This year marks an impressive milestone for Marvel, as the superhero powerhouse celebrates its 85th anniversary with footage from Thunderbolts*, Daredevil: Born Again, and Captain America: Brave New World.
Originating long before the cinematic debut of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in 2008, Marvel has evolved from its early comic book days into the world’s leading movie franchise. At this year’s D23 expo, Marvel commemorated this landmark occasion with a captivating video montage that has now been shared by Disney, showcasing the expansive journey from print to screen.
The montage not only honours Marvel’s rich history but also offers a sneak peek into the future, featuring footage from upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects like Daredevil: Born Again, Ironheart, and Thunderbolts*. The video concludes with a thrilling glimpse of Harrison Ford transforming into the Red Hulk for Captain America: Brave New World.
Marvel’s recent presence at San Diego Comic-Con last month, dubbed a triumphant return, brought further excitement. Highlights included the confirmation of Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel fold, the box office success of Deadpool & Wolverine, and the tantalising prospect of a Channing Tatum Gambit project finally taking off. The anniversary video further builds on this momentum, offering brief but enticing looks at new entries such as Thunderbolts* (featuring an ensemble cast including David Harbour, Florence Pugh, and Sebastian Stan), and Captain America: Brave New World.
The video serves as a dual homage and teaser. It begins by reflecting on Marvel’s humble beginnings with legendary figures like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko, and transitions into what fans can anticipate next. Notable scenes include the Thunderbolts team suited up, Charlie Cox as Daredevil in Daredevil: Born Again, Dominique Thorne soaring through traffic as Ironheart, and Harrison Ford’s highly anticipated portrayal of Red Hulk.
The excitement doesn’t stop there. Marvel’s upcoming releases include the WandaVision spin-off Agatha All Along hitting Disney+ next month, hints of an Ultron return in the MCU, and major developments in the Multiverse Saga leading up to the Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars finales.
A poignant line in the Marvel 85th anniversary video encapsulates the MCU’s enduring appeal: “It began as an experiment to create an epic narrative that would become a universe of storytelling. For 85 years, our stories have connected us. We’ve only just begun.“
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
Edwin Teo
