Marvel’s Phase 5 is gearing up to enact irrevocable changes to the MCU that will leave lasting marks on future films. This is immediately exciting news for anyone feeling a bit lost in the perceived flatness of Phase 4. It means there are some very high stakes on the table that will stand to permanently change some or even most of the ways that the MCU works. This, of course, includes each subsequent film that builds to the conclusion of the multiverse saga.

It all started in 2008 with a humble superhero film titled Iron Man. Directed by the great Jon Favreau, Iron Man effectively burst open the door to everything we know and love about the MCU. Now 14 years old, the MCU has swelled to include 34 movies and series to keep fans entertained for not just hours but days. After all the stories of triumph, consequences, and loss, the MCU is ripe for some sort of reset. Huge events have taken place, and many fan-favorite characters have tragically been lost along the way. The clear message from Phase 5 is that everything could change.

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It’s Quantumania!

     Marvel Studios

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania director, Peyton Reed, gave a quote during San Diego Comic-Con that was largely overshadowed by other exciting announcements and reveals. However, his brief comments shined a spotlight on the magnitude of change coming for the MCU:

Shortly after the debut of the first-look trailer for Quantumania at SDCC, the internet began to buzz over potential theories, plot points, and how the film will set the stage for Phase 5. Much of the talk has been focused on Kang’s dialogue. The short trailer seemingly shows Kang contradicting himself within his few carefully selected lines. Kang begins:

So far, that all tracks just fine. Marvel fans are accustomed to time travel, which was heavily relied on in Avengers: End Game. They should even be familiar with the basis of the multiverse after its introduction in the Loki series. Scott responds by fessing up to mistakes made as an Avenger, and this is where things seem to get a little strange. Kang responds in surprise:

If Kang actually knew everything about Scott – his sordid past, time lost in the quantum realm, and even his eventual death – then how could he not know that the Ant-Man was also an Avenger? Within the implications of Kang’s questions, we can begin to see the size and scope of the changes coming to Phase 5.

The truth is, Kang used to know everything that was going to happen. He was master of the Sacred Timeline and maintained control of the circular loop of existence in order to keep other variants of himself from exacting their will across the multiverse. Now, that central timeline has been broken and splintered off into an infinite sea of variations. Kang can no longer prune out timelines that interfere with his omnipotence if time is no longer a circular, knowable entity, but rather a sprawling mass of disparate choices and marching chaos. In this way, it is really Loki that deserves credit for breaking the Sacred Timeline, while Phase 5 will begin to deal with the far-sweeping implications.

The Multiverse Saga Could Go in Many Directions

Though we can only speculate as to the effects the multiverse arc will ultimately have, the clear embrace of multiple dimensions and timelines can make the mind reel with infinite possibilities.

One such possibility is the reintroduction of original Avengers characters. It’s difficult to market and sell products for superheroes who have been absent from the big screen for years. Iron Man, Black Widow, and even Captain America could feasibly return with the original cast members reprising their roles. The variant universes also open the door to new actors taking up the mantles of the OG superheroes in new and unique ways.

A particularly interesting implication of these multidimensional changes is that it gives Marvel the chance to tastefully recast one of the most beloved characters introduced into the MCU. Of course, this is a reference to Black Panther and the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is slated to end Marvel’s phase 4, with a release date of November 11, 2022. Though titled Black Panther, the story seemingly will not feature a new actor in the role. This has many pondering the possibility of the return of Erik Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan. Other theories suggest that perhaps Shuri, T’Challa’s sister, will take up the mantle of the Wakandan hero. If so, good for Shuri. And if not, the multiverse presents the keen possibility of a variant Black Panther stepping in to fill the vacancy.

All Roads Lead to Secret Wars

     Marvel Comics

The stage is set for Marvel to reinvigorate its fan base with new characters, returning favorites, and a slew of dizzying timeline shenanigans. Be prepared for Phase 5 to take the MCU in strange and new directions as the films progress toward the conclusion of the multiverse saga in 2025 with Avengers: Secret Wars.

Where do we go from here? The simple answer is anywhere in the multiverse.