After a lot of waiting and many delays, Phase 4 of the MCU is finally underway with the release of their first Disney+ series, WandaVision. However, this series kicking off Phase 4 was not the original plan at all. Due to the many delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, projects like Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Eternals were pushed back while WandaVision‘s fast post-production allowed it to move to the front of the line.
Given the delicacy of the MCU’s timeline, such a shift could have caused a lot of headaches. Interestingly, now that the first episodes of WandaVision have been released, it is clear that it was always the perfect project to start this next chapter of the MCU.
The past year has proven how important streaming services have become and Marvel has wisely shifted a lot of its focus to the new Disney+ platform. Kevin Feige has even remarked that streaming is the future of the MCU. Still, one of the biggest gambles of Phase 4 is hoping the enthusiasm viewers have had for the movies will transfer over to television shows.
However, after the last year, fans were ready to watch any new MCU content in whatever way it is available. Seeing the Marvel logo play before the first episode of WandaVision allowed fans to recapture a bit of that magic even if they can’t experience it in a movie theater. Having fans get used to the week-to-week release of the show is a great way to ease them into this new era of enjoying the MCU from the comfort of their own home.
After the events of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has lost some of its biggest names. While Thor seems to be sticking around for now and Black Widow will finally get her own solo movie, some other heroes are going to need to step up. One interesting way Phase 4 will be expanding the universe is by highlighting some of the overlooked supporting characters.
Wanda and Vision have never been the headlining names in the MCU, but there is a lot of potential with these characters. With their own series, they are finally getting their chance to shine and get fans interested in these characters who have been relegated to the background in the past. This will lead to characters like Loki, Hawkeye, War Machine, and The Winter Soldier stepping into the spotlight in their own shows. In that sense, WandaVision is a great opportunity to show fans that, even without Iron Man and Captain America, there are some great characters to lead Phase 4.
Another major concern for Phase 4 of the MCU was the lingering question of how they will ever top Avengers: Endgame. Since Phase 1, the cinematic universe had been building to that one massive movie. Now that it is done, there is a feeling of “where does the MCU go from here?” WandaVision seems to be answering that question by giving fans something completely new.
The idea to tell an MCU story through the structure of a classic sitcom is a pretty bold idea and unlike anything Marvel has tried so far. That is a good sign of things to come as it suggests Phase 4 will respond to Endgame by taking some big risks with their storytelling. As fun as the cinematic universe has been thus far, in order to grow it must be willing to change and this new series is certainly an indicator that it is willing to do just that while also preparing fans for some more “out-there” ideas ahead.
One way in which Phase 4 has already distinguished itself from the other chapters in the MCU is that it does not have an Avengers movie as part of its plans. Previously, each phase of the MCU would culminate in the big team-up event movie, however, Phase 4 will break this tradition. But in the absence of an Avengers movie, Phase 4 promises to tell a continuing storyline centered around the multiverse.
The details of how this storyline will unfold remain unclear, but it is safe to say it will directly affect three of the MCU’s biggest Phase 4 projects. Many have already suspected that this series will feature Wanda opening the multiverse somehow while will lead into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in which Wanda will also appear. Doctor Strange is also confirmed to be appearing in Spider-Man 3 which will reportedly feature characters like Electro and Doc Ock coming through the multiverse into the reality of the MCU. WandaVision is the perfect way of introducing this storyline as it appears to be a curious little sitcom at the moment but will certainly evolve into something much grander. By the end of the series, fans will have a glimpse at some of the excitement that lies ahead in Phase 4.
The MCU has always been quite impressive with its strategic planning. However, the last year proved that even the best-laid plans can be derailed. With a little luck on their side, they have ended up with a project that is really starting the much-anticipated Phase 4 of the MCU on a good note.
WandaVision is currently available on Disney+.
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