6 Ways Phase 2"s Movies Are Still Defining The MCU In Phases 5 & 6
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2 set up several narrative seeds that will play a significant part in the Multiverse Saga's Phases 5 and 6. After the successful culmination of the Infinity Saga with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios needed to rebuild the universe with the goal of laying the groundwork for another overarching narrative. Kevin Feige and his team took some big swings in Phase 4, experimenting with genre and storytelling approaches. Now that Phase 5 has officially kicked off, the universe is delving deeper into the multiverse making it also clear that certain significant elements in it have long been established in the MCU.
Admittedly, MCU Phase 5 is off to a rocky start with Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania not quite impressing critics. The franchise moves forward, however, with a slew of upcoming projects on the small and big screen. The roster includes James Gunn's much-anticipated trilogy-capper, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Nia DaCosta's The Marvels, Julius Onah's Captain America: New World Order, and Disney+'s Secret Invasion, as well as Daredevil: Born Again. While several of these endeavors will tackle entirely new concepts in the MCU, others will hinge on the work done back in the Infinity Saga, specifically during MCU Phase 2.
Introducing Sam Wilson In Captain America: The Winter Soldier Dubbed one of the best films that Marvel Studios has ever done, Captain America: The Winter Soldier arguably changed the trajectory of the Infinity Saga simply by finding the perfect combination of directors Joe and Anthony Russo with writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Without the creative force behind the sequel, it's difficult to imagine what Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame would have looked like. Beyond the Infinity Saga, it remains relevant in a couple of ways starting with the introduction of Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson.