TheMarvel Cinematic Universeis getting ready for a big 2025, and there are going to be some exciting storylines that offer a wide variety of new and returning characters and elements to the franchise. There was onlyone MCU movie in 2024,Deadpool & Wolverine, a major box office success that has become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. In 2025,Captain America: Brave New World,Thunderbolts*, andThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswill be released.
Three cinematic entries should help Marvel make a splash at the box office, but theMCU’s upcoming moviesare far from the studio’s only 2025 showings.There are going to be nineMarvel Studios projects in 2025, with six of them coming from Disney+. Between live-action series and animated shows, Marvel will have a full platter for fans of MCU TV. Many of those movies and series could become part of the MCU’s best projects, as they will offer exciting storylines.
10Kingpin’s Mayoral Race
Daredevil: Born Again (June 03, 2025)
First up comes the return of one of Marvel’s best live-action series. After a creative overhaul,Daredevil: Born Againbrought inThe Punisherwriter Dario Scardapane as its new showrunner, with the series now said to be even darker than Netflix’sDaredevil. That bodes well for Wilson Fisk’s role in it. AfterEchostarted him on a new path,Daredevil: Born Againwill follow Kingpin’s plans to become New York City’s mayor.
That will once again put him on a collision course with Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, as well as Matt Murdock, since the hero can fight him with the law or vigilante justice. It will be interesting to see Kingpin’s efforts to legitimate his power over New York. In the comics,Kingpin’s time as mayor leads to the Devil’s Reign event, which has him hunt down street-level heroes, whichDaredevil: Born Againseason 1 could set up.
9Captain America Fighting Red Hulk
Captain America: Brave New World (July 31, 2025)
Captain America: Brave New Worldwill be exciting for multiple reasons. The movie marksthe first time Anthony Mackie appears as Captain America on the big screen, and Sam Wilson will have plenty of villains to fight. Ranging from Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder and the Serpent Society to Tim Blake Nelson’s MCU return as The Leader to Harrison Ford’s out-of-control Red Hulk, Sam will have his hands full.
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Just the fact that Ford agreed to be in the MCU is exciting, but having him play Red Hulk of all characters makes things more interesting. AsCaptain America: Brave New World’s trailers have shown, Sam Wilson will fight Red Hulk, who is nothing like Mark Ruffalo’s Smart Hulk, as Ford’s character acts with pure berserker rage.An angryHulk fighting a powerless Captain Americawill show just how resourceful Sam can be.
8The Punisher’s MCU Return
Back toDaredevil: Born Again, the series will see the anticipated returns of many stars and characters from Netflix’s Daredevil. While some were only added after the show was restructured, like Karen Page and Foggy Nelson,Jon Bernthal’s Punisher was always meant to appear in the upcoming MCU series. Frank Castle’s return is exciting for a variety of reasons, and having it happen inDaredevil: Born Againis fitting, as Bernthal’s Punisher has deep ties to Daredevil, Kingpin, and Karen Page.
Some brief moments with Bernthal’s Punisher have been shared by Marvel, andtheDaredevil: Born Againfootage shows he will be back with his skull logo front and center. Set photos and videos of the series have also teased that there will be at least one impersonator of the character killing people, which should make Frank Castle very mad. How the Punisher’s impersonator plot plays out, his interactions with Daredevil and Karen Page, and if a spinoff series is set up are some storylines to watch.
7The Explanation Of Where The Fantastic Four Have Been
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (June 07, 2025)
No Marvel Studios release in 2025 is bigger thanThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. The movie marks the first time that Marvel’s First Family comes to live-action with Marvel Studios behind it. After two fun films in the 2000s and a failed reboot in 2015, the MCU has the chance to finally bring the definitive version of the popular superhero team to the big screen.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps' star-studded castwill go on to join other Marvel projects, withthe team already confirmed for the next two Avengers movies. To do that, Marvel has to explain where the Fantastic Four have been. Through concept art, casting, and teases, it seems like the Fantastic Four come from an alternate universe in a retro-futuristic 1960s, which will make the film a fresh MCU entry directed by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman.
6A New Spider-Man Origin Story
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (June 13, 2025)
Tom Holland’sSpider-Man 4is moving forward at Marvel and Sony. Whilereports onSpider-Man 4’s story and casthave started to come out, with the movie set to enter production in 2025, next year will mark the debut of another Peter Parker. Marvel Studios will be releasing its first Spider-Man TV series, and the animated project will not have Holland voice Peter, withWhat If…?Spider-Man actor Hudson Thamesdoing so.
The new Peter Parker debuts inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. The series will feature many Marvel characters, ranging from villains like Norman Osborn — played by Colman Domingo, a fan-favorite to take over as Kang the Conqueror in the MCU — and Doc Ock to heroes like Daredevil — voiced by Charlie Cox — and Doctor Strange, with the latter playing a key role in the new Spider-Man’s origin story.Osborn will be Peter’s mentor instead of Tony Stark, which adds to the excitement around the show.
5Technology Vs Magic In Ironheart
Ironheart (July 04, 2025)
Ironheartwill continue Iron Man’s legacy in the MCU with Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams building her new suit — or suits — of armor.Riri debuted inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, which saw her team up with the MCU’s new Black Panther, Shuri. Now, the character will be on her own, with Riri Williams' next MCU adventure set to feature some exciting characters that will challenge her in new ways.
Ironheart will have to deal with magic, bringing an interesting type of fight to the MCU series.Anthony Ramos' Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, will use his magic powers against Riri, who will have to counter-attack with her technology through a new Ironheart suit and more. That dynamic should be interesting to watch, especially since Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man only had small bouts with magic in the MCU.
4The Thunderbolts* Come Together
Thunderbolts* (August 06, 2025)
One of the main criticisms the MCU has suffered in the Multiverse Saga is related to how the franchise introduced many characters but left them scattered.Thunderbolts*comes as the perfect solution to that problem. The MCU movie will unite both major characters, such as Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, as well as more obscure ones, like Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost and Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster.
Geraldine Viswanathan
Unconfirmed
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has confirmed thatBucky Barnes will be the Thunderbolts' leader. It will be interesting to see how Bucky does in that new role and how such different characters work together. The Thunderbolts are not really heroes, so that darker version of an MCU team, which could have Avengers Tower as its headquarters, is exciting. After having slowly assembled the team, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s plans will finally be revealed in the MCU movie.
3Whether Sentry’s MCU Debut Will Be Comics-Accurate
Marvel Studios has yet to officially announce that Sentry is inThunderbolts*. However, that was confirmed whenThe Walking Deadcreator Robert Kirkman revealed thatSteven Yeun had a costume fitting for Sentryin the MCU movie. Since then, Yeun had to leave the project due to scheduling issues caused by the 2023 Hollywood strikes.Top Gun: Maverick’s Lewis Pullman took over the role, andThunderbolts*’s trailers have shown snippets of Sentry.
The major question regarding the character is how comic book-accurate he will be. That comes in terms of his suit, which should be an imponent gold and blue costume, powers, making him pretty much Marvel’s Superman with a dark side, and his origin. In the comics, it was revealed thatSentry had been erased from everyone’s mindsto control his dark side, the Void, so the MCU could do the same thing, revealing that Bob Reynolds, aka Sentry, was part of major events in the franchise.
2How Marvel’s Heroes Fare In A Zombie Apocalypse… Again
Marvel Zombies (August 01, 2025)
After an episode ofWhat If…?showed the potential that a zombie apocalypse in the Marvel Universe has, Marvel Studios decided to fully delve into that world. 2025 marks the release ofMarvel Zombies, an event series that will serve as the MCU’s first TV-MA animated TV show. The project will also mark the first time that Blade shows up in a Marvel Studios project and is not played by Wesley Snipes.
The series can continueWhat If…?’s tease of zombie Thanos arriving in Wakanda to wipe out humanity.
Whileit is still unclear if Mahershala Ali will voice Blade, the hero’s presence is already exciting. Blade will interact with heroes like Yelena Belova, Shang-Chi, and Kate Bishop. The series can continueWhat If…?’s tease of zombie Thanos arriving in Wakanda to wipe out humanity. With the more recent MCU heroes getting the spotlight and powerful zombies like the Scarlet Witch, Eternals' Ikaris, and more,Marvel Zombiesshould be a bloody affair.
1The First Actor-Turned Superhero In The MCU
Wonder Man (December 2025)
Wonder Manwill be a new kind of MCU project and hero. Going from the DC universe to the MCU, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II becomes Simon Williams. The character is an actor, which allows Marvel Studios to have many celebrity cameos in the series andbring back Ben Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery. The friendship dynamic between Trevor and Simon seems to be hilarious, as revealed by thefirstWonder Manfootage.
Wonder Mantakes place in Los Angeles, putting the character right in the middle of Hollywood. The project could lead to some interesting and fun meta-commentary from Marvel on its own way of handling the MCU. A lighter TV series that introduces an incredibly powerful superhero with ties to the Scarlet Witch and other Marvel Comics characters is a great way to end 2025’sMCUprojects.
Captain America: Brave New World
Cast
Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titledNew World Order)marks Sam Wilson’s first MCU big-screen appearance as Steve Rogers' successor after receiving the suit and shield in Phase 4’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie returns as the titular Avenger alongside Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumby as Isaiah Bradley, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Incredible Hulk’s former ally Samuel Sterns. Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.After meeting President Thaddeus Ross, Sam is caught in a global crisis. He must expose the mastermind behind a sinister plot before the world descends into turmoil. Captain America: Brave New World marks the big-screen debut of Sam Wilson as Captain America, and Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut, replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.
Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts follows seven disillusioned individuals who find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. Tasked with a daunting mission, they must face the most shadowy aspects of their histories to survive and achieve their goals.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man follows Peter Parker as he navigates the complexities of heroism, facing a series of extraordinary challenges.
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again follows blind lawyer Matt Murdock, who uses his heightened abilities to pursue justice in New York. As he manages a bustling law firm, former mob boss Wilson Fisk navigates political ambitions, leading both men toward a confrontation as their pasts resurface.
Ironheart
Ironheart: Following Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ironheart introduces Riri Williams, a prodigious inventor navigating her path back in Chicago. Balancing her inventive prowess in creating iron suits with the enigmatic presence of Parker Robbins, known as The Hood, Riri finds herself at the intersection of technology and magic.
Eyes of Wakanda
Eyes of Wakanda, released in 2025, follows a group of brave Wakandan warriors known as the Hatut Zeraze. Tasked with retrieving Vibranium artifacts, they embark on dangerous missions across the globe, confronting enemies of Wakanda in their steadfast defense of the nation’s legacy and resources.
Marvel Zombies
Released on Disney+, Marvel Zombies is the continuation of Marvel’s What If…? episode 5, where an animated version of the MCU is overrun by zombies.
Wonder Man
Released on Disney+ as a limited series, Marvel Studios' Wonder Man introduces the titular Avengers hero in the MCU. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as the actor-turned-superhero Simon Williams, Wonder Man also features Ben Kingsley, who reprises his Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi role as the eccentric thespian Trevor Slattery.
