6 Missed Opportunities That Would’ve Made The MCU’s Phase 5 Truly Great

Marvel Studios has wrapped up Phase 5 with “Ironheart,” but addressing six key challenges could have made the MCU’s latest phase truly extraordinary. Following the mixed results of Phase 4, anticipation was high as we approached Phase 5 and the middle part of the Multiverse Saga. At last, the Marvel Cinematic Universe seemed to be on track for the next “Avengers” films and a grand cosmic battle against Jonathan Majors’ Council of Kangs in “The Kang Dynasty” and “Secret Wars.” As expected, real-world complications occurred and “Avengers 5” morphed into “Doomsday,” featuring Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom.

In this most recent chapter, viewers have been delighted by some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s finest characters in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” “Thunderbolts,” “Daredevil: Born Again,” and “Loki” Season 2. However, Phase 5 has been a bumpy ride for the red brand, stumbling on projects like “Secret Invasion,” “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania,” and “Captain America: Brave New World.” Shows such as “Echo,” “Ironheart,” and “The Marvels” have received minimal buzz, struggling to make a lasting impact or garner much attention.

6 Ways Marvel Studios Could Have Made Phase 5 Something Special

Building Towards a Climax

Throughout the Infinity Saga, each phase gradually led up to a smaller climax that was featured in its own “Avengers” blockbuster movie. However, with only two more “Avengers” films scheduled in the Multiverse Saga to conclude this entire story arc, Phases 4 and 5 seem to lack a significant conclusion and instead appear as random divisions of projects.

Although there won’t be a specific “Avengers” film to wrap up Phase 5, the concluding movie remains an ensemble piece as the “Thunderbolts” brings together characters from various projects. Some might contend that this was long overdue, but regardless, Marvel Studios could have given these characters more attention throughout Phase 5.

If characters like Winter Soldier, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, Taskmaster, and Ghost were scattered throughout Phase 5, the team known as Thunderbolts could have formed a more impactful alliance to bring closure to this era of the Avengers in a style reminiscent of them.

Overall, Phase 5 seems to be rather disjointed and fragmented, with only a few storylines genuinely tying together. For instance, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “Loki” Season 2 are connected through the Kang narrative, while “Echo” directly leads into “Daredevil: Born Again,” which revolves around Kingpin’s mayoral campaign.

Following Up on Phase 4

A significant issue arises in Phase 5, as it fails to build upon Phase 4 effectively, offering few direct sequels or second-season pickups for shows. Additionally, key characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) who were promised to play significant roles moving forward are not adequately utilized.

It doesn’t mean that there are no Phase 4 sequels in Phase 5, but many of them don’t follow the traditional sequel pattern. Instead, they tend to function as successors, offering new stories rather than continuing the narrative directly from previous films.

Loki Season 1 – Loki Season 2
Ms. Marvel – The Marvels
WandaVision – Agatha All Along
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – Captain America: Brave New World
Black Widow – Thunderbolts*
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Ironheart

While it’s true that these new characters like Moon Knight, She-Hulk, Hercules, and Clea did make their first appearance in 2022, there’s been no hint yet about their return in the near future.

The movie “Eternals” stands out as one of the most striking instances where a major plot twist occurred, leaving viewers on edge with characters kidnapped, Arishem preparing to judge Earth, and Harry Styles’ Starfox being introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, it appears that the sequel to this storyline has been put on hold or possibly even canceled.

Ending the Kang Saga

In a challenging scenario, Marvel Studios found themselves in a predicament when actor Jonathan Majors, slated to spearhead the Multiverse Saga and Avengers 5 as Kang the Conqueror, was convicted of assault and harassment charges, ultimately leading to his dismissal from the MCU.

In a more casual and readable way, we could say: If it weren’t for the fact that Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania showed a whole council of Kangs, each bearing Major’s face, recasting Kang might have been straightforward.

Instead of swapping out Majors without an in-universe reason, the studio decided to drop him due to the mixed responses to the Kang storyline, causing “Avengers 5” to shift its focus towards exploring Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doctor Doom instead.

Following the releases of “Ant-Man 3” and “Loki” Season 2, the Governing Body of Kangs was still meticulously planning to sow disorder across multiple realities, all the while the Time Variance Authority persistently kept tabs on the countless variations of Major’s He Who Remains.

In shifting focus towards Doctor Doom in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it appears that the story arc of Kang may remain unfinished following Phase 5. However, there might be a chance for some resolution, though perhaps not completely fulfilling, during Phase 6. This could occur if Doom manages to overpower the Council of Kangs, showcasing his dominance and wickedness in the process.

Setting Up the Next Avengers

In the initial stages of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it seemed like each project was setting up a larger narrative that would interconnect all these elements. However, Phases 4 and 5 have mostly missed this mark, introducing numerous parts without making it clear how they contribute to a cohesive whole, much like having various cogs without a clear indication of how they assemble into a single functioning machine.

Prior to Avengers 5, there hasn’t been much collaboration among the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s numerous heroes. However, Captain America 4 has officially announced that Sam Wilson is assembling Earth’s strongest superheroes again. But with Doomsday looming just a year away, it remains unclear which characters will join this team.

Fresh news unveils the identities of the five characters set to be part of Captain America’s upcoming Avengers squad in the film “Doomsday”. This revelation, however, has added to the perplexity, considering the limited interplay among these characters within the scope of the Multiverse Saga.

Improving Quality Control

Lately, Marvel Studios has been under fire due to concerns about releasing their projects too quickly, which has resulted in inconsistencies with visual effects and other problems related to quality assurance.

Among Phase 5’s six films, only three – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Thunderbolts* were positively received by critics and audiences alike. Conversely, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, The Marvels, and Captain America: Brave New World encountered significant problems during their release and faced substantial criticism.

*Note: Thunderbolts is a hypothetical film, not yet officially confirmed by Marvel Studios.

Born Again, and Agatha All Along, to the mid-tier ratings for Echo and Ironheart, reactions dipped significantly with Secret Invasion.

At its peak, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was widely recognized for maintaining a high level of quality across its productions. However, with an excess of movies and TV series being released more frequently, there seems to be a noticeable dip in the consistency of that quality.

After facing criticism during Phase 4, Marvel Studios adjusted their screenplay approach, yet the positive effects of these changes aren’t fully evident until we reach Phase 6. Earlier projects continue to grapple with challenges from the past.

Actually Making Blade Happen

Historically, Marvel Studios has been sparing with movie announcements, and among these unveiled projects, Inhumans, Armor Wars, and a revival of Blade are the ones that have generated the most buzz.

At the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, I eagerly awaited the announcement of an intriguing vampire movie featuring the talented Mahershala Ali. Initially slated for a Phase 5 release, the film’s debut date experienced several adjustments before ultimately being removed from the schedule altogether.

Despite Marvel Studios, Mahershala Ali, and fans eagerly anticipating the release of “Blade”, the film’s numerous writers have struggled to finalize the script. These delays have led to concerns about whether “Blade” will actually be made, with some speculating that it may be replaced by “Midnight Sons”.

At age 51, the Academy Award winner isn’t slowing down, but concerns have been raised about his potential departure from the project. Nevertheless, for a brief moment, moviegoers caught a glimpse of Blade in the post-credit scene of Eternals, and later this year, they will encounter a character resembling him who transforms into Moon Knight in Marvel Zombies.

It seems like Wesley Snipes’ joke about only one Blade is becoming increasingly plausible, given that the planned reboot of the character hasn’t managed to take flight yet.

A chilling, vampire-themed film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) boasts immense promise for becoming one of the most distinctive movies in the franchise, particularly with an Academy Award-winning actor gracing the main role.

In essence, not bringing about Blade represents a significant misstep for Phase 5, let’s hope it won’t persist as Marvel Studios’ most notable blunder. Here’s wishing that Ali will eventually spearhead the Blade movie in the MCU.

2025-07-28 02:36