The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2 set up several narrative seeds that will play a significant part in the Multiverse Saga’s Phases 5 and 6. After the successful culmination of the Infinity Saga with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios needed to rebuild the universe with the goal of laying the groundwork for another overarching narrative. Kevin Feige and his team took some big swings in Phase 4, experimenting with genre and storytelling approaches. Now that Phase 5 has officially kicked off, the universe is delving deeper into the multiverse making it also clear that certain significant elements in it have long been established in the MCU.
Admittedly, MCU Phase 5 is off to a rocky start with Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania not quite impressing critics. The franchise moves forward, however, with a slew of upcoming projects on the small and big screen. The roster includes James Gunn’s much-anticipated trilogy-capper, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels, Julius Onah’s Captain America: New World Order, and Disney+’s Secret Invasion, as well as Daredevil: Born Again. While several of these endeavors will tackle entirely new concepts in the MCU, others will hinge on the work done back in the Infinity Saga, specifically during MCU Phase 2.
Introducing Sam Wilson In Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Dubbed one of the best films that Marvel Studios has ever done, Captain America: The Winter Soldier arguably changed the trajectory of the Infinity Saga simply by finding the perfect combination of directors Joe and Anthony Russo with writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Without the creative force behind the sequel, it’s difficult to imagine what Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame would have looked like. Beyond the Infinity Saga, it remains relevant in a couple of ways starting with the introduction of Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson.
Going by his superhero persona as the Falcon, Wilson was a supporting character in the Infinity Saga, playing Steve Rogers’ most reliable ally. In the Multiverse Saga, however, Wilson is set to play a much bigger role as the new Captain America after the mantle was passed to him personally by Captain Rogers. After the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Mackie’s character will spearhead his own film in Captain America: New World Order. He’s also expected to also play a big role in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.
The Fall of SHIELD In Captain America: The Winter Soldier
SHIELD was an important organization throughout MCU Phase 1 as it allowed Sam Jackson’s Nick Fury to move forward with the Avengers Initiative. So when it was dissolved in Captain America: The Winter Soldier after it was uncovered that HYDRA was secretly running the organization, Fury was forced to work underground as an operative, but it also allowed him to re-forge old connections and rebuild his own network of allies, including Talos and their other Skrull allies. Now, those ties will be integral as he fends off the shape-shifting aliens’ attempt to take over Earth in Secret Invasion.
Bucky Is Saved In Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Introduced in Captain America: The First Avenger, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes was believed to be dead until Rogers found out what really happened to him in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Brainwashed by HYDRA to become their killing operative known as the Winter Soldier, Bucky carried out many despicable missions for the terrorist group including killing Howard and Maria Stark. Thanks to the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, however, he was rescued from HYDRA, and while he’s still in the process of healing his trauma from his harrowing experience, his story will continue in the Multiverse Saga as the leader of the team in Marvel’s Thunderbolts.
Introducing Scarlet Witch and Vision In Avengers: Age of Ultron
Marvel Studios’ overarching Infinity Saga plan didn’t become clear until Avengers: Age of Ultron. Despite being not as celebrated as 2012’s The Avengers, it has become so much more appreciated over the years, especially as it featured some of the MCU’s most interesting set-ups. For the Multiverse Saga, however, its significance is primarily through its introduction of Wanda Maximoff and Vision. Disney+’s WandaVision delved deeper into the pair’s romance, but Phases 5 and 6 are expected to further explore them with projects like Agatha: Coven of Chaos and Vision’s Quest. The powerful couple is also expected to play major roles in the fight against Kang the Conqueror.
Introducing The Guardians of the Galaxy
Possibly the most daring project of MCU Phase 2 is Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Debuting the obscure cosmic team which barely had any brand recognition beyond Marvel Comics readers, the risk paid off as the gang immediately became fan favorites. Aside from that, it also properly opened up the galactic pocket of the MCU which was introduced in the Thor movies and allowed more off-Earth adventures in the franchise.
The Guardians of the Galaxy members have played significant roles in the Infinity Saga as they teamed up with the Avengers against Thanos. Now, the hotly-anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will end the heroes’ trilogy with an emotional send-off. Some of the members will likely continue being a part of the MCU, but the threequel will be the end of the original roster.
Introducing The Quantum Realm In Ant-Man
In 2015, director Peyton Reed had the privilege of introducing the mysterious Quantum Realm in the MCU via Ant-Man. Described as “a reality where all concepts of time and space become irrelevant as you shrink for all eternity,” the dimension was integral in Avengers: Endgame’s time heist which allowed Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to undo Thanos’ snap. In the Multiverse Saga, the Quantum Realm is important more than ever as the franchise explores the rules of multiple realities, timelines, and variants.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania marked the first project primarily set in the Quantum Realm. That being said, expect that it won’t be the last. Given what happened to the Conqueror, it’s safe to say that the Avengers will revisit the dimension in an effort to find a way to defeat Kang and his many variants as Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s Multiverse Saga culminates in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
