There are several upcoming Marvel movies with 2023 release dates, as the MCU releases several sequels and Sony’s Spider-Man franchises continue.
Here is every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie releasing in 2023. Hollywood has become dominated by superhero movies in recent years, and that only increased after the Marvel Cinematic Universe started to take off. Between Marvel Studios, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, and Fox’s previous X-Men franchise, audiences have seen multiple Marvel movies released each year for quite some time. Since Disney’s deal with 20th Century Fox brought the X-Men and Fantastic Four back to Marvel Studios, the MCU and Spider-Man Universe are all that is left to produce new films. 2023 is going to be another busy year for both parties.
The MCU kicked off Phase 5 in February 2023. The MCU’s 2023 films are all sequels and give audiences another chance to see a few of the franchise’s biggest characters. Originally, Marvel Studios was meant to release four movies in 2023, but that was before Mahershala Ali’s Blade reboot was pushed back to 2024 due to various production issues. Sony is continuing two different sections of its Spider-Man movie plans, too, as a new live-action film starring a Spider-Man villain and the highly-anticipated follow-up to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse both debut in 2023.
1Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – February 17, 2023
The Ant-Man franchise returned in 2023 as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania released on February 17, 2023. The sequel came over four years after audiences saw Ant-Man and the Wasp. Director Peyton Reed returned for the trilogy capper, which once again featured Paul Rudd in the lead role as Scott Lang, a.k.a. Ant-Man. Ant-Man 3’s other returning cast members included Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne, a.k.a. the Wasp, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet van Dyne. The movie also saw Kathryn Newton play Cassie Lang in another MCU recasting, while Jonathan Majors played the MCU’s new major villain, Kang the Conqueror.
Despite a mixed reception, Ant-Man 3 will play a prominent role in the MCU. The story followed Ant-Man, Wasp, and the rest of the main characters as they found themselves trapped in the Quantum Realm. They met Kang the Conqueror during this time, although Janet van Dyne was familiar with him from her time trapped there before the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp. Ant-Man 3 also features MODOK, with Corey Stoll reprising the role of Darren Cross in a changed origin for the villain. The 2023 MCU movie significantly set up the events of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, revealing the Council of Kangs in its post-credits scene.
2Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – May 5, 2023
The Guardians of the Galaxy get one more mission together when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 releases on May 5, 2023. Once again written and directed by James Gunn, the sequel comes almost six years exactly since the team last got a solo movie. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 brings back the franchise’s main characters and stars: Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Vin Diesel as Groot, Karen Gillan as Nebula, and Pom Klementieff as Nebula. The sequel also features major new MCU additions with the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) and Adam Warlock (Will Poulter).
It is no secret that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the last movie for this iteration of the team. Marvel Studios’ marketing for the movie has already hinted at the emotional storyline that will unfold, which is expected to feature at least one major death. The storyline of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has not been confirmed, but the film is set explore Rocket’s origins. The High Evolutionary is sure to have a sinister plot, while Adam Warlock enters the picture years after Marvel Studios previously teased him. While the film will wrap up Gunn’s time with Marvel, it should still set up more cosmic adventures.
3Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – June 2, 2023
The next upcoming Marvel movie releasing in 2023 is Sony’s animated sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The movie is set to release exclusively in theaters on June 2, 2023. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse comes from the director trio of Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin Thompson, while Phil Lord and Chris Miller returned to write the script with Dave Callaham. The Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel returns Shameik Moore as Miles Morales, Hailee Steinfeld as Spider-Gwen, and Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker. It also brings Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), Spider-Woman (Issa Rae), and Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya) into the mix.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‘s story will send Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, and Peter B. Parker on a multiverse adventure. Whereas Miles’ universe was the primary setting of the first film, the sequel will predominantly take place in Gwen Stacy’s universe. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‘s villain is The Spot, voiced by Jason Schwartzman. Sony has already announced plans for a sequel, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, to be released in 2024. As a result, it’s likely that the upcoming movie will set up the next Spider-Man film. It could even feature cameos from Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, or Andrew Garfield, too, with the former even being name-dropped in the April 2023 trailer.
4Kraven the Hunter – October 6, 2023
Sony’s Kraven the Hunter is confirmed for release on October 6, 2023. The movie makes Kraven the third Spider-Man villain to get a movie as part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, following Venom and Morbius. Kraven the Hunter will star Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular big-game hunter Sergei Kravinoff. The movie’s cast also includes Russell Crowe as Kraven’s father, Fred Hechinger as Chameleon, Ariana DeBose as Calypso, and Christopher Abbott as The Foreigner.
Kraven the Hunter’s story is still largely a mystery. Early on in the movie’s development, it was reported that the movie was an adaptation of Kraven’s Last Hunt, a famous comic storyline where Kraven hunts down Spider-Man. One of the film’s writers even said that Kraven will come face-to-face with Spider-Man in the film. There has so far been no confirmation that Spider-Man is in Kraven the Hunter, much less if it would be Tom Holland or someone else to play the web-slinger. Taylor-Johnson has also signed on for multiple films, so this could be the start of a bright future for the character in Sony’s Spider-Man universe.
5The Marvels – November 10, 2023
Audiences will finally get another chance to witness a Carol Danvers adventure when The Marvels releases on November 10, 2023. The movie comes four years after the debut of Brie Larson’s MCU superhero in Captain Marvel. The sequel is directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman) and written by Megan McDonnell (WandaVision). Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel is not the only superhero set for The Marvels, as Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau and Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan, a.k.a. Ms. Marvel, are returning. It is also confirmed that Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is back. Zawe Ashton is confirmed to play an unknown villain, while Park Seo-joon also has a mystery role in the film.
Marvel Studios directly set up The Marvels‘ events through Ms. Marvel episode 6’s post-credits scene where Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel switched places thanks to Kamala’s mysterious bangle. The connection between Carol and Kamala will somehow pave the way for Carol and Monica to be reunited. There is an expectation that The Marvels will follow on from Secret Invasion‘s storyline in some fashion and possibly include several other major MCU characters, such as Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) and Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson). It also seems likely that the movie will, in some way, play a role in setting up Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
6All Marvel TV Shows Coming In 2023
In addition to the upcoming Marvel movies, there are also several Marvel TV shows releasing in 2023. Originally, Marvel Studios announced several other TV shows set for release on Disney+ in 2023, including What If…? season 2, Ironheart, and Agatha: Coven of Chaos, but reworkings at the studio have set these projects back.
