What Marvel-lous News: Captain Marvel Will Lead Female-First MCU In Phase 4

It is the day that fans (and Brie Larson) have been waiting for, as Marvel honcho Kevin Feige has confirmed when Captain Marvel will be joining the likes of Iron Man, Thor, and Black Widow as a major part of the MCU. While the writing was on the wall for Carol Danvers suiting up in the fourth Avengers ensemble, Feige has confirmed the expected that #CaptainMarvel will be a part of #Avengers4.

That means after her introduction in her own solo film, Danvers will be flying in to help save the day in that second round with Thanos, then presumably carry us through to the next chapter and whatever "phase" the expanded universe is planning next.

O Captain! My Captain!

In a recent interview with IndieWire, Feige discussed the future of the fairer sex in the #MCU, and reiterated that Larson will play a huge part in Captain Marvel's own film and beyond:

"Really, the focus now is on delivering Captain Marvel, and then bringing Captain Marvel’s story into the finale of everything we’ve started thus far."

Little is known about Avengers 4, and while we are promised some big deaths, at least Captain Marvel can now be added to the roster of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The Russo Brothers had already confirmed that the star-spangled heroine wouldn't be making it in time for the upcoming #InfinityWar, which left many fans a little disappointed with the news. However, it all makes sense when you think that Cap's arrival will be saved for her own solo movie/origin film in 2019, then segue into Avengers 4.

With a recent boom in popularity for female-first films like Wonder Woman, and with DC also honing in on that Batgirl solo, the MCU has some catching up to do. When asked about the possibility of other female-lead films in a post-Phase 3 cosmos, Feige remained a little more coy on what was coming next:

“There are a lot of discussions, they all focus on the post-Phase Three, Avengers 4 film, so nothing that we’ll get into publicly. We’re really focusing on Captain Marvel and the work that [directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck] are doing. It’s going to be a big part of heading towards this epic conclusion and epic finale of 22 movies over the course of 10 years. That is focus for the next six movies we have to finish and get out."

Captain Marvel will be the first movie on Marvel's slate to be lead by a woman, but other MCU stars like Tessa Thompson are hoping for an all-girl movie akin to Charlie's Angels in the near future. Just imagine Samuel L. Jackson as the MCU's very own Bosley to bring together our powered pretties.

Although there was that possible nod to Danvers in 2016's Doctor Strange, the whole MCU has been keeping mum on where the Air Force female will have been hiding for the past 20 movies. Whatever happens next, at least Feige and co. have a clear vision on where to go, and it sounds like Captain Marvel is going to be right and the center of it — well, about time!