Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Five

By April 2014, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said that additional storylines for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) were planned through 2028.[1] During Marvel Studios' panel at the July 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, Feige announced several films and Disney+ television series in development for Phase Four of the MCU,[2] before revealing the film Blade was also in development.[3] After the panel, Feige confirmed that Blade was not part of the Phase Four slate at the time,[4] and that what was announced was the full Phase Four slate at that point, despite Marvel already developing further projects at that time,[5] such as the long-in-development Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3[6] and a sequel to Captain Marvel (2019).[7] An Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) sequel entered development by November 2019, having a potential 2022 release.[8] Development work on a second season of What If...? had begun by December 2019.[9] Ryan Reynolds confirmed that month that a third Deadpool film after 20th Century Fox's Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018) was in development at Marvel Studios,[10] with his production company Maximum Effort co-producing the film.[11]

In April 2020, Disney scheduled Captain Marvel 2 for release on July 8, 2022,[12] before moving it back to November 11, 2022, in December 2020.[13] Also in December, they dated Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for 2023,[14] and announced Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Fantastic Four were in development,[15][16][17] along with the Disney+ series Secret Invasion, Ironheart,[18] and Armor Wars (later changed to a film).[18][19] Feige indicated Secret Invasion and Ironheart would tie-in with future MCU films.[20] These Disney+ series, plus Captain Marvel 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Fantastic Four were believed to be a part of Phase Four at that time.[21] By November 2020, development had begun on a second season of the television series Loki,[22] which was formally confirmed in July 2021.[23] Development on a series centered on Echo as a spin-off from Hawkeye began by March 2021.[24] By the end of April 2021, a fourth Captain America film was revealed to be in development as a continuation of the series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021).[25] In May 2021, Marvel Studios announced the title for Captain Marvel 2 as The Marvels, as well as the respective February 17 and May 5, 2023, release dates for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.[26] In October 2021, Marvel Studios further adjusted The Marvels to February 17, 2023, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to July 28, 2023,[27] only to swap their release dates in April 2022, given Quantumania was further along in production than The Marvels.[28] Development on a series centered on Agatha Harkness as a spin-off from WandaVision began by October 2021.[29] During the Disney+ Day event the following month, Marvel Studios officially announced Echo and the Agatha Harkness series,[30] which was later titled Agatha: Darkhold Diaries.[31]

By March 2022, a reboot project of Marvel Television's Netflix series Daredevil (2015–2018) was revealed to be in development,[32][33] and was confirmed to be in development for Disney+ in May.[34] By June 2022, Marvel Studios was developing the film Thunderbolts.[35] Later that month, Feige said information on the next saga of the MCU would be provided in the following months, with Marvel Studios being a "little more direct" on their future plans to provide audiences with "the bigger picture [so they] can see a tiny, tiny bit more of the roadmap" following the clues included during Phase Four.[36] At Marvel Studios' San Diego Comic-Con panel in July 2022, Feige announced that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever would conclude Phase Four, with the following films and series becoming part of Phase Five: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, Secret Invasion, and Ironheart. Blade, the second season of Loki, Echo, and Agatha: Darkhold Diaries were also confirmed for Phase Five, with Feige announcing the series Daredevil: Born Again and the films Captain America: New World Order and Thunderbolts. He also announced that Phase Five, along with Phase Four and Phase Six, would be part of "The Multiverse Saga".[37] By then, the second season of What If...? was also announced to release during this phase,[38] while production had begun on five additional shorts for the series I Am Groot.[39][40] Feige stated that many of the projects in Phase Four and Five, and their post-credit teases, would connect and lead towards the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga, while some would remain standalone.[41] Feige described Quantumania as "a direct line" into the phase and Phase Six's Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2026).[42] In September, Reynolds announced that Deadpool 3 would be released on September 6, 2024.[43]

In October 2022, Blade had its release date pushed back to the September 2024 slot, due to production-related issues, and Marvel Studios pushed back Deadpool 3 to November 8, 2024, as a result.[44] In December, Echo head writer Marion Dayre stated that the series would be delayed to late 2023, around that December.[45] In early February 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that the company would be re-evaluating the volume of content it output as a way to cut costs over the next few years.[46][47] Shortly after, when reflecting on the amount of Disney+ content released for Phase Four in a short time frame, Feige anticipated that Marvel Studios would look to space out the releases of the Phase Five and Six Disney+ series or put fewer out each year "so they can each get a chance to shine".[48][47] At that time, the second season of Loki and Secret Invasion were still expected to release in 2023, while other projects in post-production, such as Echo and Ironheart, were unlikely to release that year as previously announced.[47] The Marvels was also delayed to November 10, 2023.[49] A month later, Iger said there was "nothing in any way inherently off in terms of the Marvel brand", and was not concerned with the volume of Marvel content being released. Rather, he believed there would be more of a benefit to shifting to new characters and stories, instead of producing third or fourth sequels with some characters.[50]

The start of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike in May 2023 resulted in production on Blade being paused until the strike concluded. Other MCU projects in production, or preparing to begin production, at that time—Captain America: New World Order, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, Thunderbolts, and Deadpool 3—were not expected to be impacted by the strike, with Marvel Studios reportedly planning to shoot what they could during principal photography and make any necessary writing adjustments during each project's already scheduled reshoots.[51] Picketers participating in the strike shut down a day of soundstage work for Daredevil: Born Again,[52] and later location shooting, resulting in a temporary production pause.[53] By the end of the month, production on Thunderbolts was delayed until the strike concluded.[54] In early June, Marvel revealed that New World Order had been retitled to Captain America: Brave New World.[55] Later that month, Disney moved Deadpool 3 forward to May 3, 2024, and delayed Brave New World to July 26, 2024, Thunderbolts to December 20, 2024, and Blade to February 14, 2025,[56] in part due to the writers' strike and Disney's intentions to improve the quality of MCU content from writing through post-production after disappointing reception and lower post COVID-19 pandemic box office earnings for some recently released films.[57] Production on Born Again was also suspended until after the strike concluded.[58] In July, production on Deadpool 3 was suspended because of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike;[59] Deadpool 3 and Thunderbolts were not set to resume production until the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes concluded.[60][61]

In August, the second season of I Am Groot was announced to be releasing a month later on September 6, 2023, during the phase.[62][63] In early September, Marvel Studios adjusted the release schedule for some of the television series in the phase, in part because of the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes and a desire to slow down their content output and make each of their titles "an event". The adjustments included dating the second season of What If...? for a late December 2023 release, delaying Echo to January 2024, delaying Agatha: Darkhold Diaries to late 2024, and removing Ironheart and Born Again from the release schedule.[31]

Peyton Reed, director of the Ant-Man films

Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, along with Hope's parents Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne and Lang's daughter Cassie, go on a new adventure exploring the Quantum Realm that pushes their limits and pits them against Kang the Conqueror.[75]

Ahead of the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), Peyton Reed and Marvel Studios expected a third Ant-Man film would be made and had discussed potential story points,[76] with Reed returning as director by November 2019, alongside Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly as Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope van Dyne / Wasp.[8][77] Jeff Loveness was writing the script by April 2020,[65] with the title and new cast members revealed that December.[15] Principal photography began at the end of July 2021 at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire,[78][79] and ended that November.[80] Shooting was also scheduled to occur in Atlanta, Georgia and San Francisco, to last until 2022.[81][82] Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania premiered on February 6, 2023,[83] and was released on February 17.[28]

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is set in 2026,[84] around the same time as the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) and the beginning of Ms. Marvel (2022).[85] Jonathan Majors portrays Kang the Conqueror,[15] after first appearing as a variant of that character called He Who Remains in the first season of Loki (2021).[86][15] Majors also portrays numerous Kang variants within the Council of Kangs including Immortus, Rama-Tut, and Centurion in the film's mid-credits scene, and Victor Timely in the post-credits scene. The latter also features uncredited cameo appearances by Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson, reprising their respective roles of Loki and Mobius M. Mobius from Loki.[87][88]

James Gunn, director of the Guardians of the Galaxy films

The Guardians of the Galaxy are adjusting to life on Knowhere, but when parts of Rocket's past resurface, Peter Quill must lead the Guardians on a dangerous mission to protect him that could lead to the team dissolving.[89]

A third Guardians of the Galaxy film was planned by Marvel Studios in April 2016,[90] with James Gunn returning to write and direct a year later.[91] Disney fired him in July 2018 after the resurfacing of controversial tweets,[92][93] but reversed course that October and reinstated Gunn as director.[94] Gunn's return was revealed in early 2019 along with the five main stars' involvement,[66][95] with production beginning after Gunn completed his film The Suicide Squad (2021) and the first season of its spin-off series Peacemaker (2022).[96] Kevin Feige confirmed the film was in development at the July 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.[6] Filming began in November 2021,[97] at Trilith Studios in Atlanta,[98][99] and concluded in early May 2022.[100] Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 premiered on April 22, 2023,[101] and was released on May 5.[26]

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set after the events of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022).[102] Discussing the film's connections to the Multiverse Saga, Feige said Vol. 3 was focused more on concluding the story of the Guardians characters and "not about the bigger world-building", though still "a piece of the puzzle".[103]

While investigating a wormhole linked to the Kree, Monica Rambeau's powers become entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Carol Danvers. The trio team up to determine why they are swapping places with each other every time they use their powers.[104][105]

Feige confirmed a sequel to Captain Marvel (2019) was in development at the July 2019 San Diego Comic-Con,[7] with Megan McDonnell set to write the script and Brie Larson returning as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel by January 2020.[106][107] The studio wanted a female director for the film rather than have Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck return from the first,[106] with Nia DaCosta hired to direct by that August,[67] and she also served as a writer alongside Elissa Karasik.[68] The film was announced with the title Captain Marvel 2 in December 2020,[13] with the official title, The Marvels, revealed in May 2021.[26] Second unit filming began in mid-April 2021 in New Jersey,[108] while principal photography had begun by August at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire,[109][110][81] Longcross Studios in Surrey,[111] and in Tropea.[112] Shooting also occurred in Los Angeles.[113][114] Filming wrapped by May 2022.[115] The Marvels is scheduled to be released on November 10, 2023.[49]

The Marvels is set after the events of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel,[116][117] and continues the story from Captain Marvel.[48] with Iman Vellani, Saagar Shaikh, Zenobia Shroff, and Mohan Kapur reprising their respective roles as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel,[13] Aamir Khan, Muneeba Khan, and Yusuf Khan.[118] Teyonah Parris returns as the adult Monica Rambeau from the series WandaVision (2021), after the character was previously portrayed as a child by Akira Akbar in Captain Marvel,[13] and Randall Park reprises his MCU role as Jimmy Woo.[119]

After the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney was announced in December 2017, Disney CEO Bob Iger said Ryan Reynolds would reprise his role as Wade Wilson / Deadpool from 20th Century Fox's R-rated X-Men films Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018) in the PG-13 rated Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).[120][121] By December 2019, Reynolds confirmed a third Deadpool film was in development at Marvel Studios,[10] with Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin writing the film by November 2020,[122] when Reynolds' involvement and the film's R-rating were confirmed.[122][123] In January 2021, Feige confirmed the film's MCU setting.[123] In March 2022, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were hired to return from the first two films to rewrite the screenplay, while Shawn Levy was revealed to be directing.[69] Zeb Wells, Reynolds, and Levy also co-wrote the script,[70] while Reynolds and Levy also produce, with Reynolds doing so through his production company Maximum Effort.[11][124] Filming began in late May 2023 in London,[125][126] and at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England,[127] before being suspended that July because of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[59] Shooting was also expected to occur in Vancouver.[128] Deadpool 3 is scheduled to be released on May 3, 2024.[56]

Hugh Jackman will appear as James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine, reprising his role from the X-Men film series.[43] Karan Soni, Leslie Uggams, Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapičić, Rob Delaney, Brianna Hildebrand, and Shioli Kutsuna will reprise their respective roles as Dopinder, Blind Al, Vanessa, the voice of Colossus, Peter, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and Yukio from the previous Deadpool films.[129] Jennifer Garner will appear as Elektra, reprising her role from the Fox-produced films Daredevil (2003) and Elektra (2005).[130]

In April 2021, a fourth Captain America film was revealed to be in development, with a script co-written by Malcolm Spellman and Dalan Musson. The duo previously served as head writer and a staff writer, respectively, on the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021).[25] Anthony Mackie joined by August the same year, to headline the film reprising his role as Sam Wilson / Captain America.[131] Julius Onah was chosen to direct in July 2022,[132][71] and co-wrote the script with Spellman.[55] The film will explore the effects of becoming Captain America on Wilson.[133] Initially announced as Captain America: New World Order in July 2022,[37] the film was retitled Captain America: Brave New World in June 2023.[55] Filming began in March 2023,[134] at Trilith Studios in Atlanta,[135] and in Washington, D.C.,[136] and lasted until June.[137] Captain America: Brave New World is scheduled to be released on July 26, 2024.[56]

Danny Ramirez and Carl Lumbly reprise their respective roles of Joaquin Torres / Falcon and Isaiah Bradley from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,[138][139] alongside Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns / Leader and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross from The Incredible Hulk (2008).[138][140] Harrison Ford portrays Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, replacing the late William Hurt from previous MCU films.[141]

A group of antiheroes go on missions for the government.[35]

By June 2022, a Thunderbolts film was in development, with Jake Schreier attached to direct,[35][71] and Eric Pearson writing the screenplay.[35] In September, the Thunderbolts team was announced to include Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier / White Wolf, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost, Wyatt Russell as John Walker / U.S. Agent, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova / Black Widow, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian, and Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster, all reprising their roles from previous MCU projects.[142] Lee Sung Jin joined the film to rewrite the script by March 2023.[72] Filming is expected to take place in Utah,[143] while principal photography is expected to occur in Atlanta following the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes.[54][61] Thunderbolts is scheduled to be released on December 20, 2024.[56]

Harrison Ford will reprise his role as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross from Captain America: Brave New World.[141]

By May 2013, Marvel Studios had a working script for a new Blade film after regaining the rights following New Line Cinema's prior film series.[144][145] In February 2019, Mahershala Ali approached Marvel Studios about starring in a new film after previously portraying Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes in Marvel Television's Luke Cage.[3] Feige officially announced the film with Ali in the title role that July at San Diego Comic-Con;[3][2] Ali first had an uncredited voice cameo as Blade in Eternals (2021).[146] In February 2021, Stacy Osei-Kuffour was hired to write the film,[147] with Bassam Tariq hired to direct by that September.[148][149][71] Tariq left a year later due to the film's production shifts,[150] as well as creative differences.[73] Yann Demange was set to direct in November 2022, when Michael Starrbury was rewriting the script,[73] while Nic Pizzolatto joined as another writer in April 2023.[74] Filming is expected to begin following the writers' strike,[51] to occur at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta,[151] and will also occur in Cleveland,[152] New Orleans, and Morocco.[151] Blade is scheduled to be released on February 14, 2025.[56]

The Ebony Blade will be featured in the film, having first appeared at the end of Eternals.[153]

Nick Fury works with Talos, a shapeshifting alien Skrull, to uncover a conspiracy by a group of renegade Skrulls led by Gravik who plan to gain control of Earth by posing as different humans around the world.[170][155]

By September 2020, Marvel Studios was developing a series centered on Nick Fury, with Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role and Kyle Bradstreet serving as head writer.[154] That December, Marvel Studios revealed the series to be an adaptation of the Secret Invasion comic book storyline, and confirmed Jackson, with Ben Mendelsohn co-starring as Talos.[18] Filming had begun by September 2021 in London,[171] with Ali Selim directing the series.[155] Filming concluded in late April 2022.[172] Additional filming occurred across West Yorkshire and in Liverpool, England.[173][174] Secret Invasion premiered on June 21, 2023,[155] and consisted of six episodes,[175] concluding on July 26, 2023.[176]

Secret Invasion is set around 2026,[84] thirty years after the events of Captain Marvel.[177] Reprising their roles from previous MCU media are Don Cheadle, Cobie Smulders, Martin Freeman, and O-T Fagbenle as James "Rhodey" Rhodes,[178] Maria Hill,[179] Everett K. Ross,[180] and Rick Mason, respectively.[181] Emilia Clarke plays an adult version of G'iah,[170] who appeared as Talos' unnamed child in Captain Marvel, played by Auden L. Ophuls and Harriet L. Ophuls.[182] Charlotte Baker and Kate Braithwaite appear as Talos' wife Soren,[183] who was portrayed by Sharon Blynn in Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).[184]

After the events of the first season, Loki teams up with Mobius M. Mobius, Hunter B-15, and other Time Variance Authority agents "in a battle for the soul" of the TVA. He continues to explore the multiverse in search of Sylvie, Ravonna Renslayer, and Miss Minutes.[185]

The first season of Loki premiered in June 2021.[186] Development on a second season had begun by November 2020,[22] with season one head writer Michael Waldron expected to once again be involved "in some capacity" by January 2021.[187] The season was officially confirmed in July 2021, along with Tom Hiddleston returning to star as Loki.[23][188] By February 2022, Eric Martin was set to write the season, with Waldron as an executive producer.[156] Filming began in mid-June 2022,[189] at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom,[190] with Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead directing the majority of episodes,[156] and Dan DeLeeuw and Kasra Farahani also directing.[158] Shooting concluded that October.[191] The second season of Loki premiered on October 5, 2023,[192] and will run for six episodes,[156] concluding on November 9.[157]

The second season begins immediately after the first-season finale, taking place outside of time and space while some events occur between the past, present, and future.[193] Jonathan Majors reprises his role as Victor Timely from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.[194]

Following the formation of the Guardians of the Multiverse, the Watcher continues to meet new heroes and strange worlds in the Marvel Cinematic Universe multiverse.[30]

The first season of What If...? premiered in August 2021.[195] In December 2019, Marvel Studios Animation had begun work on the second season.[9][196] A. C. Bradley and Bryan Andrews return as head writer and director, respectively,[30] with Jeffrey Wright returning to narrate the season as the Watcher.[31] The season will debut in late December 2023 around Christmas Day,[31] and will consist of nine episodes.[159]

Maya Lopez returns to her hometown after the events in New York City, where she must come to terms with her past, while reconnecting with her Native American roots, and embrace her family and community.[161]

Development on a spin-off from the series Hawkeye (2021) starring Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez / Echo began by March 2021, with Etan Cohen and Emily Cohen set to write and executive produce.[24] Echo was officially announced that November,[30] when Marion Dayre was revealed to be serving as head writer.[160] 20th Television co-produces the series.[197] Filming began in late April 2022,[198] and concluded in late August,[199] occurring throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area in Atlanta,[200] Peachtree City,[201] Social Circle,[202] and Grantville, Georgia,[203] with Sydney Freeland and Catriona McKenzie directing episodes of the series.[161] Echo is scheduled to be released in its entirety in January 2024.[31]

Echo is set after the events of Hawkeye and leads into the events of Daredevil: Born Again.[161][204] Zahn McClarnon reprises his role as William Lopez from Hawkeye,[205] along with Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk / Kingpin and Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil from previous MCU media.[206]

Agatha Harkness finds she is powerless after breaking out of her containment in Westview, New Jersey. She looks to some unlikely allies to join her on her quest regain her former powers.[207]

Development on a spin-off from the series WandaVision starring Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness began by October 2021, with Jac Schaeffer set to write and executive produce.[29] The series was initially announced in November 2021 as Agatha: House of Harkness,[30] until it was retitled Agatha: Coven of Chaos in July 2022,[37] and retitled again to Agatha: Darkhold Diaries in September 2023.[31] 20th Television co-produces the series.[208][209] Filming began in mid-January 2023,[210][163] at Trilith Studios in Atlanta,[211] with Schaeffer, Gandja Monteiro, and Rachel Goldberg directing episodes of the series,[163] and concluded by late May.[212] Agatha: Darkhold Dairies is expected to be released in late 2024 as a lead-up to Halloween,[31] and will consist of nine episodes.[162]

Several actors reprise their WandaVision roles, including Emma Caulfield Ford as Sarah Proctor, Debra Jo Rupp as Sharon Davis, David Payton as John Collins, David Lengel as Harold Proctor, Asif Ali as Abilash Tandon, Amos Glick as "Dennis", Brian Brightman as a sheriff, and Kate Forbes as Evanora Harkness.[163][213][214]

In December 2020, Marvel Studios announced a series centered on Riri Williams / Ironheart was in development starring Dominique Thorne,[18] reprising her role from the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.[215] Chinaka Hodge was hired as head writer in April 2021.[164] Ryan Coogler, writer and director of Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, produces the series through his company Proximity Media,[165] alongside 20th Television.[216] Filming had begun by early June 2022,[217][218] at Trilith Studios in Atlanta,[219] with Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes directing episodes of the series.[165] Filming also occurred in Chicago by late October,[220] and concluded in early November.[221][222] Ironheart will consist of six episodes.[164]

Ironheart is set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.[223]

In March 2022, a new Daredevil project was revealed to be in development with Feige as a producer,[32][33] after Disney regained the rights to the Marvel Television series Daredevil (2015–2018) from Netflix and it began streaming on Disney+.[224][225] The series was confirmed to be in development for Disney+ in May, with Matt Corman and Chris Ord attached as head writers and executive producers,[34] and was officially announced in July with Charlie Cox returning as Matt Murdock / Daredevil.[226] 20th Television co-produces the series.[227] Filming began in early March 2023, on location in New York,[228][229] and also occurred at Silvercup Studios East.[52] Production was suspended in June due to the writers' strike,[58] with less than half of the series' episodes filmed. By late September 2023, Marvel Studios decided to overhaul the series creatively, replacing Corman and Ord as head writers and releasing the remaining directors, with some elements already shot planned to be retained.[167] Before the overhaul Michael Cuesta was directing the first episode, Clark Johnson directing two episodes, and Jeffrey Nachmanoff and David Boyd also directing episodes of the series.[168] The first season of Daredevil: Born Again will consist of 18 episodes.[37] Vincent D'Onofrio stated in March 2023 that there were plans for a second season.[230]

Daredevil: Born Again is set after the events of Echo.[204] D'Onofrio will reprise his role as Wilson Fisk / Kingpin from previous MCU media,[226] along with Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle / Punisher from Daredevil and The Punisher (2017–2019).[231]

Each short follows Baby Groot as he explores the universe beyond the confines of the Guardians of the Galaxy's ship, going on adventures with new and unusual characters that get him into trouble.[233][30][234]

The first five shorts of I Am Groot premiered in August 2022.[235] Production on five additional shorts was underway by July 2022,[39][40] described as a second season.[236] Kirsten Lepore returns as head writer, director,[232] and executive producer, with Vin Diesel once again voicing Baby Groot.[234] The second season of I Am Groot premiered with five shorts on Disney+ on September 6, 2023.[62][63]

Jeffrey Wright reprises his role as the Watcher from What If...? in the season.[237]

The first season of Marvel Studios: Legends premiered in January 2021 for Phase Four.[261] The series examines individual heroes, villains, moments, and objects from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how they connect, in anticipation of the upcoming stories that will feature them in Phase Five.[261][262] The second season premiered on Disney+ on February 10, 2023, with the release of the first three episodes.[262][263] Episodes highlighted Ant-Man, Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne, the Wasp,[262] Peter Quill, Gamora, Nebula, Rocket, Kraglin, Groot,[264][263] Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Talos and the Skrulls, Everett Ross, James Rhodes,[265] Variants, the TVA,[266] Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan.[267]

Marvel Studios: Assembled premiered in March 2021 for Phase Four. Each special of the documentary series goes behind the scenes of the making of the MCU films and television series with cast members and additional creatives.[268] The first special for Phase Five was released on Disney+ on July 19, 2023, for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,[269] followed by additional specials for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Secret Invasion,[270] and Loki season two.[267]