For over 10 years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a fixture in popular culture, a success story that other companies have tried (and failed) to emulate. With no shortage of interconnected stories and a clear set of overarching ideas, the blockbuster franchise is built for exploration and examination.
While Marvel and Disney are generally very protective of their films, they’re known to drop several teases at once with little to no context. Some of the more recent bombshells were the reveals of several key entries in the forthcoming Phase 5 and 6 of the MCU.
While most of these movies now have titles, there is still so much we don’t know. Here are the most pressing questions we have about Marvel Phase 6.
1. Where is Tom Holland’s Spider-Man?
Tom Holland’s presumed absence throughout Phase 5 will surely be felt as we move deeper into the Multiverse Saga. As much as we want to see him again, we also know how intentional Kevin Feige and his creative architects must be in figuring out where/how Spidey can appear next. This begs the question: Will we see Holland’s Spider-Man again before Phase 6 wraps everything up?
Spider-Man: No Way Home ends on a somber (and faintly hopeful) note. After sending the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, the Lizard, Electro, and Sandman back to their respective realities, Peter Parker finds himself utterly alone. The cost of his mistakes is high; getting his enemies home means erasing himself from the memories of his loved ones. It’s a heartbreaking trade-off that simultaneously opens the character up to countless new possibilities and throws his MCU future into question. They can do anything with him, which also means they can leave him be.
2. Who Will Be the Villain of Fantastic Four?
The long-gestating Fantastic Four movie remains shrouded in mystery. Jon Watts had originally signed on to direct the MCU’s take on Marvel’s First Family before dropping out in April 2022. Soon after, Matt Shakman replaced him. Now, we’re even more in the dark about who’s involved, what the film is about, and who will play the titular heroes. But the most compelling question (in my mind) is: Who will the villain be?
Annihilus, the insect-adjacent ruler of the Negative Zone, remains a solid option, but I suspect that Marvel will want to kick things off with a more accessible and recognizable villain. Doctor Doom, maybe?
Unfortunately, we won’t have the answer to this for a while, especially after the MCU’s recent release date shifts.
3. Will We Finally Get The X-Men?
This is another question on many fans’ minds, one that the recent Deadpool 3 announcement made an even hotter discussion topic.
But how likely is it that the X-Men will show up in Phase 6? It’s difficult to say because Marvel is already setting up so many character arcs and plot threads. Sure, introducing Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel as the MCU’s first mutant was a solid step in bringing the rest of the beloved team into the fold. And yeah, having Wolverine in Deadpool 3 is another strong indicator that mutants will be part of the franchise moving forward. But building an X-Men team will take time and energy that Phases 5 and 6 may not have.
There’s no doubt that the X-Men would be a welcome addition to the MCU. At this point, it’s just a matter of how, when, and why.