Mob Cinematic Universe: Phase One
| Phase One | |
|---|---|
| Based on | Characters published by |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | See below |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | |
Release date | 2024–2025 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Mob Cinematic Universe Phases | |
|---|---|
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Phase One of the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a group of American superhero films produced by Mob Productions based on characters from DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Mob Production Comics. Phase One features all the Mob Productions productions planned to be released from 2024 through to 2025.
Mob Productions licensed the film rights for different characters from other film studios until 2040 and began exploring producing their own feature films by 2019. Freddie Goodwin, the president of Mob Productions, announced that they were developing a film based on both Deadpool and Wolverine as a team up superhero film and stated the film would open up storylines for all future films in the MCU.
The films of the phase include Deadpool & Wolverine, with Reynolds returning as Wade Wilson / Deadpool; the ensemble The Fantastic Four; Doctor Doom, starring Mads Mikkelsen. The final film of Phase One is The Mutants. The first phase also includes 5 seasons of television series starting with Impulse that will premiere on September 10, 2024 and will conclude on November 12, 2024, following the release of 9 episodes.
The first film Deadpool & Wolverine, was released worldwide on February 8, 2024 and grossed $1.256 billion worldwide. The Fantastic Four is scheduled to be released worldwide on July 28, 2024. Two additional films will be included in Phase One that will release in 2025. Phase One will be followed by Phase Two.
Development
By September 2012, SOI Studios president Freddie Goodwin was in talks with Warner Bros. and Mob Productions in merging the two companies to create television and films under one brand name. The deal was delayed multiple times because of agreement differences with both presidents of the two companies. During the April 2013 public online presentation, Goodwin announced he had been working hard with the other company to come to a good deal.
In June 2016, it was pubically announced that SOI Studios would merge with Mob Productions with Goodwin retaining the role of president. In 2018, multiple leaks had revealed a Deadpool and Wolverine film projects. Goodwin pubically confirmed the films and stated the three films will all be part of "Phase One".
In 2020, Ryan Reynolds was announced to reprise his role as as Wade Wilson with other cast members from Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018). Goodwin stated that the film would feature different aspects of the first two films that Reynolds had made and turn the material into MA15+ material, feeling the need to create something that isn't R18+ right away.
During production on Deadpool 2 (2018), a reboot for the MCU was being planned by Mob Productions with Freddie Goodwin attached to write the screenplay. In June 2021, Ryan Reynolds was confirmed to be reprising his role as Wade Wilson/Deadpool in the film. Development on the first film was mixed with a potential second film as confirmed in June 2022. By then, Goodwin announced he has worked on every project in the MCU and will focus entirely on the future of the franchise. In December 2019, after the release of Fox's Deadpool 2, Freddie Goodwin began work on a new Deadpool franchise to have Ryan Reynolds star in which will reboot the films. In February 2020, Reynolds agreed to do the film, as long as he produced it alongside Goodwin.
In 2022's SDCC, Goodwin confirmed the entire Phase One slate: Doctor Doom, The Fantastic Four, a Deadpool film, a Wolverine film, and a team up film based on a team of Mutants. By the end of the year, the Deadpool and Wolverine films had been merged and titled Deadpool & Wolverine.
After the critical and commercial failure of the 2015 film Fantastic Four, co-written and directed by Josh Trank and based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name, 20th Century Fox began looking at new directions to take the franchise. Having also produced two earlier Fantastic Four films directed by Tim Story a decade prior, the studio did not want to just make another Fantastic Four film. By June 2017, Seth Grahame-Smith was writing a new film that would shift focus to Franklin and Valeria Richards, the children of original Fantastic Four leaders Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Taking inspiration from the Ultimate Fantastic Four comic books, the screenplay included original Fantastic Four members the Thing and the Human Torch, and was described as "kid-centric" with a tone closer to The Incredibles (2004) than Trank's darker film. The basis of the screenplay came from a separate script that Carter Blanchard had adapted from the children's book Kindergarten Heroes by Mark Millar. Millar previously consulted with Fox on their Marvel-based films. In July, Noah Hawley, who had created the Marvel Television series Legion, was hired to develop a separate film focused on Doctor Doom, the Fantastic Four's primary antagonist. The Walt Disney Company officially acquired 21st Century Fox in March 2019 and gained the film rights for the Marvel Comics characters that Fox controlled, including the Fantastic Four, for its subsidiary Marvel Studios. The Marvel-based films that Fox had been developing were placed "on hold".
20th Century Fox began work on a new Fantastic Four film after the failure of Fantastic Four (2015). After the studio was acquired by Disney in March 2019, control of the franchise was transferred to Marvel Studios, and a new film was announced that July. Jon Watts was set as director in December 2020, but stepped down in April 2022. In 2022, it was announced that the film that Marvel was originally developing had been given to Mob Productions to include in the Mob Cinematic Universe. New writers Julianne Crestwood, Marcus V. Ellington, and Eliza Thornhill joined the project to rewrite the film and filming was completed in 2023. Mob Productions wanted to bring a third team into the universe to make things more interesting.
Films
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Producer(s) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deadpool & Wolverine | February 8, 2024 | Freddie Goodwin | Freddie Goodwin, Benjamin Knowles, Sara Case, Patrick Reid | Freddie Goodwin & Ryan Reynolds | Released |
| The Fantastic Four | July 28, 2024 | Jackson Miller | Sara Case & Patrick Reid | Freddie Goodwin | Post-production |
| Venom: The Last Dance | October 25, 2024 | Kelly Marcel | |||
| Doctor Doom | January 3, 2025 | Wilma Zimmerman | Wilma Zimmerman, Myla Salazar, Sara Case, Patrick Reid, Ethan Morland, and Clara Redwood | ||
| The Mutants | June 25, 2025 | Finnian Hawke | Ulysses Black | In-development | |
Deadpool (2024)
Deadpool & Wolverine is a 2024 superhero film based on the Marvel comics character of the same name from Marvel Comics. Produced by Mob Productions, Ryan Reynolds, and Freddie Goodwin and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the first film in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU). It was directed by Freddie Goodwin and written by the team including Goodwin, Benjamin Knowles, Sara Case, and Patrick Reid. It stars Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson as he battles old enemies to keep the world safe from danger. The film ends with a post-credits scene featuring a cosmic entity which hints at future events and the greater timeline of events. Goodwin said that he included the scene as "something to tease the future for the fans".
Development began shortly after the release of Fox's Deadpool 2 (2018) with Reynolds set to reprise his role as Wade Wilson/Deadpool. During development, Reynolds joined the producer team.
Deadpool & Wolverine premiered in Westwood, Los Angeles, on February 1, 2024, and was released in the United States on February 8, as the first film in Phase One of the MCU. The film received postive reviews from critics. The film grossed $1.262 billion and was a box-office success.
The Fantastic Four (2024)
The Fantastic Four is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. Produced by Mob Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the 2nd film in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the second reboot of the Fantastic Four film series. The film is directed by Jackson Miller from a screenplay by the writing duo Sara Case and Patrick Reid. It features an ensemble cast including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the titular team, alongside Julia Garner, and Ralph Ineson.
During a interview in 2022, Freddie Goodwin confirmed that he had been focusing on introducing various heroes to his own universe — and originally wanted to introduce the Avengers into the universe, though felt the Fantastic Four would be better for the Mutant themed story. Goodwin had a final draft by September 2022 though filming wasn't planned to begin until mid-2023. By March 2024, Goodwin revealed the release date of the film being for July 28, 2024.
20th Century Fox began work on a new Fantastic Four film after the failure of Fantastic Four (2015). After the studio was acquired by Disney in March 2019, control of the franchise was transferred to Mob Productions, and a new film was announced that July. Jon Watts was set as director in December 2020, but stepped down in April 2022. Shakman replaced him that September when Kaplan and Springer were working on the script. Casting was underway by early 2023, and Case joined to rewrite the script by that March, with Squires and Cameron also writing. Mob Productions wanted to tell a new story with the characters rather than retell their origin story. Pearson joined to polish the script by mid-February 2024, when the main cast was announced, and additional casting took place in the following months.
The Fantastic Four is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 28, 2024, as the second film of Phase One of the MCU.
Doctor Doom (2025)
Doctor Doom is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Produced by Mob Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the 3rd film in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Wilma Zimmerman, who wrote the screenplay with Myla Salazar, Sara Case, Patrick Reid, Ethan Morland, and Clara Redwood.
After finishing work on The Fantastic Four (2024), Mob Productions began work on a new film based on the popular villain Doctor Doom, which they planned to have as the big bad for the first three Phases. Zimmerman announced she was directing the film in 2021 and confirmed development began the day prior to her announcement.
Doctor Doom is scheduled to be released on January 3, 2025, as part of Phase One of the MCU.
The Mutants (2025)
The Mutants is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team The X-Men. Produced by Mob Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the 4th film in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film will be directed by Finnian Hawke and written by Ulysses Black.
In June 2020, it was rumored that Mob Productions was developing a film based on the X-Men. Insiders reported that the film wouldn't have "X-Men" in the title and would focus more on the "mutants" of the teams. By 2021, Mob Productions pubically announced they were making a cinematic universe focusing on a "Mutant vs. Hero" story — which was at the time believed to be the Avengers.
The Mutants is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 25, 2025, as the final film of Phase One of the MCU.
Television series
All television series will be released on Disney+.
| Series | Season | Episodes | Originally released | Network | Showrunner | Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||||||
| Impulse | 1 | 9 | September 10, 2024 | November 12, 2024 | Disney+ | Freddie Goodwin | Post-production | |
| Ajax | 1 | 4 | December 17, 2024 | start | Jackson Greene, Freddie Goodwin | |||
| Moonknight | 1 | 6 | February 2025 | start | Freddie Goodwin | Filming | ||
| Young Justice | 1 | 5 | March 2025 | TBA | In-development | |||
| Crisis on Infinite Earths[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | 5 | July 2025 | TBA | Freddie Goodwin, Jackson Greene, Lucas Everett, Maya Thompson | |||
Impulse (2024)
Impulse is an upcoming American television miniseries created by Freddie Goodwin for the streaming service Disney+, based on the DC Comics character Bart Allen / Impulse. It is intended to be the 1st television series in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Mob Productions, via its Mob Television label, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. Goodwin serves as showrunner and lead director.
By September 2021, Mob Productions was developing a limited series starring Jordan Fisher as Bart Allen / Impulse, with a focus on introducing him as a "big hero" within the MCU. The first 5 episodes were completed by July 2022 and the series began being filmed in early October 2023. Filming concluded in March 2024. Impulse is scheduled to premiere on September 10, 2024 on Disney+ with a new episode each week for nine weeks. A second season is in development planned for inclusion in Phase Two.
Ajax (2024)
Ajax is an upcoming American television miniseries created by Jackson Greene and Goodwin for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is intended to be the 2nd television series in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Mob Productions, via its Mob Television label, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. Greene serves as showrunner and lead director.
Shorts
Mob Productions had confirmed that they are going to be releasing various shorts onto their social media platforms that will explore small aspects of the MCU, and potentially introduce a major character into the universe.
The Time Containmenet (2024)
A mini-series consisting of seven shorts will release weekly starting in late 2024. The Time Containment introduces time travel into the MCU; and introduces a brand new character, from DC Comics, Bart Allen / Impulse.
Timeline
The time allocated for running scripts has expired.Deadpool & Wolverine is set in the year 2024. The Fantastic Four is set in late 2024. Doctor Doom is set in 2022. The Mutants is set in 2026.
Recurring cast and characters
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List indicator(s)
This section includes characters who will appear in multiple films and/or television series within Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and have appeared in the billing block for at least one film or have been a member of the starring cast for at least one series.
- A dark grey cell indicates the character's presence in the films or series has not yet been announced.
- A C indicates an uncredited cameo role.
- A V indicates a voice-only role.
Reception
Box office performance
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| Film | U.S. release date | Box office gross | Budget | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. and Canada | Other territories | Worldwide | ||||
| Deadpool & Wolverine | The time allocated for running scripts has expired. | $358,995,815 | $486,559,962 | $845,555,777 | $130 million | |
| The Fantastic Four | The time allocated for running scripts has expired. | $84,500,223 | $121,636,334 | $206,136,557 | — | |
| Doctor Doom | The time allocated for running scripts has expired. | $84,500,223 | $121,636,334 | $206,136,557 | — | |
| The Mutants | The time allocated for running scripts has expired. | $84,500,223 | $121,636,334 | $206,136,557 | — | |
| Total | $The time allocated for running scripts has expired. | $The time allocated for running scripts has expired. | $The time allocated for running scripts has expired. | $130 million | ||
Notes
- ↑ Part of the "Mob Spotlight" banner
- ↑ The second season of Loki and second season of What If ...? are both excluded from the diagram because they both occur outside of the main timeline and in alternate timelines respectively.[1][2] Disney+'s timeline order places these seasons at the end of the timeline, after The Marvels.[3]
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