Despite clashing with the current slate plans, Marvel Studios wants a sequel for one Phase 4 film to be released before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in May 2025.
Marvel Studios is currently hard at work advancing its Multiverse Saga toward Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. The stories told along the way have ranged from game-changing adventures with fan-favorite heroes like Spider-Man: No Way Home to standalone tales with new faces like Shang-Chi.
However, as the MCU approaches Avengers 5, the overarching story is expected to heat up, especially with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania poised to formally introduce the next big bad in Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror.
Quatumania is currently the only Phase 5 film confirmed to directly impact The Kang Dynasty, though rumors suggest The Marvels may have some surprises in store. However, a new report indicates that another MCU entry may have some influence over the next Avengers blockbuster.
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Marvel’s Extensive Shang-Chi Plans
According to Murphy’s Multiverse, Marvel Studios was planning to release Shang-Chi 2 before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in May 2025.
The remaining untitled Marvel movie release dates in the Multiverse Saga are July 25, November 7, 2025, and February 12, 2026. So, following the most recent change to the release calendar, Disney has no spare release dates to offer before Avengers 5.
According to the latest rumors, Sony Pictures is planning to release Spider-Man 4 on July 12, 2025. This may force Disney to push back its July 25, 2025, release date by several weeks in order to create a larger gap between MCU releases.
In his report, Charles Murphy speculated that The Kang Dynasty could be pushed into that July 25 date – which could ultimately land later due to a Spider-Man 4-induced delay – and allow Shang-Chi 2 to take over the May 2, 2025 date.
Alternatively, Shang-Chi 2 was rumored to be released on February 14, 2025, before calendar shifts pushed Fantastic Four to that date. That project has since been pushed back to November 7, 2025, which could imply that Shang-Chi 2 has undergone changes that allow it to take place before Avengers 5.
The latter option is more likely, as every previous Avengers film has been released in May. However, prior to the delays, Secret Wars was scheduled to be released in November 2025, just six months after The Kang Dynasty, implying that Marvel Studios no longer feels obligated to schedule its Avengers films in May or April.
What Is the Relationship Between Shang-Chi 2 and Avengers 5?
As of now, Destin Daniel Cretton is set to direct both Shang-Chi 2 and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, so hearing the two films are connected shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. This desired release order, however, could be to accommodate Cretton’s schedule rather than to tease any story connections.
With Cretton set to direct both projects, releasing them so close together may be difficult unless Shang-Chi 2 is shot ahead of time and released first. According to reports, the sequel could begin filming as soon as 2023, allowing the director to finish that film before moving on to the Avengers.
Alternatively, Cretton’s hiring for Avengers 5 could be a sign of significant connections between his Shang-Chi franchise and the upcoming MCU ensembles. According to one theory, the Legend of the Ten Rings post-credits scene actually established The Kang Dynasty in significant ways, which may only be expanded upon in the sequel.
In the midst of Thanos’s tension, Ant-Man and the Wasp was released in 2018 between Infinity War and Endgame. That story took place roughly concurrently with the Avengers’ chaotic battle before concluding with a game-changing cliffhanger that significantly set the stage for the next chapter.
Shang-Chi 2 could aim to do something similar between The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars in November 2025, though that may be difficult with Simu Liu’s hero rumored to be a major player in Avengers 5. However, unless Marvel Studios wishes to postpone its next climactic ensemble, that may be the best option.
Only time will tell what Marvel Studios has in store for Shang-Chi 2, but fans can expect to learn more about the martial arts sequel and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in the coming months.
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