Here's What Marvel's Next 7 Mystery Movies Could Be

Marvel has just laid down the (infinity) gauntlet by announcing their next SEVEN films.

Well, release dates, at least.

The new schedule, which some are assuming is Phase 3, takes them to 2019, and suggests the world these heroes inhabit is about to expand considerably.

However, the tricky part is guessing what these films are. Actors can only star in so many movies, and Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans are just two actors who have held fast on strictly fulfilling their contracts. 

Evans is signed for three more films, which include another Captain America and two more Avengers. But Downey Jr. is only attached to the next two Avengers, and the contract Marvel inked with the actor years ago suggests it would only be financially viable to bring Downey back to Iron Man solo films if he took a massive paycut (which he will not do). That means Iron Man 4 is out of the equation, while Captain America 3 (and Ant-Man) already have dates. 

So, aside from some obvious guesses, those seven slots could be filled with several different Marvel properties. Which are they? Will we see The Punisher again? Could The Inhumans make their presence felt? And what's Thor up to? We looked at the tea leaves and carefully pinpointed just which films are coming down the pike for Marvel, and what the studio might be announcing at next week's Comic Con. 

Our guesses for the next Marvel movies >

July 8th, 2016: "Doctor Strange"

May 5th, 2017: "Thor 3"

Marvel has already hired writers for the third Thor, which follows Thor: The Dark World's mammoth $644 million worldwide take. It's very likely events in Avengers: Age Of Ultron and Doctor Strange heavily affect what occurs in Thor 3, particularly considering Loki is now in charge of Asgard.

This could be Chris Hemsworth's last solo film as the God Of Thunder, so Marvel's likely got something big in store, considering the juiciest release date on the schedule. There's a very good chance the repercussions of Thor 3 (perhaps Ragnarok?) will echo over the course of the other Marvel movies, leading to Thor's return in Avengers 3. Perhaps they'll finally give the Warriors Three something to do? 

July 28th, 2017: "Guardians Of The Galaxy 2"