Marvel Phase 5 kicked off earlier this year with the theatrical release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on February 17. But if you haven't seen it yet, don't worry—it's never too late to get caught up on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Below you will find everything you need to know about when upcoming Marvel movies and television shows are coming out as well as recommendations for audiobooks you can listen to as you prepare for MCU Phase 5.
Note: Release dates can change at any time, especially those that are further out. The dates mentioned here are accurate as of this writing.
What is Marvel Phase 5?
We've come a long way from the 2008 release of Iron Man. So far, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has shown us the rise and fall of the Avengers, the tragic loss of heroes like T'Challa, and the development of fascinating characters like Sam Wilson's Captain America.
In Phase 5, the MCU will launch the Multiverse Saga, in which our heroes discover that there is far more to reality than even they realized—and what's out there isn't necessarily friendly. Here are the exciting new worlds and perils our favorite heroes will face in 2023 and 2024.
Marvel Phase 5 Movies
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania — February 17, 2023
This film serves as the initial bridge between Phase 4 and Phase 5. Here, we see Scott Lang get a little too big for his ant-sized britches just as he—alongside Hope van Dyne (the Wasp), Hank Pym, Janet van Dyne, and his daughter, Cassie—must eliminate a new threat from the Quantum Realm: Kang the Conqueror, who is shaping up to be the franchise’s main villain for both Phase 5 and Phase 6.
Scott's relationship with and love for his daughter has been at the heart of his character since his first film appearance in 2015, and in the comics long before that. Ant-Man: Natural Enemy, performed by a full cast, further explores the close bond between Scott and Cassie.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 — May 5, 2023
Ever wonder where Rocket Raccoon originated? Turns out it’s with a fellow named the High Evolutionary, who, in the comics, created an entire world of hyper-intelligent animals ready to do his bidding. Volume 3 sees the Guardians, plus a potential new ally in the mysterious Adam Warlock, try to put this interplanetary mad scientist in his place.
This could very well be the last of the Guardians movies, but never fear—you can always rewatch their previous excursions, or join them on audio adventures like Guardians of the Galaxy: Collect Them All, which is performed by a full cast.
The Marvels — November 10, 2023
After much delay, the sequel to Captain Marvel is finally coming in for a landing! This time, Carol Danvers will be joined by fellow Marvels Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau. What will they have to do? That's not yet clear, though it's a pretty sure bet the Skrulls are involved, given Carol's past encounters with them and the upcoming Secret Invasion series (see below).
In the meantime, relive Kamala's groundbreaking early adventures by listening in to Ms. Marvel: No Normal.
Captain America: New World Order — May 3, 2024
With Steve Rogers having taken his final bow as Cap, fans are ready to welcome Sam Wilson to the helm. Sam more than proved himself worthy of carrying the shield in the streaming series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Now, the former Falcon finds himself bedeviled by what was in the comics an organization backed by the notorious Red Skull.
You might recall that this very nearly gained control of the Tesseract—aka the Space Stone—and tried to kill Rogers in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger. If you need a refresher on the latter, reminiscence on Cap’s origins in this Phase One Box Set.
Thunderbolts — July 26, 2024
In the past few Marvel movies and series, La Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, has been collecting supervillains for some unspecified purpose. It all comes to fruition in Thunderbolts, with her team of antiheroes finally receiving a mission of their own. Given the presence of so many mighty miscreants, it seems inevitable that one or more of them will betray the others sooner or later, but that remains to be seen.
Blade — September 6, 2024
For Blade—the half-vampire vampire hunter—this is the first silver-screen adventure since 2004, when Wesley Snipes originated the role. Mahershala Ali now steps into Blade's leather trench coat. Like with many of the projects that are still more than a year out, details are scarce at the moment, but we can just about guarantee that there will be vampires and cool swords.
Marvel Phase 5 Television Shows
Secret Invasion — Spring 2023
Nick Fury returns in this new series, and he's got a big problem on his hands. Or maybe two problems—the Kree and the Skrulls, alien races who have been enemies for centuries, have something sinister planned for Earth. Fury and the Skrull Talos must figure out who among their friends and enemies is really a Skrull infiltrator, plotting the planet's destruction.
Echo — Summer 2023
As the MCU expands beyond its flagship characters, we finally get to learn more about Marvel's other dynamic, day-saving heroes. One of these is Echo, a deaf Native American woman who originally appeared in the streaming series Hawkeye. Now flying solo, Echo will have to tackle the greatest challenge of them all: discovering her own sense of identity.
Loki — Summer 2023
Everyone's favorite mischief-maker is back in season two of his eponymous streaming series. In the first season, Loki was pressed into service with the Time Variance Authority in order to protect time itself. Now, Loki will face his own battles with Kang the Conqueror. Is even a god up to the task?
While you're waiting to find out, you can preorder the audiobook Loki: Journey into Mystery, releasing in June. In it, Loki is forced to again help big brother Thor save the world—whether anyone else wants his assistance or not.
Ironheart — Fall 2023
With Tony Stark out of the picture, who is worthy to pick up the iron mantle and carry on in his place? Tune in as young Riri Williams, an engineering wunderkind, steps up to the plate and builds a set of armor so advanced it may even put the original Armored Avengers to shame.
Agatha: Coven of Chaos — Winter 2023
Agatha Harkness, undoubtedly the breakout star of 2021's WandaVision, is now set to return in her own series. That seems like pretty good timing, given her knowledge of the type of magic that has previously broken barriers between different worlds. Whatever she's up to, there's no doubt it'll fit right into the Multiverse Saga. Who knows—maybe this entire phase will turn out to be Agatha, all along.
Daredevil: Born Again — Spring 2024
In the comics, the famous Born Again storyline put Daredevil through his paces, as the Kingpin discovered his secret identity and used that knowledge to make his life hell. Whether this new series is a direct adaptation remains to be seen, but we do know two things for certain—both Kingpin and the Punisher will make appearances, and Matt Murdock's life isn't about to get any easier.
Need a refresher on who Daredevil is and why he does what he does? Daredevil: The Man Without Fear is the perfect listen to catch up before you tune in.
Eileen Gonzalez is a freelance writer from Connecticut. She has a Master's degree in communications and years of experience writing about pop culture. She contributes to Book Riot and Foreword Reviews, and she occasionally tweets at @eileen2thestars.
