However, even as the continuing novel coronavirus upends theatrical distribution and plays havoc, Marvel is about to enter 2021 the busiest it has ever been as it juggles multiple movies and major push into TV.
Marvel is now readying Black Panther 2 for a shoot that will start in Atlanta in July and last for six months.
Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta, who was one of the stars of Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico, is in talks to play one of the antagonists.
Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Angela Bassett are expected to return for the new feature.
Marvel has not revealed its plans on how it plans to proceed without Boseman, although it has indicated that it will not use CGI to include the late star.
In March, the Feige-run studio begins production on both She-Hulk, starring Tatiana Maslany, and Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight. All will debut on Disney+ as Marvel’s parent leans on the studio to deliver, in the words of Disney CEO Bob Chapek, “world-class, franchise-based content” to its 73 million global subscribers.
The shows are launching hopeful franchises that are to tie to the movie side of Marvel and, with merchandising, comics and more, across the Disney brand.
WandaVision, starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, debuts on Disney+ on January 15, and the studio is working to complete the first seasons of Loki and Falcon and the Winter Soldier, both of which were partially shot before COVID-19 shuttered production.
The studio also recently began the Atlanta shoot of Ms. Marvel, starring newcomer Iman Vellani.
The next movie chapter is carefully planned for a cinematic universe that has spanned 23 movies and grossed $22.55 billion globally.
Spider-Man 3 and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness are already filming with Jon Watts and Sam Raimi, respectively.
In January, Taika Waititi’s sequel Thor: Love and Thunder is starting its Australian shoot with a sprawling cast.
The studio will have Peyton Reed back for a new Ant-Man movie in 2021 and is ending the year with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, shooting with a returning James Gunn.
With four movies and two series going, Marvel will be acting akin to a full-fledged studio.
Marvel is also meeting with writers on its Blade reboot, which has Mahershala Ali attached, and this week hired Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin to pen Deadpool 3.
And, if the pandemic becomes contained with efficacious vaccines, Marvel will release three films in 2021: Black Widow (May 7), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (July 9) and Eternals (November 11).
