2021 was a heck of a year for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans. After going silent in 2020, due to the pandemic, the MCU came roaring back in 2021 with 4 feature films (Black Widow, Shang-Chi, Eternals, and Spider-Man: No Way Home) and 5 series on Disney Plus (WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…? and Hawkeye). So, fans have now gotten used to a pretty heavy release schedule, so how will 2022 satisfy everyone’s need for more Marvel?
Feature Films
After 4 feature films in 2021, we only get 3 in 2022, but they are definitely 3 eagerly anticipated movies.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May 6, 2022)
It looks like this will pick up on themes developed in 2021 across WandaVision, Loki, What If…? and Spider-Man: No Way Home. In each of those shows/movies, the multiverse was introduced and explored, but we can expect the next Doctor Strange movie to start showing the consequences of all that meddling. The multiverse is likely to be a key component of the MCU Phase 4 storyline.
Thor: Love and Thunder (July 8, 2022)
Thor: Ragnorak is pretty much everyone’s favorite Thor movie to date and it really sets the stage for Love and Thunder. We can expect a similar amount of humor as the story picks up after Thor joined the Guardians of the Galaxy at the end of Avengers: Endgame. We also get a return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, who will be taking up the mantle as Thor. We’re not sure if she will be a variant (there’s that multiverse again) or the same Jane Foster we met in the first 2 Thor movies.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (November 11, 2022)
Here’s what we know about this one. Basically nothing. With the passing of Chadwick Boseman, the direction of the Black Panther franchise if very much up in the air. We do know that the role of T’Challa will not be recast. So, it seems likely we’ll see the mantle of the Black Panther passed to a new character. Other than that, we don’t know much of anything, which is exactly the way Marvel likes it.
Disney Plus Shows
If you are a fan of the Disney Plus MCU content, then get ready for another packed year of new series. As of yet, we aren’t seeing any second seasons of the original series, but do know there a second season of Loki is in the works. Still, there are some fun new shows coming in 2022. None have release dates at the moment, but we can expect the first around the middle of the year.
Ms. Marvel (mid-2022)
Meet Kamala Khan, a young girl who idolizes Captain Marvel. This will be her origin story, as she discovers her own powers. We don’t know much beyond that, or if Captain Marvel herself will make an appearance. However, this show will be a lead in to 2023’s movie, The Marvels, that will feature Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rameau (from WandaVision). This should be the first show to hit the streaming service in 2022.
Moon Knight (late 2022)
The series will introduce a new character to the MCU, Marc Spector (aka Moon Knight). Spector is a mercenary with dissociative identity disorder who is chosen by an Egyptian god to become the Moon Knight. Marvel fans have been clamoring for a Moon Knight show for years, but this is definitely a character that many people will have never heard of unless they are serious comic book fans. We’ll see how that goes and if this very odd character can win a place in the long-term MCU.
She-Hulk (late 2022)
This is actually set to be more of a comedy, as Jennifer Walters deals with being a lawyer who also happens to be She-Hulk after she gets a blood transfusion from her cousin - Bruce Banner. We’ll get to see Mark Ruffalo return as Banner/Hulk and Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany as Walters. This one should be a lot of fun.
Secret Invasion (late 2022)
Welcome back, Nick Fury! Sam Jackson will return in the role, along with Ben Mendelsohn as the Skrull Talos. While the plot hasn’t been fully revealed, the comic book series should give us some clues, including various heroes being replaced by Skrulls. This one should also tie into The Marvels in 2023.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (late 2022)
We saved the wackiest for last. What on earth can we expect from a holiday special, featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy? We might need to look back at the imminently forgettable Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978 for inspiration. The story apparently follows the Guardians as they take Groot back to his home planet to celebrate the holidays. Safe to say that as absurd as this one seems, we will probably love it.
