Mob Cinematic Universe: Phase One
| Phase One | |
|---|---|
| Based on | Characters published by |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | See below |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | |
Release date | 2024–2026 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | Total (4 films): $885 million |
| Box office | Total (4 films): $2.864 billion |
| Mob Cinematic Universe Phases | |
|---|---|
| |
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 2026.
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 were written by Wilma Zimmerman, Myla Salazar, Sara Case, Patrick Reid, Ethan Morland, Clara Redwood, Goodwin, Benjamin Knowles, and Ulysses Black. The films were also directed by Goodwin, Jackson Miller, Zimmerman, and Finnian Hawke.
The films of Phase One include Deadpool & Wolverine, featuring Ryan Reynolds reprising his role as Wade Wilson / Deadpool, the ensemble film The Fantastic Four, and Doctor Doom, starring Mads Mikkelsen in the title role. The final film of the phase is Ascendants, which is currently scheduled for release on February 12, 2026. In addition to the theatrical releases, the first phase also includes five seasons of original television content. The first series, Impulse, premiered on September 10, 2024, and concluded on November 12, 2024, after airing a total of nine episodes. The second series, Ajax, followed shortly after, premiering on December 10, 2024, and wrapping its run on January 7, 2025. Moonknight debuted on February 18, 2025, and concluded on April 1, while Young Justice aired concurrently, premiering on March 7 and concluding on April 4, 2025. The final series of Phase One, Crisis on Infinite Earths, is scheduled to premiere on July 18, 2025. A second season of Impulse was confirmed on July 1, 2025, set for a September 2025 release.
So far, Phase One has recieved generally positive reviews from critics, with them praising the flow of the story and the cast. However, they also disliked how some stories don't feel connected from each project. Currently, the films have grossed $2.864 billion. Phase One will be followed by Phase Two, starting in 2026.
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 publicly 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 publicly 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 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.
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.
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".
In June 2019, Goodwin, the visionary leader at Mob Productions, strategically outlined a robust expansion plan involving the development of six additional Phases following the conclusion of Phase Three. This expansive roadmap showcased a detailed and structured vision, designed to further evolve and enrich their cinematic universe over the coming years.
Following the release of The Wolverine: Rebirth (2025), Goodwin confirmed that efforts were underway to enhance the overall quality of The Mutants. He announced that the film had been officially retitled Ascendants and would now be released in February 2026. Despite the changes, Goodwin stated that the marketing strategy would remain intact, with a teaser trailer scheduled to debut in September 2025.
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 | |
| Doctor Doom | January 3, 2025 | Wilma Zimmerman | Wilma Zimmerman, Myla Salazar, Sara Case, Patrick Reid, Ethan Morland, and Clara Redwood | ||
| The Wolverine: Rebirth | March 11, 2025 | Wilma Zimmerman | |||
| Ascendants | February 12, 2026 | Finnian Hawke | Ulysses Black | Post-production | |
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 on a third Deadpool film began at 20th Century Fox by November 2016, but was placed on hold after the studio was acquired by Disney in March 2019. Control of the character was transferred to Marvel Studios, which began developing a new film with Reynolds. It integrates Deadpool with the MCU and retains the R rating of the previous films, making it the first MCU film to have such a rating. Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin joined in November 2020 as writers. Reese and Wernick returned from the previous films for rewrites by March 2022, when Levy was hired as director. They, along with Reynolds and Wells, had difficulty figuring out the film's story until Jackman decided to reprise his role as Wolverine from Fox's X-Men films in August 2022. Filming began in May 2023 at Pinewood Studios in England, with additional filming in Norfolk and at Bovingdon Film Studios. Production was suspended in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, but resumed in November and wrapped in January 2024. The film's title was revealed a month later.
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 a 2024 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 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, 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. Filming occured throughout 2023.
The Fantastic Four premiered on July 22, 2024, at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City, and was released on July 28, 2024, as part of Phase One of the MCU. The film recieved generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $100 million worldwide.
Doctor Doom (2025)
Doctor Doom is a 2025 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 a prequel to The Fantastic Four (2024), and 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.
Development on a film focused on the character Doctor Doom began in late 2019, but didn't have a working script. A first draft was submitted by late 2020 and a final draft was completed by late July 2023. Filming began on June 30 and concluded the following month on July 28, 2024.
Doctor Doom was released on January 3, 2025, as part of Phase One of the MCU. It recieved critical acclaim for its writing and has been called the best Doctor Doom adaption ever made. The film grossed $496.74 million worldwide, making it the second-highest grossing MCU film of the time.
The Wolverine: Rebirth (2025)
The Wolverine: Rebirth is a 2025 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Wolverine. Produced by Mob Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 4th film in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU). Taron Egerton was cast as James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine in September 2023. He is joined by Anya Taylor-Joy, Paul Mescal, Sadie Sink, Barry Keoghan, Florence Pugh, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jeremy Allen White, Christoph Waltz, Jacob Elordi, Jeffrey Wright, Sophie Thatcher, and Clancy Brown.
The Wolverine: Rebirth began development in 2014 as a feature film set in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men universe but faced multiple script rewrites and production setbacks. Hugh Jackman was initially attached but exited in 2017, leading to a search for a younger Wolverine.
The Wolverine: Rebirth was released on March 11, 2025, as part of Phase One of the MCU. The film has grossed $102.73 million worldwide on a budget of $60 million. The Wolverine: Rebirth recieved mixed reviews from critics, who praised the ambitious story but disliked the pacing and writing.
Ascendants (2026)
Ascendants 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 5th film in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the final entry of Phase One. Directed by Finnian Hawke and written by Ulysses Black and Freddie Goodwin, and stars Chris Hemsworth as Kael Thorne / Stormborne, alongside Venessa Kirby, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Simu Liu, Danny Ramirez, Pedro Pascal, and Robert Downey Jr.. In the film, a coalition of mutants and heroes — dubbed the "Ascendants" — must unite to stop Virex (Downey), an ancient being who threatens to collapse all realities into one.
Ascendants was originally titled The Mutants before being officially retitled in December 2023. Following the name change, it was announced that composer Ludwig Göransson would score the film and assist in editing its soundtrack to incorporate thematic elements from previous entries in the MCU.
Initial reports of Mob Productions developing a film based on the X-Men property emerged in June 2020, with sources indicating that the project would not carry the traditional "X-Men" title and would instead focus more broadly on the concept of mutants. In 2021, Mob Productions officially announced plans for a new cinematic universe centered around a "Mutant vs. Hero" narrative, which was widely speculated to involve the Avengers. The film was later confirmed as the culminating installment of Phase One and was set to introduce original mutant characters alongside returning heroes from earlier MCU entries.
Ascendants is scheduled to be released in the United States on February 12, 2026, as part of Phase One of the MCU.
Television series
The series in Phase One 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 | Released | |
| Ajax | 1 | 4 | December 17, 2024 | January 7, 2025 | Jackson Greene, Freddie Goodwin | |||
| Moonknight | 1 | 6 | February 18, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | Freddie Goodwin | |||
| Young Justice | 1 | 5 | March 7, 2025 | April 4, 2025 | ||||
| Crisis on Infinite Earths | 1 | 8 | July 18, 2025 | TBA | Freddie Goodwin, Jackson Greene, Lucas Everett, Maya Thompson | Post-production | ||
Impulse (2024)
Impulse is an American television miniseries created by Freddie Goodwin for the streaming service Disney+, based on the DC Comics character Bart Allen / Impulse. It is 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 premiered on September 10, 2024 on Disney+ with a new episode each week for nine weeks and officially concluded on November 12, 2024.
Impulse is set 3 years before the events of Ascendants (2025) and Bart Allen is still being trained by his father Barry Allen, who is known as The Flash.
Ajax (2024)
Ajax is an 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 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.
Moonknight (2025)
Moonknight is an American television miniseries created by Freddie Goodwin for the streaming platform Disney+, based on Marvel Comics' Moon Knight character. It is the 3rd series set in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU). The show follows Marc Spector, a former mercenary suffering from dissociative identity disorder (DID), who becomes the earthly avatar of the ancient Egyptian god Khonshu. As he navigates fractured identities and divine manipulation, Spector confronts ancient cults, cosmic horrors, and the possibility that his entire life may be a divine hallucination. Goodwin serves as head writer and directs multiple episodes, with additional direction by Maya Thompson, Jackson Greene, and Lucas Everett.
Oscar Isaac stars as Marc Spector / Moonknight, alongside Charles Dance as the voice of Khonshu. The ensemble cast also includes Jessica Barden, Aasif Mandvi, David Dastmalchian, Toby Kebbell, Noma Dumezweni, Harriet Walter, and Noah Jupe. The series was announced in early 2024 as part of Phase One of the Mob Cinematic Universe. Production began mid-2024, with filming taking place in New York City, Budapest, and Morocco. The show adapts multiple Moon Knight comic storylines, including The Bottom, From the Dead, Lunatic, and The Midnight Mission.
Moonknight premiered on February 18, 2025, and ran for six episodes, concluding on April 1. It received acclaim for its psychological complexity, atmospheric direction, and Oscar Isaac’s performance in portraying Spector’s fractured psyche. Critics praised its darker tone and thematic boldness, noting it as one of the most mature entries in the MCU to date.
Young Justice (2025)
Young Justice is an American television miniseries developed by Freddie Goodwin and Jackson Greene for the streaming service Disney+, based on DC Comics characters. It is the 4th television series in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Mob Productions and Epic Vision Studios, sharing continuity with the films and series of the franchise. The series follows Bart Allen and Tim Drake as they unite with a new generation of young heroes — including Static, Wonder Girl, and Blue Beetle — to form a covert team in the aftermath of escalating multiversal threats. As they battle secret organizations and confront inherited trauma, the group must forge their own identity in a world shaped by legacy.
Young Justice premiered on Disney+ on March 7, 2025, with a total of 5 episodes, and is part of Phase One of the MCU.
Crisis on Infinite Earths (2025)
Crisis on Infinite Earths is an upcoming American television series created by Freddie Goodwin, Jackson Greene, Lucas Everett, and Maya Thompson for the streaming service Disney+, based on the DC Comics storyline of the same name. It is intended to be the 5th television series in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Mob Productions, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise.
Crisis on Infinite Earths is scheduled to premiere on July 18, 2025, as the final television series of Phase One of the MCU. It will consist of 8 episodes.
Timeline
Deadpool & Wolverine is set in 2024, six years after the events of Deadpool 2, and takes place primarily on Earth-10005, Earth-616, and within the Void. The events occur after the conclusion of Loki Season 2, following the collapse of TVA oversight.[N 1] The Fantastic Four is set primarily in 2015, with a one-year time jump following the team's transformation, and ends in early 2016 with the establishment of Central City. Doctor Doom is set across two timelines: Victor’s early years between 2009 and 2012, and his rise to power in Latveria in 2016, overlapping slightly with the conclusion of The Fantastic Four. The Wolverine: Rebirth is set in 2025, a few months after Deadpool & Wolverine, and spans multiple locations across Earth-10005 and Japan. It runs concurrently with Impulse precedes the events of Ascendants.
Music
Soundtracks
| Title | U.S. release date | Composer(s) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadpool & Wolverine (Original Score) | February 12, 2024 | Rob Simonsen | Mob Music Productions |
| The Fantastic Four (2024 Original Score) | September 1, 2024 | ||
| Doctor Doom (Original Soundtrack) | February 12, 2025 | ||
| The Wolverine: Rebirth (Original Soundtrack) | May 22, 2025 | ||
| Ascendants (Original Soundtrack) | April 30, 2025 | Ludwig Göransson |
Home media
Reception
Box office performance
| Film | U.S. release date | Box office gross | All-time ranking | Budget | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. and Canada | Other territories | Worldwide | U.S. and Canada | Worldwide | ||||
| Deadpool & Wolverine | February 8, 2024 | $230,676,069 | $330,400,000 | $561,076,069 | ? | ? | $80 million | |
| The Fantastic Four | July 28, 2024 | $384,273,098 | $508,475,970 | $892,749,068 | ? | ? | $150 million | |
| Doctor Doom | January 3, 2025 | $636,745,858 | $701,327,787 | $1,338,073,645 | ? | ? | $220 million | |
| The Wolverine: Rebirth | March 11, 2025 | $200,500,001 | $214,601,576 | $415,101,577 | ? | ? | $60 million | |
| Ascendants | February 12, 2026 | – | – | – | ? | ? | $375 million | |
| Total | $1,482,135,032 | $2,275,563,055 | $3,757,698,087 | – | – | $885,000,000 | ||
Critical and public response
Notes
- ↑ Deadpool & Wolverine's events tie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but doesn't continue the storyline of that universe.