Marvel announces Phase 4 projects

New crop of superheroes: Eternals has a star-studded cast including Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek and Kumail Nanjiani. Pictured at Disney's D23 Expo in August

The first of the new MCU films to be released will be Black Widow starring Scarlett Johansson

Marvel is bringing LGBTQ and transgender characters to the big screen in its next slate of movies. Kevin Feige, who has been in charge of Marvel Studios since 2007, confirmed the plans during a Q&A as part of the New York Film Academy Guest Speaker Series.

When specifically asked about introducing LGBTQ and trans characters, Feige responded: ‘Yes, absolutely yes. Very soon, in a movie we’re shooting right now, yes'. Feige didn’t go into any more specifics. Marvel announced Phase 4 projects at San Diego Comic-Con earlier in 2019 and the first films to be released will be Black Widow on May 1, 2020, and Eternals on November 6, 2020. Given that Black Widow starring Scarlett Johansson is now in post-production and Eternals is still filming principal photography, it’s likely the new LGBTQ/trans character will be in Eternals. 

Eternals has a star-studded cast that includes Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan and Kumail Nanjiani. During his appearance at the New York Film Academy, Feige also spoke about the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and how some classic Marvel characters will make their MCU debut in the film.  ‘You won’t expect or won’t guess who it is but we found a cool way to make it work because we want to make a particular type of movie there,’ the studio honcho teased. ‘And there was a character who we always wanted to do something with who will fit really well there.’

Benedict Cumberbatch will reprise his role as Dr. Stephen Strange opposite Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch. The film will be directed by Scott Derrickson who helmed the first Doctor Strange movie released in 2016.  reuters