Everything Kevin Feige Has Revealed About The MCU's Future During CAPTAIN MARVEL's Press Tour

How did Marvel choose which characters to kill off in Avengers: Infinity War, and does Stan Lee make an appearance in Endgame? All these questions and more are answered by Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige...

By JoshWilding - Mar 06, 2019 08:03 AM EST

Filed Under: Captain Marvel

With Captain Marvel about to rocket into theaters, the press tour is winding down and, as per usual, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has provided plenty of exciting updates about the Marvel Cinematic Universe's future. There was plenty for him to talk about this time around, including Marvel's plans for Disney+ and what we should expect from Avengers: Endgame.

Now, we've rounded up all the most noteworthy quotes from Feige (some have been featured on the site, but others haven't) to bring you the biggest reveals about the MCU's future.

Below, you'll find updates on the Captain Marvel sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Endgame's running time, and a whole lot more. At this point, Feige knows how to get us excited for what comes next and that includes when the Phase 4 slate will be unveiled.

So, to check out this breakdown, all you guys have to do is hit the "View List" button...

We're Going To Waiting A Long Time For GOTG Vol. 3

Before James Gunn was fired by Disney for those controversial Tweets, the plan was for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 to be released next year. Unfortunately, it's been clear for a while now that's not happening and Feige confirmed as much when he said that Marvel Studios is now focusing on other projects for the time being.

"I mean, when it was pushed back, it was pushed back," he explained. "Meaning the release date, because it’s not coming out—although we’ve never announced a release date actually, but it was gonna happen sooner rather than later, initially of course. Outside of knowing that we’re gonna use [James Gunn’s] draft, [we have] been focusing on other projects."

The Eternals Will Be A Truly Epic Marvel Movie

There's a lot of excitement surrounding the introduction of The Eternals in the MCU and Feige has made it clear that, like the Guardians of the Galaxy, we'll meet them as a group without any set up beforehand.

"Jack Kirby did an immense, amazing epic with Eternals that spans tens of thousands of years, and that’s also something we haven’t really done, which is why that among many other things post-Endgame, we find appealing." In other words, this could be a movie that delves into various eras of the MCU, exploring moments in history we never expected to see.

Why Captain Marvel Isn't Wearing A Skimpy Costume

Much to the disappointment of some comic book fans, Brie Larson isn't wearing a skimpy, Ms. Marvel style costume in the Captain Marvel movie. It seemed unlikely that we would ever see that in live-action (especially as it's so dated and Carol Danvers has been rebranded "Captain Marvel") but Feige still offered an explanation for why Marvel Studios avoided that.

"If you look at the comics, the further you go back, the less clothes Carol Danvers seems to be wearing," he explained. "Oftentimes it's a one-piece bathing suit basically, with outrageous comic proportions. … Brie pointed it out on the wall, and we went, 'Yeah … just so you know, that's not what we're doing.' She goes, 'OK. I didn't think so, but I'm glad you said that.'"

Marvel's Disney+ TV Shows Will Be Set Firmly In The MCU

"They will be entirely interwoven with both the current MCU, the past MCU, and the future of the MCU,"Feige said when asked about the Disney+ TV shows revolving around characters like Scarlet Witch and Loki.

He also went on to reveal that the characters featured will "undergo transformations in their series and those transformations will be reflected in their next film appearances because we’ve been developing long-form narrative stories for Disney plus at the exact same time that we’ve been developing a post-[Avengers: Endgame] MCU."

Why Marvel Studios Held Off On Revealing The Avengers 4 Title

Marvel Studios kept us waiting for the Avengers: Endgame title and that infuriated a lot of fans, especially when we were forced to deal with so much speculation and rumours. Now, Feige has said that the reason they waited to tell us all that was because it would have spoiled Infinity War.

"[It] was a spoiler, because if you knew before Infinity War came out that the next movie was called Endgame, then you know that there wasn’t an ending to Infinity War. But that had been the title of the movie from the moment we conceived of doing the two films. In large part, because…it’s seeded right there. I mean, it’s seeded in Ultron."

Do we believe him? It's a decent explanation but you have to believe Marvel Studios enjoyed the attention the title reveal received.

The Captain Marvel Sequel Could Go To Some "Amazing" Places

While all the signs are pointing to Captain Marvel being a huge box office hit, it's understandable that Marvel Studios isn't ready to commit to a sequel just yet. Feige, however, believes that the origin story sets the stage for a follow-up that can take the character in some very exciting directions.

"The making of a first film is in some ways a brainstorm on the future and on what can be," he said. "So what it will be again is not clear. But what it could be is pretty amazing."

Will We See Ms. Marvel In That Sequel?

As popular as Captain Marvel may be, there are many fans out there who are even more excited to see Ms. Marvel brought to the big screen. While Kamala Khan doesn't make any sort of appearance in the first movie, it sounds like the door is open for her to appear in the follow-up.

"No, I think she's a contemporary story," he explained. "I don't think she was a little kid in 1990. I'm not sure she was born in 1995. This is the first step towards introducing her hero is how you begin to bring her about at some point."

Black Widow Was Never Going To Be R-Rated

In recent months, we've heard rumblings that Black Widow will be Marvel Studios' first R-Rated movie and while that always seemed highly unlikely, it wasn't until the Captain Marvel press tour that Feige finally confirmed that won't end up happening.

"It never was going to be," he said. "Somebody writes, 'I hear it's R-rated!' And then everybody writes it up." That's no great surprise, especially after Disney CEO Bob Iger recently said that any R-Rated movies will be released under the Fox banner.

He Wants You To Stop Worrying About Running Times

There's been a lot of talk about Avengers: Endgame boasting a three-hour running time but Feige believes people need to stop getting so fixated on that before a movie is released.

"I think running times get way too much attention pre-release of films," he said. "We’re gonna release the movie at the exact right running time. I’m telling you this, it’s gonna be perfect. It’s gonna be the exact running time that the movie needs to be. [Every] version of Endgame thus far, and the ones that we’re honing in on, feel very good."

He also pointed out that Marvel Studios isn't under any sort of mandate and they want every movie to feel like it's only an hour and forty-five minutes long and not a drag to sit through.

The Potential Of The Quantum Realm

It's widely believed that the Quantum Realm will play a key role in Avengers: Endgame but Feige was quick to point out that there's a lot of potential to continue exploring that mysterious dimension in the MCU moving forward (which could explain those Black Knight rumours we've been hearing lately).

"I think really important," he said when asked how much it will factor into plans moving forward. "I think it's one of the fun things about the comics that allow you to explore entirely new terrains. And we've hinted at it now in numerous films and it's untapped, primarily untapped potential."

Marvel Studios Could Go Back To Releasing Just Two Movies A Year

In 2020, all we're getting is Black Widow and The Eternals. That's no bad thing, of course, but it's something of a change for Marvel Studios as they've been releasing three movies a year in recent years. Now, Feige has revealed that they're content sticking to two a year and there's no mandate from Disney to do as many as three.

"There are no mandates to make any more than two films a year," he confirmed. "As we've seen in the last couple years, when it naturally happens and when there are ideas and when there are teams ready to go, we're not going to hold something back. We'll make it."

Stan Lee Will Have An Avengers: Endgame Cameo

On the Captain Marvel red carpet, Feige confirmed the late, great Stan "The Man" Lee will make a cameo appearance in Avengers: Endgame and while his Spider-Man: Far From Home status isn't clear right now, at least we know that this movie won't be his final big screen appearance in the MCU.

No One Is Safe

We're all expecting some big deaths in Avengers: Endgame but Feige revealed in one interview that despite how powerful the likes of Captain Marvel and Thor may be, they're not immortal and that means no one is safe even after that massive ensemble movie.

"I think, as with some of the other characters you've mentioned, there are no characters — certainly no Marvel characters — that are invulnerable and that are immortal," Feige said. "They can all be killed at some point as Loki says to Thor in Avengers 1. So we may see that at some point, introduce that at some point." Who's next on the chopping block? Time will tell...

How Avengers: Infinity War's Dusted Characters Were Chosen

Infinity War obviously featured a lot of big character deaths and after confirming that Marvel Studios knew who would be dusted from fairly early on, Feige attempted to offer an explanation for why certain heroes had to meet their maker during the final act.

"Seeing T’Challa go right after his first appearance, seeing Spider-Man go in Peter Parker after that relationship had been established between he and Tony Stark. And it also was designed to leave behind the original Avengers because Endgame very much follows their story," he revealed.

"The end of Infinity War was traumatizing for us. It was traumatizing as we made it, as we shot, as we cut it together, as the visual effects starting coming in, and when we started to screen it was pretty amazing to see people sit there in shock that it had actually ended that way."

James Gunn Wasn't As Important To The MCU As Reported

It's been said that James Gunn was going to be a mastermind of sorts, overseeing a "Marvel Cosmic Universe," but then he was fired and that left Marvel Studios' plans in disarray. Not so, according to Feige.

"[James Gunn's] influence was Guardians. It was Guardians," he explained. "It was his input on Guardians and the Avengers films, as you've seen in Infinity War, and on the Guardians 3 script, which we’re still using. So you'll see that influence. I think online, sort of the notion of ‘architect across multiple cosmic things’ was slightly blown out of proportion."

While Gunn's script for Vol. 3 will still be used, it appears as if that's as far as his influence is going to stretch in the MCU now.

A Phase 4 Slate Reveal Is Still A Way Off

While fans were hoping that a Phase 4 slate reveal would come shortly after Avengers: Endgame reaches theaters, Feige has confirmed that it won't actually be unveiled until after Spider-Man: Far From Home's release. Even then, it doesn't sound like everything will be revealed and we already have a pretty good idea of the movies which are coming our way over the next few years anyway!

Has Kevin Feige got you more excited about the MCU's future? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts on these reveals in the comments section below.

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55 Comments

1 2

Subtlespammer24 - 3/6/2019, 8:05 AM

So maybe they set up to where we can work our way up to some sideboob in Captain Marvel sequels

rabid - 3/6/2019, 8:09 AM

What about the rumor that they're holding an Avengers vs Xmen announcement until after Avengers 4?

bobevanz - 3/6/2019, 8:49 AM

@rabid - I hope that isn't true, I hated AvX

rabid - 3/6/2019, 9:28 AM

@bobevanz - I doubt they'd use that story for the blueprint. I've been saying for years that Hickman's Infinity run was their blueprint for combining the MCU and Fox universes. That story ended with Thanos' defeat, the Avengers getting the gems, accidentally collapsing all the alternate realities until there were only two left (616 and Ultimate). Then those realities clashed and blended into one. I think they'd probably use that story, but with the X-universe taking place of the Ultimate one. That's why a big chunk of Infinity War was borrowed from that arc.

Argetlam22 - 3/6/2019, 9:43 AM

@rabid - The rumor is they will adapt Fantastic 4 for the big screen and save X-Men for Disney+. No need for Avengers vs X-Men until after F4 is in place. Especially if they plan to include that side of Marvel in the crossover. It sounds like the X-Men will be strictly street level for the time being anyway, taking care of domestic trouble while the big guns are saving galaxies and stopping planetary level threats.

rabid - 3/6/2019, 10:05 AM

@Argetlam22 - Ideally the two stories could be connected by both using the Quantum realm. Introduced FF first makes sense because they need Doom and Reed to finish the plot of Hickman's Infinity. I predict A4 will end with Thanos being imprisoned and the gems in the hands of the Illuminati, unaware that their use of the quantum realm broke the universe.

Argetlam22 - 3/6/2019, 10:17 AM

@rabid - Another rumor is that the Infinity Stones will be destroyed (which makes sense if you want to avoid repetitive hack writing) and that releases a huge cosmic character which replaces Thanos as a villain in future productions. Which villain is anyone's guess.

rabid - 3/6/2019, 10:38 AM

@Argetlam22 - I'm guessing Kang because they're tinkering with the time stream and because Kang is a member of the Richards family, so it can be used to set up FF. I really like the idea that the FF could get their powers from the QR instead of space, and I've noticed the similarities of the QR suits to Kangs outfit.

Argetlam22 - 3/6/2019, 10:58 AM

@rabid - Not until after both the Eternals and Fantastic 4 have both been firmly established and positively received as both lore and commercial properties. You are absolutely right as far as Nathaniel Richards (pre Kang) being a subtle and critical common element, this is why those properties will be used as a bridge between street and cosmic storytelling, but that will take 3-4 movies for natural character development and world building. Kang in full conquerer mode definitely won't happen until after Avengers 5.

rabid - 3/6/2019, 11:04 AM

@Argetlam22 - I agree.

Argetlam22 - 3/6/2019, 11:22 AM

@rabid - I have a bunch of ideas but gonna have to wait for Endgame before I start committing to any expectations.

rabid - 3/6/2019, 11:25 AM

@Argetlam22 - Same here. I'm also curious if Dark Phoenix will do anything to set up the switch to the MCU. Both movies are dealing with the powers of creation. The potential is unlimited.

Argetlam22 - 3/6/2019, 1:18 PM

@rabid - Pathetic last minute cash grab. Dark Phoenix is much better suited for the Dark Avengers storyline.

rabid - 3/6/2019, 2:24 PM

@Argetlam22 - Every movie made is a cash grab. That's why people make movies

HeavyMetal4Life - 3/6/2019, 8:12 AM

We know how important James Gunn was to the future of the MCU. Kevin Feige is playing it safe here and trying to ease concerns. He actually isn't saying he wasn't integral to the future of phase 4, he's just saying that the role was blown out of proportions a little online. He's really saying little and is carefully wording his response.

Origame - 3/6/2019, 8:31 AM

@HeavyMetal4Life - hes trying damage control here.

HeavyMetal4Life - 3/6/2019, 8:32 AM

@Origame - yup, he's easing people's concerns about the ripple effect losing Gunn has caused.

Origame - 3/6/2019, 8:47 AM

@HeavyMetal4Life - yeah. Between this and the captain marvel controversy theres gonna be a lot of bad blood going into phase 4.

HeavyMetal4Life - 3/6/2019, 8:59 AM

@Origame - the Gunn stuff and the Captain Marvel stuff are two different things

Origame - 3/6/2019, 9:07 AM

@HeavyMetal4Life - i know. Im saying its adding up and will effect phase 4 specifically. Captain marvel is being built up as the big hero of phase 4 and all the ideas they were working on with gunn was gonna be phase 4, which is being reconsidered now.