Marvel's Phase 3: Comics are Taking Over The Movie-Making Industry

First it was DC Comics revealing an ambitious slate, now its Marvel's turn. Late last week they revealed a 7-picture slate that goes until 2019. One has to wonder if comic books are taking charge of the motion picture industry.

Here is the list of movies coming out in Phase 3, then I will talk about each one in detail:

Ant-Man (July 31, 2015)
Captain America: Civil War (May 6, 2016)
Doctor Strange (November 4, 2016)
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (May 5, 2017)
Thor: Ragnarok (July 28, 2017)
Black Panther (November 3, 2017)
Avengers: Infinity War - Part I (May 4, 2018)
Captain Marvel (July 20, 2018)
Inhumans (November 2, 2018)
Avengers: Infinity War - Part II (May 3, 2019)

Ant-Man has been on the calendar for a couple of years, though it was originally set for November 2015 (it was moved due to competition from the next James Bond movie). Peyton Reed directs and Paul Rudd stars as the titular superhero. As the first new solo superhero movie made by the studio since Captain America: The First Avenger, this could easily be a huge hit. Thankfully, its opening in the same timeslot as Guardians of the Galaxy this year, which went on to pick up a huge $330 million domestically.

One of the most-anticipated and most ambitious of the slate is Captain America: Civil War. This one will pit Captain America against Iron Man, which will make Marvel and mainstream moviegoers even more curious to what will happen in the events of Age of Ultron. Iron Man 3 picked up $1.2 billion worldwide. With Robert Downey Jr. certain to return here, look for Civil War to possibly match if not exceed that movie's gross. I know I'm being optimistic, but it seems almost likely.

Doctor Strange is one of the more-popular Marvel characters, and a character that many have clamored to see on the big screen. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch is currently finalizing his deal to play the character. In a different viewpoint for a Marvel pic (magic) and a Holiday timeslot, this one may not be quite as successful as other films in the comic book universe (it doesn't help that it opens one week before Sony's Sinister Six),

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 was originally set for July 2017 but moved up to May in response to the first movie becoming the most successful film of 2014 so far. Considering it opens the Summer movie season like all Marvel movies have (and will), this will be huge. Guardians of the Galaxy will finish near $800 million worldwide, do not be surprised if the sequel passes $1 billion.

Thor: Ragnarok is the surprise of the list, as a third Thor movie was not expected by many in the future. And yet, The Dark World ended up near $700 million worldwide. But, should it hold onto the Summer 2017 slot, this could end up doing more than its predecessor did. On the other hand, if the summer competition is a lot, then it may more be on par. This is actually one of my more anticipated ones of the list, as the Thor movies are among my favorite superhero movies, ranking alongside The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2.

Black Panther is the first "game-changer" for Marvel, becoming the first superhero movie to star a black superhero. Chadwick Boseman (42 and Get On Up) is set to play the famous Marvel hero. The character is also one of the major heroes many have clamored to come to the screen. I can actually see this being the breakout among all the Marvel films.

The other "game-changer" is Captain Marvel, in what will be one of the first female-centric superhero movies (DC will beat them to the punch with the Wonder Woman movie in June 2017). The July release date will favor it well, but will a female-centric superhero that's not nearly as well known as Wonder Woman succeed?

Inhumans seem to be the Guardians of the Galaxy of Phase 3. They are the most obscure and risky of the group. Unlike a few superheroes of the previous movie, this will be a family of superheroes. This could and should succeed opening in the Holiday season, but again, it probably won't come close to the biggest Marvel movies.

Phase 3 concludes with, of course, Avengers: Infinity Wars. But, like its Justice League competition, will split this entry into two parts. Everything seems likely to come together here. All cast members from previous entries are signed for these movies. Part II will actually get to compete against Justice League - Part II in 2019, as both open within two months of one another.

With Marvel and DC, plus the X-Men franchise (Apocalypse in 2016, Fantastic Four movies in 2015/2017 and Wolverine 2 in 2017) and Spider-Man franchise (Sinister Six, Venom and The Amazing Spider-Man 3 in 2018), comics will have around 7 movies a year by 2020. Will America grow tired of this trend? Or will it just prove to grow even higher? Its definitely exciting, and majority of these movies will have me in the theater watching them. But, this formula will have to become at least somewhat dated by then.

Superhero movies haven't been my favorites. But they've become more interesting and exciting over the last few years. In the next couple weeks, I will be doing a weekly blog post ranking superhero movies from best to worst.