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Marvel’s Plans For The Next Decade Hint At New Franchises—And Even More Avengers

If there is at least one guarantee in life, it’s that you will always have Marvel. Feel how you wish about that, but it’s an unavoidable fact. We can bet on this because Disney CEO Bob Iger has revealed that the Marvel team has been planning movies that could stretch over the next decade.

During a discussion of the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on an earnings call, Iger talked plenty about plans beyond the “Avengers” and the future of the ever-expanding universe. “We meet on a regular basis with our Marvel team,” Iger explained “And we’ve plotted our Marvel movies that will take us well into the next decade.

Among some of the ideas being tossed around is a continuation of the “Avengers,” which was expected to end after the fourth movie following Infinity War. Iger confirmed that, though their collective minds are focused on additional properties, that “doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t see more ‘Avengers’ down the road.”

Anyone that’s read through Marvel’s line of comic books knows that the team that makes up the “Avengers” is only a small fraction of the heroes out there. The MCU and “Avengers’” universe started with 2008’s Iron Man, but Iger stated that “A new franchise beyond ‘Avengers’ is possible and could lead to “event” movies not revolving around the collection of well-known protagonists.

One thing that could further expand the MCU is the approval of the Disney-Fox deal, which would allow Disney and Marvel access to properties like “X-Men” and “Deadpool.” That would also open up the possibility of a new “Avengers” lineup, which, in the comics, replaced Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and company in 2005 with Luke Cage, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, and Wolverine. Maybe the biggest struggle would be finding a replacement for Wolverine that would help people forget Hugh Jackman’s iconic portrayal. Jackman confirmed that Logan was his last appearance as the tragic X-Man.

Another arrival into the MCU could include the Fantastic Four, which has yet to see a well-received movie adaptation. There’s no shortage of Marvel characters to fill a decade worth of movies, so you can bet that there will be no slowing down for Iger and company.