The Marvel fandom was thrust into devastation when renowned comic creator Stan Lee passed away in November. Lee co-created some of the franchise’s most well-known characters like Iron Man, Thor and Black Panther — all of whom would later land feature films that Lee would make famed cameo appearances in.
The death of the comic connoisseur, although he was 95 years old, came as a surprise to fans because of the high energy and fun Lee had always brought to his cameo appearances. Roy Thomas, who succeeded Lee as editor-in-chief at Marvel, visited the comic creator just a few days before his passing. Thomas reports that during his visit with the accolated writer, Lee was talking about doing more cameos in the future. According to Thomas if Lee had the energy and didn’t have to travel far, he was always looking forward to filming cameos for upcoming films.
Lee has left a sentimental void in MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and fans will now exclaim “Excelsior!” met with a pang of nostalgia. But that doesn’t mean the curtain on all things good in the franchise. Here’s a reminder of all to come from Marvel in 2019.
CAPTAIN MARVEL
The upcoming Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck-directed Captain Marvel is one of the most highly anticipated films of 2019. Audience members immediately wanted to know more about Brie Larson’s cosmic-powered character after the Captain Marvel emblem appeared on Nick Fury’s galactic paging device before he crumbled to dust in Avengers Infinity War. This led many fans to believe that Carol Danvers (Larson) could be what reverses Thanos’ heinous acts to bring “salvation and balance” to the universe.
Marvel’s loyal followers have since learned that before it is shown specifically what Captain Marvel’s role will be in bringing back the victims of Thanos’ genocide-inducing snap that victimized Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and many others, Marvel is throwing the audience back to the ‘90s for an origin story.
However, following the release of the first Captain Marvel trailer, it is clear that the heroine’s origin story will come before her run-in with the Mad Titan. By the looks of the Blockbuster stores still prospering, Agent Coulson alive and a two-eyed Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Danvers story will take place in the ‘90s. Fury works with Danvers as Earth falls in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.
Captain Marvel is set to release March 8.
AVENGERS: ENDGAME
Marvel-alum directors Anthony and Joe Russo aka the Russo brothers are returning for the fourth Avengers movie. The upcoming film takes place just after Thanos defeated the elite squad. In the recently released trailer, Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson) confirms that Thanos did exactly what he said he would and wiped out half of all living creatures.
The Avengers: Endgame trailer opens with a somber-toned Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) leaving a farewell message to Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) as he drifts further into space “with zero sign of rescue” and no food or water. For the first time, the Marvel heroes weren’t coming off a victory, but rather contemplating their own existence following their biggest failure and how to navigate in the new world without their closest friends.
With the world left in ruins, the iconic duo of Black Widow and Captain America who worked together in The Winter Soldier must regroup the remaining Avengers (who appears to be Thor, Hulk and possibly Ant-Man) to undo the Mad Titan’s genocidal devastation.
Naturally, the new Avengers trailer sent fans into a frenzy and the release made history with 289 million views in the first 24 hours — making it the most viewed trailer of all time. The previous record was held by Avengers: Infinity War with 230 million views in 24 hours.
Endgame was originally scheduled for release in May of 2019, but now has an opening date of April 26. Stan Lee was rumored to have pre-recorded his cameo for the Infinity War-follow up.
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME
Spider-Man: Homecoming director Jon Watts returned for the first film’s sequel, Far from Home. The next Spider-Man installment takes place after End Game. Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his friends go on a summer vacation in Europe where the web-slinger runs into a new villain. Spider-Man will have to face off with the Elementals on foreign grounds, under the orders of Fury.
There isn’t a lot of information on the new Spider-Man project for the time being and the first trailer has been delayed. It was rumored that the first look at Far from Home would be released December 8, just a day after End Game’s premiere trailer. But fans were left in anticipation and an official date has yet to be announced.
Far from Home will premier in theatres July 5.