-Men and the MCU making mind-blowing cameos.

The trailers so far have already given away that a litany of Fox legacy stars will put in an appearance, which has left fans thinking “Well, if they’re showing us these guys then who have they still got up their sleeves">Avengers: Secret Wars.

Marvel finally released the trailer for the first official MCU movie of the year, Deadpool & Wolverine. Headed by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, the action comedy is one of the most anticipated Marvel movies in recent memory, as it marks Deadpool’s introduction to the MCU as well as the on-screen debut of one of the most hilarious heroic duos in the comics.

The trailer did a clever job of keeping its cards close to its chest while still giving fans more than enough to get excited about. Peppered with bits of inspired dialogue (“LFG!!!”) that displayed the hilarious dynamic between the titular characters, we also got a glimpse of the threat they will be facing: the one and only Cassandra Nova. She will be played by Emma Corrin, and her appearance in the trailer has stirred fans’ anticipation for one of the X-Men’s most formidable villains. 

With the introduction of another super-powered woman to MCU canon, fans want to know how she stands against the universe’s current powerhouse ⏤ Captain Marvel, for example.

Who is Cassandra Nova and what powers does she have?

Cassandra Nova is the evil twin sister of Professor Charles Xavier, the patriarch of the X-Men and one of the most powerful mutants in the world. She was an alien parasite called a Mummudrai who cloned Charles Xavier’s DNA to give herself a physical body and shared a womb with him. Charles sensed her evil heart and attempted to kill her, resulting in her first body being stillborn. However, she formed a new body and swore to destroy the world, fueled by her thirst for vengeance.

Cassandra Nova is a telepath, much like her brother, as she copied his DNA to create her body. Nonetheless, her power has sured even his. Alongside all of Professor X’s mutant powers, she also has her Mummudrai powers, which allow her to mimic the DNA of any sentient being. Therefore, she can also manipulate DNA, jumpstart latent mutant powers in people, or even shut them down. Yikes! Moreover, she can phase through solid objects and astral project as well, which are also features of her alien DNA.

Cassandra Nova vs. Captain Marvel: Who comes out on top?

Cassandra Nova is undeniably one of the greatest threats that the X-Men have ever faced. She’s formidable not only because of her power, but also because of her single-minded focus when it comes to achieving her goals. There are no lines she isn’t willing to cross and she has nothing to lose, which makes her an even bigger threat. In one of the most memorable stories about Cassandra Nova, she massacred the mutant island of Genosha without hesitation. 

In the same vein, when it comes to raw power, few comic book characters can compare to Captain Marvel. Her energy manipulation and absorption powers render most attacks against her useless. However, Cassandra Nova doesn’t only deliver physical attacks, but mental as well. This is why she might get the upper hand over Captain Marvel. Notably, Cassandra Nova was able to enter the mind of even Charles Xavier when she took over his body and outed him as a mutant to the world. As that’s a pretty insane feat, Captain Marvel probably doesn’t stand a chance. Plus, let’s be real: the ongoing Brie Larson situation would also likely play a part in how a battle between the two characters played out.

In conclusion, if it boils down to brute strength, Captain Marvel will probably beat Cassandra Nova. But the latter’s advantage comes with her ability to play the best mind games, which makes her the overall stronger fighter. Sorry Cap, but it looks like Nova’s got this one in the bag.

A funny thing happened on The Marvels‘ way to streaming. Despite releasing in theaters to widespread disinterest in November, once the MCU sequel hit digital people suddenly started giving it some much-needed positive attention.

Sure enough, upon its arrival on Disney Plus, the film that seemed destined to become the most forgotten and least-viewed Marvel Studios production earned itself a surprising groundswell of popularity and some enduring chart-topping powers. “Hey, I wish I saw this in cinemas,” said a whole bunch of folks, while those that did and enjoyed it glared at the camera like Jim from The Office.

Speaking of John Krasinski, he definitely won’t be reprising his role as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four, which promises to carve out an exciting new corner of the MCU. Marvel’s First Family have one of the richest rosters of associated characters in all of comics, so Kevin Feige and company will no doubt be hoping to fuel years’ worth of storylines based around them. But could the rise of the Silver Surfer lead to the crushing downfall of Carol Danvers?

Silver Surfer spin-off claims could be bad news for Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel

Hot on the heels of The Fantastic Four announcement, a rumor has emerged that a Silver Surfer spin-off is in the works at Marvel Studios. As has been suspected for the longest time, Norrid Radd is said to be making his way to the MCU in The Fantastic Four, with Marvel supposedly on the hunt for an actor as you read these words. This is totally uncorroborated as yet, but it does come from insider Daniel Richtman, who claimed that Pedro Pascal was playing Reed Richards before that was officially confirmed.

Silver Surfer is easily one of the most important characters Marvel inherited from Fox because, despite only making the one movie appearance to date, he’s one of the most integral cosmic characters in Marvel’s canon. You could even argue that he’s Marvel’s single most integral cosmic character. And that’s why the studio apparently being keen to promote him to leading status could be bad news for Carol Danvers, who currently stands as the MCU’s top-tier extraterrestrial tentpole.

As The Marvels made clear, by pairing her up with heroes from Ms. Marvel, WandaVision, and Secret Invasion, not to mention using her movie to set up the coming of the X-Men, Carol certainly was viewed as an anchor for the entire MCU. However, with the film underperforming so drastically there’s every chance that Marvel is working on pivoting focus away from her. Just look at how we’ve learned that Kang’s role was already being decreased after Quantumania bombed, before Jonathan Majors’ legal troubles came to light.

Larson herself remains cagey about her Marvel future, but even if she does end up returning for Avengers 5 and Secret Wars, there’s a decent chance that, in a few years time, space might not have enough space for both Captain Marvel and Silver Surfer.

Kenneth Mitchell was a Canadian actor, known for his time on Star Trek: Discovery, as well as his brief stint in the MCU movie, Captain Marvel. Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and made this news public in 2020, although the disease had already progressed to the point of him needing a wheelchair by 2019. 

ALS is a terminal neurological disease that affects the nervous system and causes people to lose control of their muscles. It is degenerative, so Mitchell slowly lost control of his limbs, and then his voice. His family shared an obituary post to social media following his death, which included a poem penned by Mitchell detailing how he wants to be ed by his family and friends. 

Who did Mitchell play in Captain Marvel?

The 2019 superhero origin story of Carol Danvers featured a very talented cast, including Kenneth Mitchell who played Joseph Danvers, the superhero’s father. We see his character in one of the many flashbacks of the movie that show Carol getting her memories back. 

Joseph Danvers was somewhat hard on his daughter, as he and his wife tended to favor their son, Carol’s older brother Steve, over their younger child. In the flashback, we see him yelling at her for her repeated participation in sports which he deems dangerous and unsuitable for her because she is a girl. However, this doesn’t faze Carol or cause her to lose her nerves. Instead, we see her channel his words as well as the words of everyone else who didn’t believe in her at multiple points in the movie.

Mitchell’s portrayal of Joseph Danvers wasn’t too different from his comic book counterpart, though some details about his character were not explored in the movie. For example, Joseph Danvers in the comics was a former Navy officer and a widower when he met Marie, Carol’s mother. Another change the movie made was making Carol Danvers fully human, unlike in the comics where she is half-Kree due to her mother being Kree. The comic version of Joseph Danvers had to deal with the realization that his wife was an alien and later came to accept Carol’s powers. 

His family’s statements  

Mitchell’s role in the movie, though small, was memorable, though his family has shared that his work is not what he will be best ed for. In the obituary, it was written that while Mitchell played a host of characters during his career, he will be best ed for his ions and interpersonal relationships. 

The emotional write-up touched on his five-year struggle with ALS and how he was able to maintain his joy and positive outlook on life despite it. The obituary detailed his many ions and strengths, particularly emphasizing his dedication to fatherhood and family. Mitchell is survived by his wife, two children, his parents, and a brother.

While many may not the actor appearing as Carol Danvers’ father, Joseph Danvers, in 2019’s Captain Marvel, it is hard to forget Kenneth Mitchell’s Joshua in Nancy Drew, his four different roles in Star Trek: Discovery, him as Eric Green in Jericho, and so many more memorable characters that came to life thanks to him. Sadly, his wonderful career and loving family are all we have left to Mitchell as he ed away on Feb. 24, 2024, at the age of 49.

His family, including his wife actress Susan May Pratt and two children, has shared the tragic news with The Hollywood Reporter in their statement, revealing that the Switched at Birth star ed away in Los Angeles after suffering from complications of ALS.

“Kenny was the keeper of countless enduring friendships. Like a massive star exploding with kindness, pureness, and a particular brand of silly, you were pulled right into his orbit. Once captured, Kenny could bathe you in positivity, comion, thoughtfulness, and hilarity, and make you feel so loved.”

Kenneth was a giver, a listener, a sentimental and an excellent observer of his surroundings,” his family further added. “One of his most endearing qualities as a friend is that Kenny loved to watch others shine. He was a conductor of connecting friends together and thoroughly enjoyed prompting a good story …and boy oh boy did he love to laugh. He absolutely loved to laugh.”

What is ALS disease and what are its symptoms?

It was in 2018 that Mitchell first discovered that he had ALS i.e., Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or as it is more infamously known as – Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the renowned basketball player, Henry Louis Gehrig, who was first diagnosed with it at the age of 36 and died at 38. 

As described by Johns Hopkins Medicine, ALS is a “fatal type of motor neuron disease” that has no cure. It has a debilitating effect on nerves and muscles, where the nerve cells in the spinal cord and the brain degenerate at a progressive rate. It starts with something as small as weakness in a limb, trouble swallowing, or slurring while talking and eventually escalates to majorly hampering the functionality of limbs, often leading to paralysis, inability to speak properly, laughing or crying uncontrollably for certain periods, weakened motor control, etc.

In an interview with People in 2020, Mitchell shared how surreal it felt to discover that he has ALS.

“That’s what it felt like, like I was watching that scene where someone is being told that they have a terminal illness. It was just a complete disbelief, a shock.” 

The condition led Mitchell to use a wheelchair since October 2019 and used it in the shows he appeared post that, playing roles specifically created for him, like FBI Agent Joe in The Old Man and Aurellio in Star Trek: Discovery. 

It’s no secret that Marvel movies change a lot over the course of their production — reshoots are par for the course for the MCU, as the studio adjusts story developments in response to test screener reactions or to better tie into other projects. It sounds like The Marvels went through an even bigger metamorphosis than most, however, as the film’s own villain has itted that she originally had the distinction of succeeding where Thanos and Yon-Rogg failed before her: killing Captain Marvel.

Typically, details about Marvel’s deleted scenes and alternate cuts are top-secret, but Dar-Benn actress Zawe Ashton came clean about a surprising cut ending to The Marvels while speaking to ComicBook.com. Ashton itted that the movie originally ended with Carol Danvers and Dar-Benn killing each other in an epic, tragic climactic sequence, one that would’ve deprived the MCU of arguably its most powerful hero. According to Ashton:

“There was another ending that we did film where Brie and myself are kind of in space still having it out, and they kind of combust together, which was really amazing, and that was just a day on wires hanging out with Brie, which is surreal and fun. But yeah, there were a few different plans, I think.”

Ashton went on to add that an “epic death” for Carol was thought to be the way to go to conclude her character arc and absolve the heroine of her lingering guilt from what she had done to the Kree planet, Hala.

“There was always going to be an epic death just because in of, I just think in of just bringing that story psychologically for Carol to a close I think was always the best thing,” Ashton continued. “You don’t want to think, did she defeat her? Is this over? Is she going to be kind of doomed to this life of feeling guilty about this whole thing forever and ever">even if Captain Marvel 3 never happens.

]]> https://wegotthiscovered.isosite.org/movies/the-marvels-coming-this-close-to-killing-off-captain-marvel-tells-us-all-we-need-to-know-about-brie-larsons-mcu-future/feed/ 0 1659129 https://wegotthiscovered.isosite.org/movies/latest-marvel-news-the-marvels-retconned-mcu-canon-and-nobody-noticed-as-daredevil-born-again-confirms-what-we-already-suspected/ https://wegotthiscovered.isosite.org/movies/latest-marvel-news-the-marvels-retconned-mcu-canon-and-nobody-noticed-as-daredevil-born-again-confirms-what-we-already-suspected/#respond Sat, 27 Jan 2024 18:23:40 +0000 https://wegotthiscovered.isosite.org/?p=1652825 And Tom Cruise, the MCU is coming for you...]]>

Random shower thought of the day: Marvel really owes a lot to the Top Gun franchise.

Not only is Captain Marvel very openly just “Top Gun with superpowers,” but so many of the cast of Top Gun: Maverick have been hoovered up by the MCU at this point. And one more has just entered the cockpit. No, it’s not Tom Cruise, but don’t worry, his time will come.

Elsewhere, speaking of Captain Marvel, it turns out The Marvels dropped a massive retcon to its own canon that we’ve only just noticed thanks to its Disney Plus release. Allow me to explain…

MCU fans are only just realizing how The Marvels slipped in a major retcon of Captain Marvel lore

Of all the things we took for granted that The Marvels would do, keeping continuity with its own origins movie was at the top of the list, but apparently not. With the film now on streaming, a massive continuity error has come to light that fans have just belatedly noticed. Although, considering so few people saw The Marvels in theaters, we can let them off.

As Redditors pointed out, the shot of the Supreme Intelligence, featured in a flashback to Carol on the Kree planet Hala, contradicts what we learned in Captain Marvel — that no one had seen its true form. However, it does align with a deleted scene from that film, seemingly making that canon over what is, you know, actually canon. Basically, it’s put our concept of canon into a cannon and fired it into a canyon.

Daredevil: Born Again set pics seem to promise that your dearest wishes are coming true

Although things looked as hairy as Wilson Fisk is bald for a while there, Daredevil: Born Again‘s bottom-up creative overhaul actually seems to be for the best. Not only is Bullseye back, but our first set pics have arrived following filming resuming at the top of the week and they seemingly confirm a tantalizing rumor that’s been swirling these last few weeks. Namely, that Karen and Foggy are indeed returning!

Photos show the hero working in an office with the sign “Nelson, Murdock & Page.” Although we haven’t seen Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson on location as yet, it surely has to be just a matter of time, right? I swear, if they’re actually shooting a scene where the building is blown up and the pair die off-screen, it will be the entire fandom’s villain origin story.

Thunderbolts might’ve found its Sentry as Top Gun: Maverick star circles the MCU (no, not that one)

The news that Steven Yeun had left Thunderbolts came like a bolt from the blue earlier this month, as it meant the debut of one of the MCU’s most intriguing superheroes was up in the air. It looks like Marvel may finally have found its Sentry, however. According to THR, we should be getting ready to welcome Top Gun: Maverick star Lewis Pullman into the MCU family, as he’s reportedly in early talks to take over Yeun’s vacated role. If he does board the film, he’ll be the sixth Maverick actor to enter the Marvel multiverse. We’re just waiting on Tom Cruise to practically complete the set. Fingers crossed for that Superior Iron Man cameo in Avengers: Secret Wars!

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