We’re just a matter of weeks away from the official launch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s much anticipated Phase 3. After 8 years and 12 movies, Marvel has built a substantial universe that keeps fans the world over in a state of steady anticipation. While much of that time has been devoted towards maintaining the status quo—a few notable exceptions aside—for the first time, the MCU faces the threat of real change when Captain America: Civil War is unleashed upon audiences.
Co-directed by brothers Joe and Anthony Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Captain America: Civil War finds the Avengers team facing off against each other as the threat of new superhero regulations split the team in half. Chris Evans returns as Captain America, in a story that finds him going head-to-head against Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. Also returning are Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, and basically the entirety of the Avengers team (save for Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)) - one of whom had some high praise for the movie in advance of its release.
In a recent interview with IGN, Anthony Mackie (while promoting his new film, Triple 9) had some high praise for Civil War and the Russo Brothers. Mackie, of course, plays Falcon, a character introduced in Winter Soldier who also played roles in both Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man. While little is revealed about the specifics of the movie, Mackie gave the film some glowing remarks.
It’s true that the Russos and Marvel have never been shy about taking things to the next level with each successive release - and with so much at stake in Civil War, hearing this can be nothing but good news for fans who’ve followed the MCU franchise for the last 8 years. There’s a lot riding on the film as it relates to the series as a whole, and hearing the advance buzz certainly puts a few fears to bed.
“It’ll be very different because…I feel the best Marvel movies thus far have been Winter Soldier and Iron Man. And I think this movie far surpasses those two movies. I think the Russo brothers and Marvel have done a very good job with upping the ante every movie. And this one definitely does not fail to live up to that.”
Many have worried that Civil War was too packed for its own good. With most of the Avengers making an appearance in the film, in addition to the introduction of Tom Holland (In the Heart of the Sea) as Spider-Man and Chadwick Boseman (Get on Up) as Black Panther, a lot of people have taken to referring to it as “Avengers 2.5” and wondering if there was too much going on to have a truly focused narrative.
Indeed, the stakes are pretty high for Civil War, as the outcome will have an effect on the rest of the MCU for the next few years in the lead up to Avengers: Infinity War. While there’s no telling if the film will follow the events of the comic series that inspired it—the end of which found Captain America imprisoned and Iron Man in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D.—no matter what happens, Civil War will be regarded as a tone setter for the coming phase, with the next films building on its momentum.
Captain America: Civil War will release on May 6, 2016, followed by Doctor Strange – November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man – July 28, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; Black Panther – February 16, 2018; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel – March 8, 2019; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 – May 3, 2019; Inhumans – July 12, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on May 1, July 10 and November 6, 2020.
Source: IGN
