Entire Timeline Explained for MCUs Upcoming Movies and Series

A bold new era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe began in 2021 on Disney+ with the wildly successful WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki. Still, Marvel Studios haven’t been resting on their laurels regarding upcoming cinematic blockbusters. Deadpool 3 will be making its way to the big screen soon, while Echo will hit our TVs early next year.

There are even more Marvel movies after this year, including a brand-new version of Blade, Captain America: New World Order, Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, a pair of big Avengers movies, and much more. And without mentioning all the other TV series in the works, like Agatha, Wonder Man, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again…must we go on?

Let’s take a look at everything that Marvel and the Marvel Studios-Sony partnership have in store over the next few years.

Upcoming MCU Movies/Series
Movie/SeriesRelease Date
What If…? Season 2December 22, 2023
EchoJanuary 10, 2024
Madame WebFebruary 14, 2024
X Men’97Early 2024
Deadpool 3May 3, 2024
Kraven the HunterAugust 30, 2024
Agatha: Darkhold DiariesFall 2024
Daredevil: Born AgainSpring 2024
Captain America: Brave NewFebruary 14, 2025
ThunderboltsJuly 25, 2025
IronheartSeptember 3, 2025
BladeNovember 7, 2025
Fantastic FourMay 2, 2025
Avengers: The Kang DynastyMay 1, 2026
Avengers: Secret WarsMay 1, 2027
El MuertoJanuary 12, 2024
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-VerseMarch 29, 2024
Spider-Man: Freshman YearNovember 2, 2024
Marvel Zombies2024

1. What If…? Season 2

Release Date: December 22, 2023

Hela, Captain Carter, Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, Black Widow, Doctor Strange, Peter Parker, Thanos, the Grandmaster, Red Guardian, Ego, Shang-Chi, Winter Soldier, Captain America, and Gamora will all be helping or hindering the multiverse in season 2. There will also be a 1602-inspired storyline in the mix.

In an interview with head writer A.C. Bradley, it was revealed that Marvel’s What If…? season 2 would stick with anthology stories, drawing some alt-narratives from Phase 4. What if…? Season 2 is set in its multiverse. It exists in its timeline, which is separate from the main MCU Timeline.

Neal McDonough, Sebastian Stan, and Hayley Atwell in What If.. | Source: IMDb

2. Echo

Release Date: January 10, 2024

Introduced in Hawkeye and played by Alaqua Cox, Echo, aka Maya Lopez, will get her spinoff series on Disney+. Even though ‘Echo’ is debuting under ‘Marvel Spotlight,’ it remains canon within the MCU. It is a spinoff of the ‘Hawkeye’ series, which is undeniably part of the canon.

‘Echo’ primarily unfolds after the ‘Hawkeye’ series events. Her journey will involve both healing and seeking vengeance. Given that the ‘Hawkeye’ series transpired in December 2024 after the Blip, ‘Echo’ will be set sometime after that. It is believed to be a part of Phase Five.

3. Madame Web

Release date: Feb. 14, 2024

Dakota Johnson will play the title character, and Sydney Sweeney will star alongside her in this curious film directed by S.J. Clarkson and written by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama. Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, Emma Roberts, Mike Epps, Adam Scott, and Zosia Mamet also star.

Set photos indicate that Madame Web may have occurred in the early 2000s, around the same time as Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man films.

The character Madame Web has powers that enable her to perceive the entire multiverse, including the future, present, and past, which may account for at least some of the throwback elements.

Dakota Johnson in Madame Web (2024) | Source: IMDb

4. X-Men ’97

Release Date: Early 2024

Yes, the beloved X-Men series is making a comeback! Marvel promises it will be “an animated series that explores new stories in the iconic ’90s timeline of the original series,” but there will be a shake-up in leadership.

X-Men ’97 is the only known continuation of Marvel’s first shared onscreen universe, which comprises X-Men: The Animated Series and Spider-Man: The Animated Series. This show ran from 1994 to 1998. This means that mutants in the MCU won’t be affected by X-Men ’97, as the new series is technically not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

X-Men ’97 is the only project announced at SDCC 2022 that isn’t directly connected to the MCU.

5. Deadpool 3

Release Date: May 3, 2024

With Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, Marvel acquired the rights to Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, along with the X-Men. As of now, Deadpool 3 marks the character’s entry into the MCU, a debut that will also keep the studio’s first R-rated film.

Hugh Jackman will also reprise his role as Logan, or Wolverine, a character he played in the X-Men franchise for 17 years across nine films. Deadpool 3 is set in the present day. It takes place after the events of Deadpool from 2016, which is set after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand

Deadpool 3 | Source: IMDb

6. Kraven the Hunter

Release Date: Aug. 30, 2024

While technically not part of the MCU, things are always murky enough with these Sony Spider-Man projects that it’s better to be safe than sorry regarding including them. In this case, another Spidey villain is getting his movie.

Kraven the Hunter is set in its independent timeline. With new details about Kraven the Hunter, there is speculation that the film could connect to the version of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

7. Agatha: The Darkhold Diaries

Release Date: Fall 2024

WandaVision writer Jac Schaefer returns to the MCU’s small screen with this live-action spinoff series that will bring back the breakout character of that first show, Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn).

Set to premiere in late 2024, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries will be part of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The exact placement within the MCU timeline is not yet confirmed. However, it will likely follow the 2021 Disney+ series WandaVision events, which introduced the powerful sorceress and antagonist.

8. Daredevil: Born Again

Release Date: Spring 2024

Matt Murdock returns to the Marvel fold again in 2024, this time for an 18-episode season on Disney+ that is currently cloaked in mystery.

Some leaked photos and footage hint at an unexpected Marvel Timeline for the series.

The new pics show Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) strolling a street wearing his iconic red glasses and passing a Baptist Church. Nothing is too fascinating about that. However, the front bulletin board at the church’s front is dated March 15, 2020, aka the middle of The Blip, when half of the universe’s residents were dust in the wind.

9. Captain America: Brave New

Release Date: February 14, 2025

In the season finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) embraces the shield, taking up the mantle of Captain America to defeat the Flag Smashers. Next, Mackie continues the Captain America franchise with its fourth installment, this one to be directed by Julius Onah.

It will be the final film of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The exact timeline for the film has not been revealed yet, but it is expected to be set sometime after the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Secret Invasion.

The film will explore the aftermath of the Blip, which wiped out half of all life in the universe for five years.

10. Thunderbolts

Release Date: July 25, 2025

Marvel Studios has now officially revealed their plan to introduce the Thunderbolts. Set to be directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts will create a new super team: one slightly rougher around the edges than the Avengers.

The film is set in the aftermath of the events of the Secret Invasion.

11. Ironheart

Release Date: September 3, 2025

The first series to explore the legacy of Iron Man and Tony Stark in the MCU, Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a teenager at M.I.T. who creates her suit of armor to right the world’s wrongs.

Ironheart will occur after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, set after Avengers: Endgame. This makes it a part of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

12. Blade

Release Date: November 7, 2025

In 2019, Marvel announced they would reboot the Blade franchise with Mahershala Ali playing the daywalker. Bassam Tariq (Mogul Mowgli) was initially supposed to direct from a screenplay by Stacy Amma Osei-Kuffour, but he stepped off the project just a week before filming began.

The timeline of Blades is still under wraps, but it is likely to be set after the events of Eternals, which is set in 5000 BC. There are possibilities of a different timeline, too. The film is expected to explore the origins of the vampire Hunter Blade.

13. Fantastic Four

Release Date: May 2, 2025.

The MCU Fantastic Four movie is finally happening! And here’s everything we know about it: WandaVision’s Matt Shakman is directing, taking the place of the MCU Spider-Man trilogy’s Jon Watts, who left the project early on.

Marvel fans, get ready for some exciting news! We can officially confirm that Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will feature the highly anticipated Fantastic Four film.

If you’ve been following the epic storylines of the previous MCU films and television series, including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Thor: Love and Thunder, you know that Phase Six is where all the action is at. While the exact spot of the Fantastic Four film in Phase Six is still a mystery, our sources suggest it will hit theaters sometime between 2025 and 2026.

Get your calendars ready and mark those dates, because this is one film you won’t want to miss!

14. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

Release Date: May 1, 2026

When Avengers: The Kang Dynasty hits theaters, it will have been over six years since Avengers: Endgame concluded Phase 3 of the MCU. The film was announced at Comic-Con in 2022, with Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton set to direct.

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is expected to culminate Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It is believed to occur after the events of Avengers: Endgame and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which introduces the character of Kang the Conqueror.

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty | Source: IMDb

15. Avengers: Secret Wars

Release Date: May 1, 2027

Avengers: Secret Wars marks the culmination of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. With Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, writer Michael Waldron tapped to pen the film’s script, Secret Wars will mark the MCU’s sixth Avengers film.

It is believed to take place after the events of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, which is set for release in May 2026.

16. El Muerto

Release date: January 12, 2024

Rapper Bad Bunny was initially set to play obscure Spider-Man character El Muerto in one of Sony’s ongoing attempts to build a live-action Spidey-centric universe of their own. El Muerto has only appeared in two comics, so we’re not sure where they’re going with this one.

El Muerto is believed to follow the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), which introduced the concept of multiverse and opened up the possibility for characters from different timelines to interact.

17. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse

Release date: March 29, 2024

While the plot for “Beyond the Spider-Verse” has yet to be revealed, the “Across the Spider-Verse” ending leaves several clues for the next sequel. “Beyond the Spider-Verse” will likely resolve the events of “Across the Spider-Verse.”

Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse follows its timeline independent of the MCU Timeline.

18. Spider-Man: Freshman Year

Release Date: November 2, 2024

During a 2022 interview with ComicBook.com, Marvel Studios producer Brad Winderbaum revealed that Spider-Man: Freshman Year takes place in a distinct timeline, separate from the established Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

This decision was made to grant the creators more artistic liberty to delve into Peter Parker’s formative years as Spider-Man without the limitations imposed by the events of the MCU. Winderbaum further elaborated that this alternate timeline will open up opportunities for the show to introduce new characters and storylines that may not be feasible in the primary MCU timeline.

19. Marvel Zombies

Release Date: 2024

With Marvel Studios ramping up their new animated division, it came as no surprise to hear that there are now several fresh cartoons on their way to Disney+, but fans of What If…? ‘a standout zombie episode will be thrilled to learn that there is an entire series of Marvel Zombies shenanigans incoming!

Marvel Zombies is set in an alternate timeline designated Earth-2149, which contains alternate zombie versions of Marvel Superheroes.

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20. About Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films and TV series, independently produced by Marvel Studios and based on characters that appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

The franchise includes comic books, short films, television series, and digital series. The shared universe, much like the original Marvel Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.

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