With multiple Marvel superhero films expected to release every year, there’s no time for breaks in the Marvel Cinematic Universe schedule. In a move to expedite the mighty Marvel machine, Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War are apparently filming back-to-back to meet their respective 2018 release dates.
First on the release schedule is Marvel’s Black Panther starring Chadwick Boseman and directed by Ryan Coogler (Creed). The first standalone feature film for the character, Black Panther will take place in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, as the royal Wakandan family politics is under threat.
The film has cast Michael B. Jordan as the villain, and he will be joined by other actors such as Forest Whitaker as a Wakanda politician, Lupita Nyong’o as a Dora Milaje warrior (and T’Challa’s love interest), and Angela Bassett as Ramonda, T’Challa’s mother. The film will reportedly take influence from Ta-Nehisi Coates’s massively successful Black Panther comic, but mostly through the story of political intrigue in the advanced state of Wakanda.
Avengers Infinity War is the third Avengers film following 2012’s Avengers and 2015’s Age of Ultron. As the 19th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the roster for the Avengers has grown considerably from the first film, with the team of six growing to include new characters like Scarlet Witch, Winter Soldier, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Doctor Strange, as well as villains Loki and Nebula.
There are reports that Brie Larson will be making her debut as Captain Marvel in the film as well, ahead of the 2019 release of her solo feature film as well. Undoubtedly, Avengers: Infinity War will most likely feature other new, unannounced Marvel characters, potentially setting them up for their own films in the future.
With so many Marvel films in the pipeline (2017 will see three Marvel films: Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Thor: Ragnarok), the comic book company will no doubt be working harder than ever to meet ever-expanding goals when it comes to their wildly successful cinematic universe.
Black Panther hits theaters February 16, 2018, and Avengers: Infinity Wars follows on May 4, 2018.
