Upcoming MCU Films: What to Expect from Marvel in 2025

Marvel’s Big Year: What to Expect from the MCU in 2025

Marvel’s Comeback Season

The Full List of MCU Films Releasing in 2025

1. Captain America: Brave New World

Story & Themes:

• Unlike previous Captain America films that focused on superhuman threats, Brave New World is expected to lean into political intrigue, espionage, and moral dilemmas.
• Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (Harrison Ford), now President of the United States, could be setting up government-controlled superhuman policies that challenge Sam’s ideals.
• The story will reportedly explore the legacy of the Super Soldier Serum, and what happens when those in power attempt to weaponise heroes for political gain.

Villains & Key Players:

• Giancarlo Esposito debuts as Sidewinder, leader of the Serpent Society, a covert group of mercenaries specialising in black ops and assassination missions.
• Tim Blake Nelson returns as The Leader, continuing a 16-year-old storyline from The Incredible Hulk (2008). His gamma-mutated intellect could pose a significant threat.
• Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) officially takes over as the new Falcon, bringing high-tech aerial combat into the mix.
• Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), one of the original Super Soldiers, may play a mentor role, adding emotional depth to Sam’s journey.
• Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) makes a long-overdue return, possibly connecting the film to The Hulk storyline that Marvel has been slowly revisiting.

Why It’s a Must-Watch:

2. Thunderbolts*

The Roster:

• Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) – The new Black Widow, stepping up as a reluctant but deadly leader.
• Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) – The Winter Soldier, grappling with his violent past and uneasy alliances.
• Red Guardian (David Harbour) – The Russian super-soldier, bringing humour and brute force.
• John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) – A disgraced Captain America substitute, still proving his worth.
• Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) – A wildcard with quantum-phasing powers that make her a stealth asset.
• Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) – Now free from her former mind control, but still a lethal mimic-based fighter.
• Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) – The shadowy manipulator pulling the strings.

Rumoured Wildcards:

• Lewis Pullman is heavily rumoured to play The Sentry, a Superman-level powerhouse with an unstable dark alter ego known as The Void.
• Daniel Brühl’s Baron Zemo could make an unexpected return, either as an ally or a secret puppet master behind the team’s mission.

Plot & Themes:

• The Thunderbolts are sent on a government-sanctioned black ops mission, but are they really the good guys?
• Moral dilemmas, shifting alliances, and a darker, grittier tone make this film a drastic departure from traditional MCU team-ups.

Why It’s a Must-Watch:

3. The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Retro-Futuristic Setting:

• Unlike previous adaptations, this version of the Fantastic Four will be set in a 1960s-inspired sci-fi world, embracing a retro-futuristic aesthetic.
• Speculation suggests the team could originate from an alternate universe or a pocket dimension, explaining their absence in the main MCU timeline—until now.

Confirmed Cast:

• Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) – A genius scientist who is brilliant yet emotionally flawed.
• Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman) – The true strategist and powerhouse of the group.
• Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (Human Torch) – A reckless, thrill-seeking hothead.
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing) – A tragic but lovable powerhouse.

Villains & Cosmic Expansion:

• Ralph Ineson plays Galactus, the planet-devouring force, setting up a major cosmic expansion in the MCU.
• Julia Garner’s Shalla Bal (Silver Surfer) suggests a different take on the herald of Galactus, possibly introducing complex moral conflicts.
• Doctor Doom? Rumours swirl that Victor Von Doom will be introduced via a post-credit scene, setting him up as a long-term MCU villain.

Why It’s a Must-Watch:

What These Films Mean for the MCU’s Future

• The Multiverse & Cosmic Expansion: Fantastic Four will likely introduce Galactus, the X-Men, and major cosmic threats that reshape Marvel’s storytelling.
• Superhero vs. Antihero Conflicts: Thunderbolts introduces a darker, morally complex MCU, where the lines between hero and villain are blurred.
• Phase Six Setup: Brave New World and Fantastic Four set the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars, laying the groundwork for multiversal battles and ultimate showdowns.