Marvel is one of the most well-known superhero movie franchises in the U.S., and after a long hiatus due to COVID-19, they recently began to release content again. They have used Disney+ to their advantage, allowing for the streaming of new movies, along with a new addition: TV shows.

All of Marvel’s recent shows are original to Disney+. WandaVision, which followed Wanda Maximoff, Vision, and their relationship, had a very unique style to it. Starting like a 60s sitcom, it gradually evolved into a more modern-day aesthetic while continuously highlighting the significance of family, grief, and having more potential than one thinks. The next show that was released was Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which was full of action and comedy, but also touched upon relevant societal issues, such as racism and corruption. Sam Wilson’s character development and his growth into the new Captain America were amazing to watch. After that came Loki, which takes place after the new 2012 timeline from Avengers: Endgame (2019). There is also plenty of action in this show, along with drama, mystery, and, of course, mischief.

“What If…?,” Marvel’s newest show, and their first animated content, take various scenes from the MCU and shift them through a new viewpoint. Its premise, which is based on a Marvel Comics series, creates new storylines that branch from the original by changing a piece of the plot. For example, the first episode is about Agent Peggy Carter becoming the equivalent to Captain America (or in her case, “Captain Carter”) instead of Steve Rogers. Each episode takes an interesting spin on different characters’ stories, with endings varying from lighthearted and happy to dark and depressing. It was renewed for a second season before the first one was finished, so there will be more exciting episodes in the future.

Marvel also started to release movies again, one of the most recent being Black Widow. After being postponed for over a year due to the pandemic, it was finally released in theaters and on Disney+ in June. The prequel movie is amazingly done, and it begins to make connections between the story of Natasha Romanoff’s family and the main plot.

On September 3, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings made its debut. Unlike Black Widow, it was released exclusively in theaters; it’s the story of a warrior who had run from his past and must confront it to battle the forces of evil.

The well-written characters, thrilling plot, and stunning visual effects make it arguably one of Marvel’s best movies so far. Despite being one of the MCU’s more stand-alone films, Shang-Chi ties into previous movies in interesting and exciting ways.

Marvel’s movies and TV series are exciting on their own, but there is more to look forward to. The Eternals, Hawkeye, and Spider-Man: No Way Home will be released on November 5, November 24, and December 17, respectively. 

Marvel has planned their upcoming movies for the next year and a half. After Spider-Man, six movies are scheduled to be released including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and The Marvels in 2022. In 2023, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be released. A Fantastic 4 movie has also been confirmed, but the release date is unknown, and there is no confirmed cast as of now. 

Since 2008, Marvel Studios has been captivating audiences worldwide, and the future will only get better from here. Based on their past successes, the upcoming movies and series will continue to excite fans everywhere.

As the world slowly goes back to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, people will flock back to the movie theaters to see Marvel’s next films. Marvel never disappoints and continues to keep fans on the edge of their seats – both in the movies and in preparation for the wonders to come.