The Future of Marvel? Young Actors and 'Black Panther 3' Ideas Revealed

Marvel Studios is establishing plans for future film productions. Currently, 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' has grossed $218 million worldwide since its release on July 25.

The overseas revenue is $100 million, but in the Chinese market, it has only reached $4.5 million. This stands in stark contrast to 2019's 'Avengers: Endgame,' which grossed $614 million in China alone.

Marvel's Future Plans

Led by Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios is planning two 'Avengers' films for 2026 and 2027, and is preparing for a reboot of 'X-Men' afterward. Jake Schreier is set to direct the 'X-Men' tentpole film, and Marvel is currently refining the script by Michael Leslie.

Casting Young Actors

Casting is expected to begin soon, and according to insiders, Marvel is looking for young actors rather than A-list stars to 'lower costs.' Feige also recently stated in an interview that he would focus on the next generation aspect of 'X-Men.'

Release Schedule

Marvel plans to release a film on July 23, 2027, but it has been reported that this will not be an 'X-Men' film. Matt Shakman’s 'Fantastic Four' features Pedro Pascal, who has achieved success on TV with shows like 'The Mandalorian' and 'The Last of Us,' but has yet to achieve the same level of success on the big screen as 'Endgame.'

This situation is contributing to keeping the budget of 'Fantastic Four' at a manageable level.

Avengers: Doomsday

Robert Downey Jr. is set to appear as Doctor Doom in 'Avengers: Doomsday.' According to sources, he has earned about $500-600 million through seven Marvel films and three cameos, and he will not be taking a discounted fee for 'Doomsday.' Additionally, Chris Hemsworth, returning as Thor, is in the same position.

Return of Familiar Faces

Pedro Pascal is not the central character in the film but will play an important role. This tentpole film is scheduled to be released on December 18, 2026. Marvel's next film is 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day,' which will be released on July 31, followed by 'Doomsday' in December and 'Avengers: Secret Wars' in December 2027.

Marvel's Future Outlook

In a time when the superhero genre is shrinking, sources say Marvel does not feel a great urgency regarding the long-in-development 'Blade' reboot or the new 'Deadpool' film. However, there is internal excitement about 'Black Panther 3,' directed by Ryan Coogler.

'Fantastic Four' has successfully revived a project that faced past difficulties, and fans rated the film with an A- CinemaScore. The 2005 version by Tim Story grossed $334 million, while the 2015 version only made $168 million.

Marvel and Disney's Relationship

Wall Street analysts believe that Marvel occupies a significant part of Disney's premium IP, and the stronger Marvel is, the more positive the impact on the overall company.