Marvel has several upcoming MCU TV shows releasing after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, with one show coming from the now-defunct Marvel Television studio. Although there was a delay in getting Phase 4 underway, it’s shaped up to be one of the most exciting times in the entire history of the MCU. Not only are there big movies coming, some with major crossover potential, but the fact that the franchise has properly expanded into TV makes things all the more interesting.
Beginning with WandaVision, Marvel debuted its most unique story yet, one that challenged viewers throughout its entire run. That story set up Scarlet Witch and Monica Rambeau’s futures in the cinematic universe, while also laying the foundation for even wackier storylines in upcoming shows. It was a proper taster for what Marvel has planned with their Disney+ initiative, telling day-in-the-life type of stories while simultaneously reflecting on the past and setting up the future. It’s something The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has done as well.
Grappling with the legacy of Captain America hasn’t been easy, but both Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes have come to terms with Steve Rogers’ absence as well as where the shield – and mantle – go next. Furthermore, Bucky found a way to move past his identity as the Winter Soldier, something he had struggled with for years. But all of this was just the beginning; there’s plenty more to come from these characters and from the MCU overall – not just in movies but on TV. After all, there are 14 upcoming Marvel shows in the works, with potential for more.
MODOK
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The last project from Marvel Television before the studio shuttered, MODOK exists outside of the core MCU and will release on Hulu rather than Disney+. While there will be similar characters from the MCU in MODOK, that doesn’t mean the story works within the timeline of Marvel Studios’ franchise; for instance, Jon Hamm will voice Tony Stark, with Bill Hader voicing Samuel Stern. However, Patton Oswalt voices the eponymous character alongside Aimee Garcia as Jodie Tarleton, Ben Schwartz as Lou Tarleton, Melissa Fumero as Melissa Tarleton, Wendi McLendon-Covey as Monica Rappaccini, and Beck Bennett as Austin Van Der Sleet, among others.
According to the series’ synopsis, “MODOK, having been removed from his company A.I.M. after it falls into bankruptcy and is sold to the rivaling GRUMBL, begins to deal with his tainting family while facing a mid-life crisis.” As an adult animated series set in the Marvel universe, MODOK has the potential to be one of the most unique properties from Marvel Entertainment, but its long-term potential has been called into question considering Marvel Television has been absorbed into the core studio. MODOK releases entire season – 10 episodes – on May 21, 2021. Internationally, it will release on Star, since Hulu only exists in the United States.
Loki
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The first Marvel Studios TV series coming after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is Loki, which follows the 2012 incarnation of the character who disappeared in Avengers: Endgame. Although he was looking to escape his predicament following his defeat during the Battle of New York, Loki unwittingly created an alternate timeline (if not multiple timelines). The Loki series will follow the God of Mischief as he works with the Time Variance Authority – and the organization’s Time-Keepers – to correct his mistakes, which means MCU fans are in for quite an adventure.
Joining Tom Hiddleston in his solo series is Owen Wilson as Mobius M. Mobius and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Judge Renslayer, along with Sophia Di Martino, Sasha Lane, Erika Coleman, and Richard E. Grant in undisclosed roles. While much of the story has been kept under wraps, barring the teases that have been revealed in the show’s trailers thus far, Loki has the potential to expand on the multiverse concept ahead of Phase 4’s biggest movies, like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, while also being another look down memory lane; after all, the second Loki trailer seemed to highlight Asgard before its destruction in Thor: Ragnarok. Loki is scheduled to premiere on June 11 and release weekly on Disney+.
What If…?
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Superhero universes tend to maintain a certain level of continuity in order to keep their stories going, but every once in a while, readers and viewers would wonder how a story would’ve turned out differently if one or two things were changed; Marvel’s What If…? series answers those questions. Inspired by the comic series of the same name, What If…? imagines key moments in the MCU’s history differently, with some characters being replaced or stories being tweaked. For instance, in this show, Peggy Carter became Captain Carter instead of Steve Rogers becoming Captain America. Then there’s a story about T’Challa being Star-Lord instead of Peter Quill.
To cap off the intrigue, the What If…? voice cast consists of the original actors from the live-action films, which means Robert Downey Jr. is back as Tony Stark, though perhaps not as Iron Man; this also means What If…? will mark the final performance in the MCU for Chadwick Boseman, who tragically passed away in 2020. He had already recorded his lines before his death. As for new characters, Jeffrey Wright will star as Uatu, the Watcher, an extraterrestrial being whose job is to observe Earth’s events, including that of the superheroes that inhabit it. It’s through him that viewers will see these stories unfold. What If…? season 1 premieres in summer 2021 and will consist of 10 episodes; a second season will air at some point later on, which will also have 10 episodes.
Hawkeye
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Hawkeye is finally getting his due in his own TV series. He’s the only original Avengers member who hadn’t received his own movie or TV show – even Bruce Banner had The Incredible Hulk and Natasha Romanoff has Black Widow – but Hawkeye was always relegated to the background. Now his story will be expanded on in Disney+’s Hawkeye show, which will also introduce his future replacement into the MCU: Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld. Other characters appearing in Hawkeye include Jack Duquesne aka Swordsman (played by Tony Dalton), Clint Barton’s former mentor, and Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez aka Echo, a superhero who can copy people’s movements.
Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova aka Black Widow is expected to appear as well; she’s scheduled to make her MCU debut in the Black Widow movie, which takes place in between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. It’s unclear what happened to her during the Blip, but that will undoubtedly be a plot point in the upcoming series. Hawkeye doesn’t currently have a specified premiere date, but it is releasing sometime in 2021, presumably towards the end of the year, seeing as it was still filming in spring 2021. Marvel also hasn’t revealed much story-wise, but the series is believed to explore some more of Barton’s Ronin persona, which was only glimpsed in Avengers: Endgame.
Ms. Marvel
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The final Marvel TV show releasing in 2021 is Ms. Marvel, starring Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel. Long before Disney+ existed, Marvel Studios planned to develop Ms. Marvel’s story in the MCU in some form. Turning it into a TV series ahead of Captain Marvel 2‘s release was the best decision, which means the creative team will have time to flesh out Kamala’s story before she appears on the big screen in Carol Danvers’ next film. Vellani will be joined by Aramis Knight as Kareem aka Red Dagger, Matt Lintz as Bruno Carrelli, and Laurel Marsden as Zoe Zimmer, among a few others.
Although she’s a relatively new character in the Marvel universe, Kamala Khan has already made a wide-ranging impact in the comic book industry, and she will certainly do the same on-screen. Kamala Khan will be the MCU’s first Muslim superhero, someone who gains superpowers after idolizing the superheroes in her world, such as Captain Marvel. And just like in the comics, she will have shapeshifting superpowers in the MCU, though it’s unclear how she will receive them. Ms. Marvel is an Inhuman in the comics, but the MCU’s attempt to introduce that species was less than successful, so the studio may not be willing to reintroduce them so soon. Still, there are other routes the writers and producers can take.
She-Hulk
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Marvel Studios saw success with challenging the “Marvel formula” with WandaVision, and She-Hulk should be their next opportunity to do that. Described as a legal comedy series, She-Hulk will introduce Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk. She’s a lawyer who works on superhuman-related cases, but when she’s not in the court room, she can also transform into a Hulk-like creature, just like her cousin… Bruce Banner. Unlike Bruce, Jennifer didn’t turn into the Hulk using gamma radiation in the comics; rather, she transformed following a blood transfusion from Hulk, which imbued her with powers of her own. However, She-Hulk didn’t become as powerful or as Hulk-ish as Bruce did.
Since Mark Ruffalo is confirmed to appear as Hulk in the She-Hulk series, it’s possible Jennifer will become the eponymous superhero using the same method. But in addition to having her cousin appear, She-Hulk will also see the long-awaited return of Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky aka Abomination, who was last seen at the end of The Incredible Hulk. Abomination is currently being held captive in a facility in Alaska, at least according to Agents of SHIELD. His whereabouts may change since that TV series hasn’t always adhered to MCU canon. She-Hulk began filming in April 2021 and is slated to premiere its 10-episode season sometime in 2022.
Moon Knight
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Perhaps one of the most brutal heroes joining the MCU in Phase 4 is Marc Spector aka Moon Knight, who’s exceptionally skilled in martial arts and carries with him a host of deadly weapons – not to mention he’s an expert detective, which is why Moon Knight is often referred to as Marvel’s version of Batman. The Moon Knight series stars Oscar Isaac as the eponymous character, with Ethan Hawke playing the main villain. It’s unclear who Hawke will portray, but art has suggested he will be Werewolf by Night. Unfortunately, while filming began in April 2021, there’s little to no information to go on regarding the plot or other characters in the show. But going based on Isaac’s training videos, Marvel won’t skimp on Moon Knight’s martial arts, which will likely be a focus in the action along with his multiple personalities getting a big spotlight throughout the story. Moon Knight is expected to premiere in 2022 and consist of six episodes, in line with other MCU shows on Disney+.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
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Although the Guardians of the Galaxy team was in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and will be in Thor: Love & Thunder, there will be at least a six-year gap between the second and third films in their movie trilogy. So to bridge the gap, James Gunn will write and direct The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which will film during production on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and release on Disney+ during the holidays in 2022. It will take place after the events of Infinity War, though it’s unclear when in the timeline it will be set – either before or after Thor 4. All of the main cast will return for the TV special, which itself is taking inspiration from the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special, but it’s unknown what the story will be about.
I Am Groot
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In addition to the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Marvel Studios is also working on I Am Groot, which will comprise of a series of short films releasing on Disney+. There’s no information regarding what the short films will entail or who else will be in them aside from Groot, but it’s possible the series could be based on the I Am Groot comic arc from 2017. In that storyline, Groot was separated from the main team and was forced to trek through an alien world to find his way back to his family. Some kind of story like that would be easily doable, and it could be set prior to the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Secret Invasion
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Following Captain America: Civil War and Captain Marvel, MCU fans have been wanting to see the Secret Invasion comic book story adapted on-screen. While it won’t be the grand crossover people may have expected, the Secret Invasion show is being touted as a massive event series in its own right. Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendolsohn will reprise their roles as Nick Fury and Talos, respectively, and they will be reportedly joined by Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, and Kingsley Ben-Adir in unspecified roles. The star-studded cast alone highlights magnitude Marvel Studios is going for. And with filming beginning in late 2021, more cast members should be announced throughout the summer.
Particular aspects of Secret Invasion may be changed for the MCU, but overall, the story should remain largely the same. According to the logline, a sect of Skrulls will infiltrate Earth; given the Skrulls can shapeshift and have already infiltrated various levels of the U.S. government (and presumably society), it’s easy to see how the secret invasion of Skrulls will happen. In the comics, the Skrulls replace some of Earth’s mightiest heroes, which culminates in multiple battles between the two groups. Since characters like Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Professor X likely won’t be in the series, Secret Invasion will have to find other heroes – or other characters, rather – to replace and start a war with. However, Secret Invasion also could be the perfect opportunity to introduce some of the characters that Marvel regained through Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
Ironheart
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By the time Ironheart premieres, the MCU will have introduced new incarnations of several superheroes, including Captain America, Black Widow, Hulk, Hawkeye, Captain Marvel, and Thor (sort of), which leaves Iron Man. It would be difficult to replace Tony Stark in the franchise, but with regards to who can wear the Iron Man armor, that role will be filled by Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams aka Ironheart. Riri’s story is expected to be altered for the MCU, as is the case with all other characters, but in the comics, she’s a genius-level teenager who attends MIT – which was last seen in-universe in Captain America: Civil War – and reverse-engineers the Iron Man suit technology. Whether or not she takes over the Iron Man mantle remains to be seen, but she should become Lady Ironheart and fill the void left by Stark’s death.
Armor Wars
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It’s possible Ironheart‘s story will transition into Armor Wars, depending on when each show releases and takes place in the MCU timeline. While Armor Wars doesn’t necessarily deal with Tony Stark’s legacy – though it will have moments that explore Stark’s death – it is centered on his suit’s technology falling into the wrong hands. Don Cheadle reprises his role as James Rhodes aka War Machine in the series, following on his brief return in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 1. Aside from Cheadle, it’s unclear who else will star in the series; however, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of plausibility to see Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer show up.
There are two versions of Armor Wars in the Marvel Universe, though it seems the bulk of the story will be based on the original series from the 1980s. In that, Iron Man and War Machine fought side-by-side to retrieve his technology – or, at least, prevent people from using it – which led to him fighting characters such as Stingray and Crimson Dynamo. The series even included notable people like Scott Lang and Nick Fury, which opens up several possibilities for the MCU. Part of the story was included in Iron Man 2, but now the franchise has the opportunity to dive into the arc more comprehensively.
Wakanda
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Black Panther 2 writer and director Ryan Coogler is confirmed to develop a Wakanda-centric series, presumably after work is completed on the upcoming Black Panther sequel, which is scheduled to release in theaters in July 2022. Aside from the show taking place in the fictional country of Wakanda, there aren’t any details as to what the story will be about or which characters will appear. However, it’s still one of the most anticipated projects from Marvel. One of the most surprising, yet also one of the best, elements to come out of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the inclusion of the Dora Milaje. Seeing them in action and seeing the excitement around their return shows that a Wakanda-focused series on Disney+ could work.
Echo
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Hawkeye hasn’t even premiered, yet Marvel and Disney are committed to developing Echo’s story in the MCU. As a deaf superhero who can copy the moves of other characters, there’s a lot of story potential for an Echo series, and there are interesting ways in which the studio can make the show unique compared to the rest of the lineup. Furthermore, an Echo series could follow Maya Lopez’s iteration of Ronin, Clint Barton’s persona. While Kate Bishop will take over his mantle as Hawkeye, Echo can do the same for Ronin.