Marvel Announces ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ is the End of Phase Four.

by Josh Ramos · July 25, 2022

With fans on the edge of their seat awaiting what would be announced at Marvel’s return to Hall H and San Diego Comic-Con, there was no preparing for the incredible shift that was in store, as Marvel announced Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the end of the MCU’s Phase Four.

It had been two whole years since Marvel had last been present at one of the biggest events of the year, and what had become a tradition for fans, thanks to the horrible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: by Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Shutterstock (10341985ce)
Marvel Studios casts
Marvel Studios panel, Comic-Con International, San Diego, USA – 20 Jul 2019

Finally, the event was back, and with its return came the excitement from the fanbase as to what could be announced, and where this massive and ever-expanding universe could be headed, with only the faintest idea of Marvel’s current trajectory.

Although some were cautiously optimistic following a circulating report that Marvel was saving a lot of their bigger announcements for the D23 event arriving in September; that, however, is likely not going to be the case as the Marvel Comic-Con panel completely redefined the next two years of the MCU.

Source: Marvel Studios

One of the massive revelations present in the announcement was that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now the end of Phase Four; which changes everything about how we perceive this phase, and the entire trajectory of the Marvel Universe.

For the longest time, fans have understood Phase Four as ending with the arrival of the Fantastic Four, and for so long that has been a massively important film that would be vital in the course of the Marvel universe, and its potential evolution.

Source: Marvel Studios

This alteration truly places a new kind of pressure on the upcoming Black Panther sequel, as it will now be perceived in a collective with films like Black Widow, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Thor: Love and Thunder as Marvels Phase Four films.

Only time will tell how this Phase will stack up against Marvel’s past ones, and whether or not Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will end the entire collection with a massive bang, or a moment to propel the MCU into a brand new direction.