As the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Four comes to a close, what exciting announcements arrived in D23 Expo 2022? We have everything you need to know down below. Marvel Studios president and chief creative officer Kevin Feige took to the stage and led the festivities. The panel was filled to the brim with new information, including the previously unannounced Halloween Disney+ special Werewolf By Night. Much of the new details revealed involve projects that will kick-off the MCU’s Phase 5 and lead to Phase 6.
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) September 11, 2022
Armor Wars
Previously rumored as being cancelled due to not being included in the San Diego Comic-Con panel, Armor Wars gets an update in D23 with the official logo. No further details were provided, but the Disney Plus series is still being developed. The series will star Don Cheadle reprising his role as James Rhodes aka War Machine. In the comic books, Armor Wars (also called the Stark Wars) followed Tony Stark/Iron Man in his quest of obsessively trying to retrieve or destroy his stolen technology, whether it was friend or foe using it. With Cheadle’s Rhodey taking over the lead for the Armor Wars storyline, what other details might be changed? If stolen Stark Tech will be involved, will Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) be reprising her role? Will it lead to the rumored return of Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man?
Captain America: New World Order
Captain America 4 finally gets an official title with Captain America: New World Order. In addition, the D23 panel debuted the official logo for the upcoming superhero film. The movie will star Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson as the new Captain America, directly spinning out from the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Disney Plus series. It was also confirmed that Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) and Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) will be returning. The big cast addition is Tim Blake Nelson, who will be reprising his role as Samuel Sterns aka The Leader. It was previously rumored that Samuel Sterns might be the main villain in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
Fantastic Four
The D23 panel confirmed that Matt Shakman (WandaVision) will be the director for the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, as previously reported. However, no casting details or plot elements were revealed. The only information added was that the Fantastic Four film is projected for a November 8, 2024 theatrical release.
Ironheart
The series that will star Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/Ironheart has debuted the official logo and made the announcement that Anthony Ramos will be joining the cast. Ramos will be playing the super-powered criminal mastermind The Hood.
Loki Season 2
Not much was revealed about the second season of Loki for Disney+, save for the addition of Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) to the existing cast.
Secret Invasion
Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury returns to the spotlight, with the first Secret Invasion teaser trailer. Secret Invasion will be following the general plot from the comic books, dealing with a group of Skrulls invading the Earth by masquerading as humans. However, it seems the MCU version will not be as big of an event as its comic book origins where the story ultimately led to a massive battle with the Avengers and their allies against the Skrull invasion. Secret Invasion will also star Cobie Smulders and Don Cheadle, as well as Emilia Clarke, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Olivia Colman.
Thunderbolts
The Thunderbolts roster has been confirmed, as D23 showed a promotional picture of the main cast. This included Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova/Black Widow), Wyatt Russell (John Walker/U.S. Agent), Hannah John-Kamen (The Ghost), David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian), and Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster). The Thunderbolts will be led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. According to the D23 panel, the Thunderbolts movie will be released to theaters on July 26, 2024.
Werewolf By Night
The surprise inclusion in the D23 Marvel Studios panel is Werewolf By Night. The D23 debuted a black and white trailer for the special presentation of Werewolf By Night. It has a very old-school feel, similar to the classic horror films. Historically, Werewolf By Night is older than any Marvel most of its superhero properties. It appeared as a five-page short story in 1953 for Marvel Tales #116. This was under Atlas Comics, the predecessor of what would later be Marvel Comics. The Werewolf By Night special will be based on the later version from 1972. This will be the Jack Russell version of the character who had his own series. Interestingly, it is also the series where Moon Knight made his first appearance. Jack Russell will be played by Gael García Bernal. Prior to the D23 revelation, the Halloween special was not specifically identified. Along with the upcoming Blade film, Werewolf By Night adds another member of the Midnight Sons to the MCU. The Werewolf By Night Halloween special will also star Laura Donnelly as monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone and directed by Michael Giacchino. Werewolf By Night will air on Disney+ on October 7. Other notable inclusions in the Marvel Studios D23 panel include appearances of the cast for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Daredevil: Born Again, Echo, and The Marvels.
