Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Complete Timeline to Phase 4

Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Complete Timeline to Phase 4: ‘Black Widow,’ ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ & More

November 10, 2026, 11:00 am

Special Issue

The ultimate superhero is just around the corner as Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday approaches, and as we gear up for the theatrical release, we’re taking a look back at the phases that came before the current Multiverse Saga, which is in Phase Six.

Below, we’re taking a closer look at the Multiverse with Phase Four. Scroll down for a walk down memory lane with Earth’s mightiest heroes.

Black Widow(2021)

She wasn’t just a founding Avenger. For a long period of time, Black Widow was one of the franchise’s only female superheroes, and fans clamored for a solo film. It would take a decade from her first appearance (plus a COVID delay), but the character’s time in the spotlight would eventually come in the form of this film, directed by Cate Shortland. Acting as an origin story, it provided a long-awaited look at Natasha Romanoff’s past, showing how she lived undercover with a manufactured family and how she was brought into the Red Room, an elite assassin training facility. The movie also served as a narrative farewell and closure, premiering after Natasha’s tragic death in Avengers:Endgame, though timing-wise, it took place after the events of Captain America: Civil War. On the run from the government, Natasha reunites with her childhood “family”—mom/Black Widow assassin Melina (Rachel Weisz), dad/supersoldier Alexei, aka Red Guardian (David Harbour), and sister Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)—in an attempt to take down the Red Room and its leader, Dreykov (Ray Winson), once and for all. Thanks to Pugh’s irresistible charm, Yelena’s introduction was instantly memorable. Taking the title of Black Widow, she became one of the strongest additions in the next phase of the MCU, and is poised to be a major player in Doomsday. —Avery Thompson

Shang-chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings(2021)

He’s Hliving a normal life in San Francisco—until one day, when Xu Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) is attacked by the Ten Rings, his father Wenwu’s (Tony Leung) criminal organization, which he left years ago. Shang-Chi travels to China with his friend Katy Chen (Awkwafina) to reunite with his estranged sister, Xialing (Meng’er Zhang). The reason? Wenwu thinks he’s getting messages from his late wife, Fala Chen (Ying Le), from the mythical village of Ta Lo. The trio go to Ta Lo but learn that everything is just a trick from the demon known as Dweller-in-Darkness. Wenwu sacrifices himself to save Shang-Chi, bequeathing the 10 rings that made him immortal, which Shang-Chi wields to defeat the demon. Later, he is summoned by the sorcerer Wong to the headquarters of the Masters of the Mystic Arts in Nepal. A post-credits scene shows Shang-Chi meeting with Wong, Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers as they work to figure out the rings’ origins. —Maggie Kwan

Eternals(2021)

The immortal Eternals—Kingo, Makkari, Gilgamesh, Thena, Ikaris, Ajak, Sersi, Sprite, Phastos and Druig (below, from left: Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Don Lee, Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Gemma Chan, Brian Tyree Henry and Barry Keoghan) have lived secretly among humanity for all of history. But their allegiances are tested when newly appointed leader Sersi learns about their true purpose from the Eternals’ creator, the Celestial Arishem (voiced by David Kaye). They’re supposed to rid the world of their ancient enemies, the Deviants, and help clear the planet for the birth of a new Celestial named Tiamut. Sersi reunites the group to stop the emergence of Tiamut from happening, but they’re divided on whether to do so. When Deviant leader Kro (voiced by Bill Skarsgård) is released, he begins hunting the Eternals down, leading them to band together to vanquish Tiamut forever. —MK

Spiderman: No Way Home(2021)

Sony Pictures Releasing / © Marvel Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection

Action picks up moments after 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home ended, with Peter facing the reality that his personal life is no longer private. Realizing his chances of getting into college are destroyed by the fabricated footage suggesting he’s responsible for Mysterio’s demise, he seeks Doctor Strange‘s help. But a spell gone wrong leaves cracks in the multiverse, where anyone who is looking for Peter Parker is led to his universe. That includes original Sony Spider-Man villains Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx) and Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), who kills Aunt May in an attack. More welcome characters wandering through the cracks? Fellow Spider-Men Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, who help Peter in the final battle. Peter eventually fixes the universe by allowing Doctor Strange to cast a spell that makes everyone forget who he is—even best friends Ned and MJ. —Meaghan Darwish

Doctor StrangeIn The Multiverse of Madness(2022)

In this sequel to Strange’s 2016 origin film, the sorcerer helps America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a young woman who can travel between universes, evade a demon dispatched by a grief-stricken Wanda Maximoff, who wants to steal America’s powers so she can reunite with the sons she created in WandaVision. This leads to a multiverse-hopping battle that takes the two through alternative dimensions, including Earth-838, where they face an Illuminati comprised of Strange’s former trainer Mordo (Chiwetel Ojiofor), Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards (John Krasinski), Captain Marvel’s Monica Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell), the Inhumans’ Black Bolt (Anson Mount) and the X-Men’s Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart). The final act teases a dire cost for Strange’s use of dark magic against Wanda, whose fate in the MCU still remains a mystery. —Damian Holbrook

Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Complete Timeline to Phase 2

Thor: Love and Thunder(2022)

In the fourth outing for the Asgardian, Thor joins up with the Guardians of the Galaxy, but his fights are derailed when he learns of a new enemy: Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale). After losing his daughter, Love (India Rose Hemsworth), Gorr hopes to travel to the realm of Eternity, where he will be allowed his one wish of destroying all the gods. Thor’s fight to protect his people brings him back to his first love, Jane, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Jane travels to New Asgard in search of Thor’s original hammer, hoping it might cure her—and finds that she is now its wielder, though using it exacerbates her disease. Despite her condition, she fights alongside Thor, helping him gain the upper hand in battle. Thor convinces Gorr to use his wish to bring his daughter back instead of killing the gods. Before Gorr dies, he enlists Thor to take care of Love, and a new duo is forged. —AT

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever(2022)

After the unexpected death of Chadwick Boseman, director Ryan Coogler refused to recast the character, choosing to have T’Challa die from an undisclosed illness at the beginning of this film. While T’Challa’s family mourns, a new threat shows up: Namor (Tenoch Huerta), leader of the underwater nation of Talokan. Shuri finds him after meeting MIT student Riri Williams/Ironheart (Dominique Thorne), who has created a Vibranium detector. After Nakia helps Shuri and Riri escape from Namor’s kingdom, Namor retaliates with an attack on Wakanda, killing Ramonda (Angela Bassett), who dies saving Riri. Seeking revenge, Shuri takes on the Black Panther mantle but spares Namor after seeing a vision of Ramonda. In a post-credits scene, it’s revealed that T’Challa and Nakia had a son, Toussaint, who has been raised in secret—as heir to the Wakandan throne. —Kelli Boyle

TV Guide Magazine’s Avengers: Doomsday Special Issue is available for order online now atAvengers.TVBooks.com, and for purchase on newsstands nationwide.

Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverBlack Widow (2021)Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessEternalsShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsSpider-Man: No Way HomeThor: Love and Thunder