Now that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is upon us, it’s time to reflect on what Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is promising to deliver to audiences. Following a fairly middling and inconsistent Phase Four, superhero fatigue has set in for many film fans, so it will take a powerful spark to re-ignite interest in the genre. Does the MCU, under the guidance of Kevin Feige and the Disney team, have what it takes to deliver this jolt of electrifying creativity?

First things first, let’s talk about the movies that have been announced so far. Of course, the latest Ant-Man instalment has been billed as the opening act for this phase. Now, why is Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania so significant, you ask? Well, for starters, it’s going to introduce a new big bad: Kang the Conqueror. If you’re not familiar with the character, Kang is a time-traveling villain who has been causing chaos in the Marvel comics for decades. In the MCU, he’s going to be played by acclaimed character actor Jonathan Majors, who’s already made a name for himself with his incredible performances in Lovecraft Country and Da 5 Bloods. For those who kept up with Marvel’s various Phase Four TV series, you would have already seen Kang in action at the conclusion of the Loki series, which provided Majors with a chance to flex his dramatic form, but without giving away too much about the character’s ongoing significance.

Kang’s appearance in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is going to set up the next big storyline for the MCU. Feige has teased that it’s going to be something that we’ve never seen before, and that it’s going to have a huge impact on the entire MCU. Given that the slate of releases for Phase Six includes Avengers: The Kang Dynasty as one of its tentpole offerings, it’s little secret that Kang will overshadow events throughout the entire fifth phase. As such, Ant-Man 3 is seen as a crucial piece of the puzzle in the MCU’s future.

But enough about Kang, let’s venture deeper into the Phase Five rabbit hole. Building upon the platform established by Captain Marvel and the Ms Marvel series, upcoming feature film The Marvels will feature the return of Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel. This trio of powerful heroines is going to team up to take on a yet-to-be-revealed villain. It’s going to be a celebration of girl power that promises a lighter tone than some of the other sign-posting releases.

Fan favorite Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is billed as the final chapter in the Guardians’ story, and despite his new role in overseeing development of the competiting DC Extended Universe, it’s likely to see James Gunn occupying the director’s seat. If previous entries are any indication, this should be full of laughs, heart, and classic rock jams. Given that it is the Guardians’ final outing as a team, however, there are likely to be some more tragic and touching moments included also.

If they can pull it together as the PG-13 release that Disney hopes, but many fans critique, a new imagining of Blade will officially bring the popular vampire hunter into the MCU, with Mahershala Ali taking on the titular role. This is expected to deliver a dark and gritty adventure, with plenty of blood and action. If Werewolf By Night is any indication, Marvel is capable of delivering horror gore with creative flourishes and emotional gravitas, but given positive reception to the original Blade movie, many fans of the character are concerned about whether this reboot can capture a similar feeling without excessively lightening the tone of the world that the half-vampire inhabits.

Fewer qualms are associated with yet another reboot of the Fantastic Four. While the 90s version has its fans, the more recent reboot was a commercial and critical failure, yet this band of heroes – often billed as the “first family of Marvel” – is beloved, so this has been calling out for a re-imagining for a while, and one that will see the characters finally embedded into the MCU. Feige has promised that they’re going to do justice to these beloved characters, and fans are eagerly anticipating their arrival.

Last but not least, Deadpool 3 is building momentum largely on the back of Hugh Jackman’s promised return as Wolverine, and the significance that comes with integrating these characters across from the Fox stable to the MCU proper. Fans are expecting that Ryan Reynolds will deliver his usual brand of irreverent and foul-mouthed anti-hero action, and suggestions are that this could land with an R rating, which would be an unusual integration with the MCU’s more family-friendly brand. Time will tell whether Feige and his team can make it work without diluting the character’s edgy appeal, while still satisfying parents’ expectations of what the MCU represents.

As you can see, Phase Five of the MCU promises a number of huge releases, many of which will serve to integrate the characters and other IP assets that Disney acquired from 20th Century Fox. As such, this is an exciting time for Marvel fans. Oh, and we haven’t even spoken about the TV series releases, including the much-awaited Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Bursting with new heroes, villains, and storylines, plus the return of long-time fan favorites, the future of the MCU looks brighter from here, but Disney and Marvel will still need to deliver something special in order to maintain attention from an increasingly jaded and fatigued fanbase. With Kang the Conqueror set to shake things up following his feature film debut in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, Marvel may just be able to plug the Thanos-sized hole that caused Phase Four to feel disjointed and directionless. We can’t wait to see how it all plays out!