Marvel also announced three films for Phase 6. This is major news for fans of the MCU. We have a window into how the events of Phase 5 will culminate in Phase 6. It is important to note that while most of Phase 5 was announced, little was shared on Phase 6. There is more to come in regard to the MCU.
Fantastic Four, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Avenger: Secret Wars
Release Dates: November 8, 2024, May 2, 2025, November 7, 2025
This was a big announcement that both confirmed several fan theories and raised even more questions. Disney acquired a large portion of Fox’s film rights. As a result, the “Fantastic Four” and “X-Men” film rights are back home with Marvel. Fox gave us lackluster Fantastic Four movies. It was easy for Marvel to come in and do their magic. Kicking off Phase 6 with the Fantastic Four storyline raises questions about Nathanial Richards, a Variant of Kang the Conqueror and descendant of Reed Richards. Reed Richards (John Krasinski) first appeared in the MCU in “Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness” as a member of Earth-838’s Illuminati.
Going by the logic set forth in “Loki,” seeing Reed Richards in “Multiverse of Madness” establishes more Reed Richards and “Fantastic Four” teams across multiple dimensions. This multiverse theory will appear in the two Avengers movies announced for Phase 6. ‘Kang Dynasty” will most likely follow the events of “Loki” and “Quantumania.” As we know, there are several Kangs across multiple timelines that vie for power and control. After Sylvie kills He Who Remains, we learn that the TVA does not fall but is instead now explicitly ruled by Kang the Conqueror. Her actions may well have created new timelines and this film will seek to rectify that with the enlistment of Variants of Avengers and mutants.
“Secret Wars” may allude to the comic book storyline of a large-scale battle between different Variants of the Avengers and mutants. I expect significant amounts of fan service here similar to that of “Endgame.”
It is still too early to determine the course of the MCU. But according to Jonathon Majors’ words at Comic-Con, “There will be conquering.”