Next year will mark a decade since the release of “Iron Man,” and Marvel‘s journey so far has been nothing short of incredible. The films have earned a combined $13.4 billion worldwide to date, but perhaps even more significantly, Kevin Feige has brought what was considered a niche interest — superheroes — right into the mainstream. However, the face of Marvel is changing.
Following the currently untitled “Avengers 4,” the contracts will be up for Chris Evans (Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye). While some of those actors might re-up, the plan is for the storytelling torch to be passed. Just as “Star Wars” is gearing up to go to new places in the galaxy, Marvel’s cinematic universe is going to open up.
With the rights to over 7,000 characters, Feige reveals that there are still big plans on the horizon for Marvel. “…22 movies in, and we’ve got another 20 movies on the docket that are completely different from anything that’s come before—intentionally,” he told Vanity Fair in their extensive profile of the studio.
“We’re looking for worlds that are completely separate—geographically or in time—from the worlds that we’ve already visited,” Disney‘s Bob Iger explained about the future plans for Marvel.
How they will bring audiences from the current Marvel Cinematic Universe into a brave new world all hinges on “Avengers 4” which Feige explains “bring things you’ve never seen in superhero films: a finale.”
“There will be two distinct periods. Everything before ‘Avengers 4’ and everything after. I know it will not be in ways people are expecting,” he added.
It’s tremendously exciting stuff for Marvel fans, who will perhaps see their current, beloved heroes fade into the night, and watch as rise of new favorites take center stage.