Marvel Studios is having a tremendous 2019. Hell, let's keep it real, Marvel Studios is having a tremendous TEN years. First Captain Marvel burst onto the scene with  over a billion dollars at the box-office. Then Avengers Endgame put a perfect cap to not just Phase 3 of the MCU but the last 10 years. And by the end of the week, Endgame could end up passing Avatar as the highest grossing film of all time. But that’s not the end of it. Just when you thought it was over, Spider-Man Far From Home has made $850+ million in two weeks and seems well on its way to joining the billion dollar club (and landing Sony its first first billion dollar Spidey film).

That’s the backdrop as we approach the 50th Comic-Con. Marvel Studios is set to return this year to Hall H the triumphant studio that other studios thought was doomed for failure but who now those other studios try to emulate. This year their studio rivals aren’t even bothering to show up at the convention with WB, Sony and the now Disney owned Fox skipping. So on Saturday, all eyes will be on Marvel Studios as they’re in the position to show us as much (or as little) as they want. Because they know they’ve already won and will continue to win

What: Stan Lee Tribute 

Images from Stan Lee's various cameos in the MCU from the Captain Marvel tribute

Probability: HIGH

Reason:

Stan the Man is the whole reason the characters of the MCU are household names to begin with. His cameos were a staple in the MCU. Marvel Studios had the heartwarming Stan Lee tribute in the opening credits to Captain Marvel and his last cameo was in Endgame. But I still expect that in front of a crowd of 6,500 fans, they’ll have something lined up to pay tribute to this legend.

What: Avengers Reunion

Original Avengers Cast at SDCC

Probability: HIGH

Reason: 

There was a rumor that Marvel might be planning to do one last reunion of the original cast at this SDCC and I believe it. Marvel Studios’ presentation has been the pinnacle of San Diego Comic-Con for years now. It's one of the most anticipated panels and one of the hardest ones to get into. Waiting to get into Hall H on any day is hard and hectic but waiting to get into Hall H on Saturday is a whole other level. Everyone knows that Marvel Studios traditionally takes the same 515 pm slot every year so if you’re going into Hall H on Saturday, you know you’re in for a long day to wait for that panel. And Marvel knows this. They know that fans have waited all day to see their presentation and what better gift for fans than a final sign-off from the original cast, particularly Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans. Now this could also happen next month at D23 but I’m putting my money on SDCC. Why? Because nothing beats the energy of a Hall H crowd. If this is to be the final bow before the curtain draws of the original Avengers cast, Hall H is where I’d be it would take place. I mean, have you seen the fan reactions to the sign-offs during the credits of Endgame? Yeah, it's a safe bet Marvel may want to recreate that with a live audience. 

What: Phase 4 Full Slate Announcement

Kevin Feige, Robert Downey Jr, Chadwick Boseman & Chris Evans at the Phase 3 Announcement in 2014

Probability: MEDIUM

Reason:

This is what everyone wants. This is what I want. I’m just not getting my hopes up that it’s going to happen. As Cyclonus once said to Tailgate: Hope is a lie. I refuse to give myself hope that a full phase 4 slate will be announced so that if it’s not, I won’t be disappointed. I’ve seen way too many articles claiming that Marvel Studios HAS to make this announcement or they will let fans down and all I can do is laugh. The MCU is on the cusp of 3 films that grossed over a billion dollars each in one year. Going back to last year and its 5 out of their last 6 topping over a billion each (some hitting 2+ billion). They could give us absolutely nothing and fans would still line up to throw their cash at them when their next film dropped. Also, Marvel Studios has so many options. They could announce everything on Saturday or wait a month and announce at D23. Or they could do like they did when they announced Phase 3 and rent out the El Capitan Theatre on a random day in October and lay everything out for us. The reality is, Marvel Studios doesn’t follow the rules cause they don’t have to. So setting expectations based on traditional logic can leave you disappointed. Marvel forges their own path and that means whatever they want to do…they can and will do. That said, we have a pretty good idea of what is coming next in Phase 4. First, we know of the Phase 3 films that are getting sequels:

• • Black Panther – Come on…of course. It was never in doubt
  • Doctor Strange – Scott Derrickson is coming back to direct and after Infinity War and Endgame the character's profile has been raised so look for Marvel to take advantage of that
  • Captain Marvel – It made over a billion, you saw the A-Force shot in Endgame, Fury is building the Peak & SWORD and we know the future of marvel is cosmic. Sorry salty fanboys…Brie Larson is back
  • Thor – THR is reporting tha Taika Waititi is returning to write and direct Thor 4
  • Third Spider-Man film - *Check first after credit scene* *Checks current box-office* Yeah…Tom Holland and ‘em be back

Then there are the other films that haven’t officially been announced but we know Marvel Studios is working on them. It’s been a bit strange because while it’s an open secret that Marvel is working on these films and made some hires (and even shot some footage), Marvel Studios has been unusually secretive (more than usual) on these properties. There have been no official Marvel announcements of any of them. •

• • Black Widow - We’ve seen the set photos Marvel. lol. We know this film is shooting
  • Eternals – Chloe Zhao is set to direct and that’s about all we know for sure. There’s been a laundry list of rumored castings and claims that this will feature Marvel’s first openly gay lead but again, information is limited
  • Shang-Chi - We know Dave Callaham was hired to write the screenplay and Destin Daniel Cretton is directing. Interesting thing about Shang-Chi, this was one of the properties in Marvel Studios’ deal with Paramount back in 2006 

If there’s any kind of Phase 4 announcement, I look to at least Feige reconfirming the sequels for the films we already know and maybe showing some footage of Black Widow. I think they might keep Eternals and Shang-Chi news under wraps for a bit. All comes down to how close they are to signing on all their leads. Then again, for all we know they'll announce The Eternals and have Angelina Jolie walking out on stage to confirm the rumor that she's signed on. Who knows. This is the information everyone wants and Marvel knows it. And they can either string us out or give us an info dump. It's 50/50 how it will go.

What: Disney+ Show Footage

Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier) and Anthony Mackie (Falcon) from Civil War

Probability: HIGH

Reason:

If we’re going to see some type of footage from the Hall H presentation, I’m betting that it will be from one of the Disney+ shows that Marvel has worked on. We have Loki, Wandavision and The Falcon & The Winter Soldier. We know that at Disney’s Investor Day, Feige showed the logo and some concept art for Loki among other things. Hall H would also be a great time to switch up the official name of The Falcon & The Winter Soldier to Captain America & The Winter Soldier and show off Sam Wilson’s new digs as Captain America. These live action shows are the first real full integration of Marvel's TV properties with the movies. Yes the Netflix shows and Agents of SHIELD connect but these Disney+ shows fall under Feige himself and seem to be completely unrestricted unlike those other properties. 

What: X-Men or Fantastic Four Announcements

Probability: LOW

Reason:

We all know it’s coming. It’s just not coming now. At most we might get some word on another Deadpool film but even that is a long shot. The Fantastic Four will probably be the first property to get a makeover from Marvel Studios in order to put some space between their version of the X-Men and the disaster that was Fox. Then again, there was only 3 years in between The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man Homecoming, even less time between when TASM2 and when the news of a rebooted Spider-Man franchise. So…again, like everything, Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige hold all the cards and nothing can be ruled out.

So there you have it. That’s what I'm expecting from Marvel Studios on Saturday which is…anything. Expect anything and everything and nothing. No one really knows what Marvel's plan is out side of Marvel and the last 10 years has taught us to expect anything. They will either tease us and stretch out our anticipation or dump everything on us at once. Either way, we'll all be there to soak it all in. Make Mine Marvel