Marvel Phase 7: what to expect from the X-Men and more

The next saga and phase from Marvel Studios looked set to be one of the most exciting in the MCU's history. The Mutant Saga was known to be coming next, but beyond it were many other teams and some big stories lined up for Phase 7.

Phase 6 was already mapped out at that point. From then until Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel had revealed nearly all of its projects. It was an exciting moment, with Robert Downey Jr. set to return as Doom, some of the old X-Men coming back, and probably other legacy characters as well, like Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man. What comes after is also exciting.

Kevin Feige says Marvel has 5 to 10 years planned and the MCU resets after Secret Wars

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that the studio already had a great deal planned for Phases 7, 8 and 9. He said they had between 5 and 10 years planned. That doesn't mean scripts were written. It means they know the teams they want to bring in, the characters, and the general concepts of the stories they want to tell, including some big team up stories involving multiple teams.

The most important thing to know is that Feige also confirmed the MCU will reset after Avengers: Secret Wars. In practice, that means we're getting a new universe.

Alex Perez reports the new MCU universe will stay about 75% the same

According to insiders like Alex Perez of The Cosmic Circus, the universe will remain about 75% the same. Many of the characters we know now will make it over to the new universe, and Marvel will add much more to it, like the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. Some characters won't make it over, though. This is Marvel's opportunity to prune any character or storyline it doesn't like.

Perez also says Marvel will resurrect some characters, which makes sense to me. I think of Quicksilver, who shouldn't have died in the first place, because he should have been alongside the Scarlet Witch the entire time.

There's also a theory that Kang messed with the original timeline. Under that theory, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and the Inhumans were originally part of our timeline, but Kang saw them as a threat and got rid of them before creating the sacred timeline. The reset would then revert to that original timeline with everybody in it. I like that theory.

Black Panther 3, Doctor Strange 3 and Shang-Chi 2 carry into Phase 7

Phase 7 will involve stories from the previous universe, and Marvel has confirmed that. Black Panther 3 was already confirmed. Blade, if that ever happens to get made, Shang-Chi 2 and Doctor Strange 3 are the kinds of movies and stories that will continue on in Phase 7.

The X-Men's mutant era stories reportedly come down to Mister Sinister and Apocalypse

The X-Men are going to be a big part of what Kevin Feige has called the mutant era. We have never had new X-Men in the MCU. We were about to get the old X-Men returning, which I'm so excited for, but after that comes a completely new roster and a completely new cast. That's one of the biggest things in Marvel history: a universe where the Avengers are alongside the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and the other groups in this piece.

The stories we've been hearing about for the X-Men come down to two villains: Mister Sinister and Apocalypse. It looks like we might be getting a Days of Future Past story. With Mister Sinister, there are many ways Marvel could go. I'm looking forward to that, especially if they go the Goblin Queen route like X-Men '97 did. I like that, and I think it would be a cool story to tell in the MCU.

We'll have to wait and see, but those are the two main villains Marvel is focusing on right away with the X-Men, which I think is a great call.

An AXE crossover of Avengers, X-Men and Eternals is reportedly planned

The arrival of new X-Men opens the door to team up stories with other teams like the Avengers and the Eternals. We've heard from Alex Perez that an AXE movie or story is planned. That stands for Avengers X-Men Eternals.

In the comics, the Eternals find out the X-Men are descendants of the Deviants and attack them. On top of that, the Celestials come to judge the planet, and all life on Earth could end. Marvel set that up in Eternals. At the end of that movie, Arishem told the Eternals he would judge their memories of what humans are like, and that would determine whether he destroys the planet. He said he would return for judgment.

So it sounds like a big crossover is already being planned, which is a smart move from Marvel. It's going to be cool to see all of these characters on screen together. That might not come until the end of Phase 7, but it would be a cool replacement for an Avengers movie, something that is built up.

Midnight Suns, Ghost Rider and Mephisto lead Marvel's supernatural side

The supernatural side of the MCU is going to be a big focus for Marvel Studios in Phase 7, through the Midnight Suns. With that, I think we'll get Blade. It sounded like it was still on track. Mia Goth was still attached and Mahershala Ali was still attached, so they still had the same villain. Everything was on hold and moving slowly, but not cancelled yet, which is good.

We've also heard that Ghost Rider is most likely going to be the main hero or leader of the Midnight Suns. Other characters like Deadpool could show up, Doctor Strange could be part of it, and there's Man-Thing. There's a lot Marvel can do with this.

It's also going to get darker, because the first villain for the Midnight Suns and the overall big bad of the supernatural side is going to be Mephisto. He was introduced in Ironheart, and Sacha Baron Cohen is playing him. I'm so excited for that, because the scene where he introduced himself was epic. A supernatural Avengers team built up to go against Mephisto and other villains is, I think, going to be amazing.

Nova could lead a new Guardians of the Galaxy team

A Nova project was confirmed to be in development at Marvel Studios. Marvel is waiting until after the reset, so it's coming after Avengers: Secret Wars, but it was in active development. Nova could possibly lead a new Guardians of the Galaxy team.

The Guardians have been a big success for Marvel Studios, so it would make sense to continue with them. James Gunn is at DC now and probably won't come back to direct a new Guardians movie, so Marvel will have to move maybe in a different direction. Fans love the Guardians in general, and they might get a new leader in Nova.

Many people are excited for Nova's introduction to the MCU, which we hear is going to bring Annihilus into the MCU. That's one of the biggest villains and one of the biggest events in Marvel history, so seeing it on screen is going to be wild.

Reports say Star-Lord might lead the Annihilators

That brings me to the Annihilators. We've heard rumors and reports that the Annihilators are coming to the MCU in Phase 7, and reports that Star-Lord might be their leader. It's the same reasoning as with the Guardians: people love Chris Pratt's Star-Lord, so it makes sense to continue his story.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 already said the legendary Star-Lord will return. So we know he's going to come back in Avengers: Doomsday and/or Secret Wars, but it sounds like Marvel is going to keep him and possibly have him lead a new team. This would be a big part of the cosmic side.

A Fantastic Four: First Steps sequel is on the way

We know we're getting a sequel to The Fantastic Four: First Steps. It's probably not going to be First Steps anymore once Franklin has grown and after Secret Wars, but another sequel is coming. Having the Fantastic Four in the same universe as the Avengers and the X-Men is awesome when you think about all of these teams coming together.

Recast Iron Man and Captain America for a truly new Avengers

The true new Avengers are also coming. At the time, the MCU had the Thunderbolts/New Avengers team, Bucky and Yelena's team, plus another New Avengers team, Sam Wilson's, which had apparently been assembled offscreen and hadn't been seen yet. No new characters are going to be introduced for those teams in Doomsday and Secret Wars.

Once we get to the reset, Kevin Feige has confirmed Marvel will eventually recast Iron Man and Captain America, and probably many other characters as well. Some of the older Avengers will still be there and be part of the team, but it will be a truly new Avengers team, with new actors playing familiar roles like Iron Man, Black Widow and Captain America. We'll probably get a new Hulk and some new characters on the roster too, which is going to be incredibly exciting.

Deadpool and Wolverine could head into an X-Force ensemble

Deadpool and Wolverine are probably going to do their own thing. Ryan Reynolds has said he's working on an ensemble film, which many of us think is probably X-Force. We imagine Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, after word that he's sticking around, will probably join him. He might go in and out, spending time with the real X-Men and the Avengers in the new 616 universe, and then go on adventures he probably gets dragged into by Deadpool.

Either way, Deadpool is going to be a character moving forward in the new universe. Who knows how he'll mix with everybody in Doomsday and Secret Wars, let alone the new universe, but it's exciting to think about.

There's also the possibility of other groups like the Inhumans. We hadn't heard anything about Marvel's plans for the Inhumans or teams like that, but since Marvel can do it now, it makes sense that it would. A lot is coming in the next phase and the next saga of the MCU, Marvel has many plans, and based on everything above, it's already incredibly exciting.