Still More Superhero Movies

LOS ANGELES >> "Doctor Strange," ''Black Panther," ''Captain Marvel" and the "Inhumans" are joining the Marvel cinematic universe.

The studio unveiled the titles and release dates of its upcoming superhero films through 2019 during a Tuesday event in Hollywood. The schedule includes a mix of sequels featuring familiar faces and originals focused onMarvel characters that have yet to be introduced on the big screen.

The slate includes "Captain America: Civil War" and "Doctor Strange" in 2016; "Guardians of the Galaxy 2," ''Thor: Ragnarok" and "Black Panther" in 2017; "The Avengers: Infinity War -- Part I," ''Captain Marvel" and "Inhumans" in 2018; and "The Avengers: Infinity War -- Part II" in 2019.

The movies join next year's "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Ant-Man."

"When we have information we want to reveal, we reveal it," Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige told fans and members of the media on stage at the El Capitan Theatre. "Sometimes that's in a press release, sometimes that's in San Diego Comic-Con -- if everything comes together well -- and sometimes that's on a random Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the morning."

At the end of the event, "Get On Up" star Chadwick Boseman was announced as the actor who will portray Black Panther. He joined "Iron Man" and "Captain America" stars Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans on stage for the reveal.

"I'm blessed to be part of this Marvel universe," Boseman said. "I look forward to making magic together."

Feige said the character will make his first appearance in "Civil War," which will pit Captain America and Iron Man against each other. In the comics, Black Panther is the leader of the fictional African nation of Wakanda who becomes a member of The Avengers.

"He is definitively a big part of 'Civil War,'" Feige said. "We will see him for the first time in 'Civil War' in costume."

"Black Panther" and "Captain Marvel" will mark the studio's first films centered on black and female characters from Marvel comics. Feige said the big-screen iteration of the Captain Marvel character will be Carol Danvers, a U.S. Air Force officer whose adventures take her to space in the comics.

No casting announcements were made for "Captain Marvel," the sorcery-centric "Doctor Strange" or "Inhumans," which is about a race of superhumans.

The Marvel films represent an important chunk of the Walt Disney Co.'s portfolio. Feige said the first 10 Marvelfilms, which kicked off in 2008 with "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk," have made over $7 billion.

Tuesday's unveiling of the so-called "phase three" of Marvel's film schedule comes two weeks after Warner Bros. announced a slate of 10 films based on DC Comics characters, including "The Flash," ''Aquaman," ''Cyborg," ''Wonder Woman" and "Shazam."

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Decades from now, cinephiles will look back on the early 2000s as the Superhero Era — and they’ll be able to pinpoint the moment when the bubble burst. As with all trends, it’s only a matter of time. It happened with film noir and then westerns, it happened to the spy movies of the 1960s, and then to the gritty crime dramas of the ’70s.

And that’s why Warner Bros.’ plan to produce 10 DC Comics movies between 2016 to 2020 seems so short-sighted. The company is so focused on dethroning Marvel as the reigning box office champ that it’s missing the big picture: Superheroes may be invincible on screen, but their popularity won’t last forever. And the upcoming glut of movies might just speed their demise.

The saturation is no joke. Studios have already slated 22 titles over the next five years, not including the handful Marvel has promised with release dates but without any details.

While Marvel has enjoyed hit after hit, from “Iron Man” to “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Warner Bros. has had a spotty past with its DC Comics adaptations. Batman and Superman can deliver predictably big box-office numbers, but beyond those guys, all bets are off. Remember the “Catwoman” catastrophe of 2004? Not to mention the two consecutive bombs “Jonah Hex,” in 2010, and “The Green Lantern” the following year.

Warner Bros. is doubling down on its golden boys: In addition to “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” with Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne, Warner plans to release two other Justice League movies. The directive is clear: Replicate the success of Marvel’s “Avengers” franchise, and pray that Affleck doesn’t pull a Clooney.

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