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SDCC ’24: Marvel Studios Sets 3 Films for Theatrical Release in 2025

Originally posted on Murphy's Multiverse
By Charles Murphy | Last updated Jul 28, 2024 7:21 PM ET

Though we’ll never see it here, somewhere on a parallel Earth, Marvel Studios’ fans just saw Thunderbolts at the theater are preparing to be treated to some version of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty next May. Scrapped in favor of the return of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is one of several projects revealed at comic-cons past as part of a future MCU slate that didn’t quite work out. During Marvel’s last trip to San Diego, they rolled out an ambitious plan for the Multiverse Saga; two years later, nine of the projects have seen their release dates shift significantly, including five projects that would have been released by now had the original plan been followed. While there are myriad reasons for the shifts, the fact remains the slate has changed several times over the last two years and now, it has again.

As Marvel Studios took the stage in Hall H last night, its latest 2025 theatrical slate was the presentation’s focus. Recently the studio still had plans for four films to be released next year but work stoppages and difficulties locking down quality scripts have caused fans to call into question the pragmatism of that slate for some time and now it’s been made official: Marvel Studios will only release 3 films in 2025.

With the studio still searching for yet another director to helm Mahershala Ali‘s Blade, the vampire hunter’s MCU debut has been delayed indefinitely. With Blade on the shelf, Marvel Studios’ 2025 theatrical slate will consist of Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

February 14, 2025: Captain America: Brave New World

Despite some significant issues behind the scenes, Captain America: Brave New World remains on track to hit its mid-February release date. After the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier , Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson takes center stage as the all-new, all-different Captain America.

The story follows Sam Wilson, who after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, finds himself in the middle of an international incident. Sam must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
-Official Synopsis, Captain America: Brave New World

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Rob Delaney, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Harrison Ford, Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez, Giancarlo Esposito and Anthony Mackie speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Danny Ramirez, Tim Blake Nelson, Harrison Ford, Anthony Mackie and Giancarlo Esposito attend the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie attend the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

Harrison Ford will make his MCU debut as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and Tim Blake Nelson returns to the role of Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, after first appearing as the character in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Danny Ramirez returns as Joaquin Torres, who will take over as The Falcon and Giancarlo Esposito will make his MCU debut as Serpent Society King, Sidewinder.

May 2, 2025: Thunderbolts*

Marvel Sudios

Directed by Jake Schrier, Thunderbolts* boasts an impressive ensemble cast and serves as a sequel to multiple projects. Though the film’s true lead is Florence Pugh‘s Yelena Belova, it also stars MCU first-timers Geraldine Viswanathan and Lewis Pullman along with returnees Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, Olga Kurylenko and David Harbour, who showed up at SDCC in full Red Guardian garb.

An irreverent team-up featuring depressed assassin Yelena Belova alongside the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits.
-Official Logline for Thunderbolts*

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Florence Pugh, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jake Schreier, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour and Wyatt Russell attend the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Rob Delaney, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Jake Schreier, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Jake Schreier, Geraldine Viswanathan and Lewis Pullman speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: David Harbour speaks during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Though details on Pullman’s character, Bob, were not revealed at SDCC, it’s widely accepted that he’ll be playing Robert Reynolds, aka The Sentry, one of the most powerful characters in the pages of Marvel Comics.

July 25, 2025: The Fantastic Four: First Steps

One of the most anticipated Marvel Studios projects in quite some time, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is still set to land in theaters next July despite the fact that production has not yet gotten underway.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps sees Galactus and Silver Surfer target Earth for destruction
-Official Description of The Fantastic Four: First Steps

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal and Matt Shakman speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Rob Delaney, Matt Shakman, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Matt Shakman, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Director Matt Shakman was joined on stage in San Diego by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who will play the MCU’s version of The First Family. Shakman described the film as retro-futuristic and explained that it will look both into the past and future of the Fantastic Four though it will not be an origin story.

This article first appeared on Murphy's Multiverse and was syndicated with permission.

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