Marvel movie news wrap-up: Fantastic Four movie (!), Shang Chi cast, Ant-Man 3, Captain Marvel 2

After announcing 5 news Marvel shows for Disney+ and providing updates on a handful of other highly-anticipated shows earlier today via the Disney investor call, Marvel released details on Phase 4 of the MCU.

The most surprising announcement was for an upcoming Fantastic Four film, directed by Spider-Man’s Jon Watts. The Fantastic Four rights were previously held by Fox and have since reverted back to Marvel. The news comes five years after Josh Trank’s universally-panned Fantastic Four film.

Marvel unveiled the cast for Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, starring Canada’s own Simu Liu of Kim’s Convenience in the title role. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s friend Katy, Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu, and Ronny Chieng, and is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.

Brie Larson will return as Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel 2, out on November 11, 2022. Directed by Nia DaCosta (the upcoming Candyman), the film also stars Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel, who will also star in her own Disney+ show.

Christian Bale will co-star in the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder as the villain Gorr the God Butcher. The film strikes down on May 6, 2022.

Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Spider-Man) will return to Marvel to direct Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness. Currently in production, the film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Benedict Wong (Wong), Rachel McAdams (Christine Palmer), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Mordo), Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff), and newcomer Xochitl Gomez. The film lands in theaters on March 25, 2022.

Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly return for the third Ant-Man film, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Directed by Peyton Reed, the film introduces Kathryn Newton as Ant-Man’s daughter, with Michael Douglas as Dr. Hank Pym, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne. The film also stars Jonathan Majors as the mighty cosmic villain Kang the Conqueror, which might point to more of a sci-fi element for the film. No release date has been announced yet.

Finally, Marvel provided a few details on the upcoming Black Panther II. Following the tragic death of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, the studio confirmed that they will not recast the character and that the sequel will “continue to explore the incomparable world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film.” Looks like it’s Shuri’s time in the spotlight! Written and directed by Ryan Coogler (who helmed the first film), Black Panther II arrives on July 8, 2022.