Marvel announces Captain Marvel, Black Panther films as part of their Phase 3 slate

Carol Danvers will be the MCU’s first female superhero to headline her own film, with Captain Marvel in 2018, Marvel announced at a massive event today. But first, they’re planning a Black Panther film, starring Get on Up’s Chadwick Boseman, for 2017. Boseman will first appear in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, along with vets Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. (Who tweeted a backstage picture of the three.)

And that’s not all. Marvel has revealed their (nearly complete?) slate for Phase 3, which also includes Doctor Strange, a Guardians of the Galaxy sequel, Thor: Ragnarok, the much-rumored Inhumans and a two-part Avengers: Infinity War.

The Wrap reported yesterday that Benedict Cumberbatch (of course) is in negotiations for Strange, but Marvel did not announce any new cast aside from Boseman. Civil War and RDJ’s involvement were also rumored a few weeks back. The Civil War comic series was fairly controversial (I saw a few fans describe it as Marvel’s New Jedi Order) but the movie version will take a slightly different angle.

Still no standalone Black Widow (or Hulk) films, but Captain Marvel and Black Panther are a big step forward… Hopefully not the last.