THE UCM had a relatively limited release schedule in 2024, with Deadpool and Wolverine being the only film alongside a handful of Marvel Studios television shows. However, it had a pretty successful year overall, with a number of reveals that occurred throughout the year that made the future of the MCU timeline look bright.
The MCU will really ramp up with Marvel's releases in 2025, via a handful of films set to debut that year, and a significant slate of TV series to look forward to. Beloved actors and directors returned to the universe, records were broken, and nostalgic revivals showed what's to come for Marvel Studios. Here they are the ten biggest stories happening for Marvel in 2024 and what it means for the future of this franchise.
10
Spider-Man 4 Release Date and Director
Spider-Man 4
Tom Holland's Spider-Man had some major announcements in 2024. First, it was revealed that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton would replace Jon Watts with Spider-Man 4. Jon Watts directed all three films in Holland's original trilogy, but a new director promises to bring a fresh perspective to the Spider-Man 4 history. Receiving Shang-Chi the director bodes well especially for Spidey's action scenes, which are a crucial aspect of the hero's on-screen appeal.
Second was the announcement that Tom Holland's fourth Spider-Man film would be released on July 24, 2026. This puts you between Avengers: Judgment Day and Avengers: Secret Warswhich means Spider-Man could have a significant role in one (or both) of these films. Spider-Man 4 was originally thought to be focused on street antics, but its release date makes it seem like Sony and Marvel Studios may have bigger plans for the character.
9
Deadpool and Wolverine break box office records
Deadpool and Wolverine
The third Dead Pool film was the only MCU film to be released in 2024 and it exceeded all expectations, with Deadpool and Wolverine breaking several records during its theatrical run. Ryan Reynolds returned as Deadpool alongside Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, who originally stepped away from the character after 2017 Logan. It worked out beautifully for everyone involved, as Deadpool and Wolverine is one of the most successful Marvel films of all time.
Because of this resounding success, there's a good chance that Reynolds and Jackman will return to their roles at least one more time.
The film's success shows that audiences are still willing to attend massive multiverse crossovers featuring decades of beloved characters throughout Marvel's cinematic history. With only one film for the MCU in 2024, expectations for Deadpool and Wolverine they were tall, but it was still difficult to predict that it would be as big as it is. Because of this resounding success, there's a good chance that Reynolds and Jackman will return to their roles at least once more in the MCU.
8
X-Men '97 successfully revives the classic series
X-Men '97
X-Men '97 may have been the most surprising Marvel Studios project to be released in 2024. There was always a solid chance that it would be good, but X-Men '97 was incredible, with the first season receiving rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. It successfully revived one of the best animated superhero shows of all time, X-Men: The Animated Seriescontinuing excellently while also being a good starting point for fans who haven't seen the original series.
Perhaps the most important thing X-Men '97 What we did was show how much potential mutants have when it comes to the rich narrative at their disposal. It was the first full dive into Marvel Studios' X-Men, which indicates that when mutants are officially introduced into the main continuity, they will thrive.
7
Death is introduced
Agatha all the time
Despite being a spin-off of Marvel Studios' first television series, Agatha all the time It had some big implications for the future of the MCU. Notably, Aubrey Plaza's character Rio was revealed to be Death in history. The character plays an important role in Thanos' motivation in the comics, so when she wasn't part of the Infinity Saga, it was unclear whether Death would appear in the MCU, as she was shunned in favor of a new motivation for the Mad Titan. .
Happily, Agatha all the time he fully delved into the magical side of the universe and also explored the character of Death, detailing his work and motivations. She could also be the key to Wanda Maximoff's rebirth at some point in the future, as Death can resurrect characters at will in the comics, something that was only briefly hinted at during the series.
6
Marvel's 2025 TV Slate Revealed
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Daredevil: Born Again, Ironheart, Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel Zombies and Wonder Man
Marvel Studios had a relatively successful TV production in 2024, but 2025 looks to be more crowded than ever. In October 2024, Marvel announced that six TV series would be released in 2025including three live-action and three animated projects. They are Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Daredevil: Born Again, Iron Heart, Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel Zombiesand Wonder Man. With Marvel having previously stated that it would focus on quality over quantity for more active projects in the future, it's unclear whether this larger slate will be a one-off for 2025 or reflect the overall number of annual projects going forward.
Still, there's a lot to be excited about for Marvel television in 2025, with each of these projects presenting an exciting way for the franchise to expand and explore new corners of its mythos. Daredevil: Born Again is the obvious highlight that could be a real game-changer for the MCU if it's well-received in terms of viewership and ratings. This is because the show is simultaneously a continuation of the Netflix series while also being a new beginning as part of the MCU and the first season to be produced by Marvel Studios.
5
Avengers: Kang Dynasty plans scrapped
Avengers: Judgment Day
Kang the Conqueror was originally positioned as the Thanos of the Multiverse Saga - an all-encompassing great evil that all the separate stories would eventually lead to in spectacular fashion. However, Jonathan Majors' legal accusations, combined with Kang's lackluster reception in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniaappear to have changed that plan.
It wasn't until the revelation that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty would become Avengers: Judgment Day that Marvel's intentions for the character were finally shown.
It wasn't until the revelation that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty would become Avengers: Judgment Day that Marvel's intentions for the character were finally shown. It looks like this may have brought about the end of Kang's story in the MCU, as the universe prepares for Doctor Doom's arrival in Avengers: Judgment Day (and possibly The Fantastic Four: Getting Started) before ending the saga with Avengers: Secret Wars.
4
Russo Bros returning to Avengers
Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars
San Diego Comic Con 2024 was a big moment for Marvel as a series of announcements were made that affected the overall narrative. After revealing this Avengers: Judgment Day would be the fifth Avengers film, it was announced that the Russo Brothers would return to direct it. Not only that, but they will also be driving Avengers: Secret Warsthe great culmination of the Multiverse Saga.
The Russo Brothers have had huge success with the MCU – arguably the biggest success of any other director working in the universe. They drove Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity Warand Avengers: Endgame. The Russo Brothers have proven that they are capable of directing these massive set pieces, and it must be a relief for Marvel Studios to finally settle on who would direct these films, as it seemed undecided for most of the saga.
3
The MCU finds its Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four: Getting Started
The Fantastic Four has been trying to make a great movie for over three decades, with Fox trying to successfully launch the franchise multiple times. After Disney purchased the studio, it was only a matter of time before Marvel's first family finally appeared. In 2024, Marvel Studios officially announced the film's cast, as well as some other characters that could have major implications for the MCU as a whole.
The cast for The Fantastic Four: Getting Started is incredibly impressive, with Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. They also cast Silver Surfer and Galactus, with Julia Garner and Ralph Ineson playing their respective characters. The Fantastic Four: Getting Started it needs to be a great movie, and all signs point to that being a possibility.
2
Wiccan officially joins the MCU
Agatha all the time
Despite initially appearing to be one of Marvel's more low-key releases in 2024, Agatha all the time introduced some characters that will likely have a greater impact on the overall universe. The biggest is undoubtedly the return of Billy Maximoff, son of Scarlet Witch who first appeared in WandaVision. This time, he is officially back as a Wiccan after his soul took over William Kaplan's body following William's death.
Just like Billy, Scarlet Witch's other son, Tommy, also disappeared after the events of WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Billy's entire journey in Agatha all the time it's him trying to find out where Tommy is, and after finally bringing him back to life, Billy and the ghost Agatha set out to find him. Once Tommy and Billy reunite, they could eventually join the Young Avengers, which Marvel Studios has been building up to since the beginning of Phase 4.
1
Robert Downey Jr. cast as Doctor Doom
Avengers: Judgment Day
Finally, Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige dropped a bombshell at San Diego Comic Con 2024 by revealing that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the MCU in a role very different from his tenure as Iron Man. He was announced to play Doctor Doomarguably the greatest Marvel villain of all time. It was a shocking casting choice that could pay off big for the MCU.
Both praise and skepticism emerged following the announcement. Fans of Robert Downey Jr. and Tony Stark seemed happy that he was back, but others questioned how he could be playing Doctor Doom and how that could affect his end as Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame. Either way, it was definitely the biggest news that Wonder fell in 2024, and his appearances in Avengers: Judgment Day and Avengers: Secret Wars will be huge.
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February 14, 2025
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July 25, 2025
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July 24, 2026