This article containsAvengers: Age of Ultronspoilers and potentialMarvel Phase Threespoilers.

Whether you loved it or didnt love it (did anyone reallyhateit?

),Avengers: Age of Ultronplanted the seeds of serious, lasting change in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It may have done a little too much seed-planting for one movie, but thats another story.

A look atMarvels release schedule for the next five yearsreveals a neat little pattern.

Almost without exception, the films alternate between introducing new characters (and potential new franchises) with sequels.

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There are two major threads that must then converge before Marvel Phase Three completes.

Dont worry…theyve gotelevenmovies to get all this work done.

The first thing we have to deal with isAnt-Man.

If Im wrong, well find out soon enough, asAnt-Manopens in July.

Avengers: Age of Ultron, on the other hand, laid itsCivil Warcards on the table.

It did plenty to sow the seeds of resentment between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers.

That, right there, is the crux ofCaptain America: Civil War.

The desire to protect the world through non-Avengers means is what drove Tony to create Ultron.

is what will make Tony a proponent of legislation that requires superhumans to register with the government.

Needless to say, this wont sit well with everyone.

Or perhaps as head of SHIELD.

You never can tell with that guy.

My guess is Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange.

The timing of theDoctor Strangemovie makes absolute sense.

Its the first of the true Phase Three movies that doesnt have to rely on set-up from previous films.

Perhaps its Strange who ends up forming a new team of Avengers when the time comes.

But then were quickly back on the sequel track withGuardians of the Galaxy 2.

There have been rumors that Marvels first Spider-Man movie will also feature Tony Stark.

But more importantly, like Doctor Strange, Spider-Man is a card carrying member of theNew Avengersteam.

Hes also thoroughly ill-equipped to take on the likes of Thanos.

Now, heres where things get tricky.

Loki, on the other hand, would slot nicely into the Mephisto role.

But remember what I said about the Avengers ofInfinity Warprobably not faring well against Thanos?

It wont go well for the good guys.

But then who fulfills the powerhouse Thor role?

That would be Captain Marvel.

Expect the Kree glimpsed onAgents of SHIELDand inGuardians of the Galaxyto play a role.

Its an ambitious plan, to be sure.

Im also quite possibly wrong about a good chunk of this.

Well get a much better idea the closer we get toCaptain America: Civil Warnext year.

Until then, hey add your own theories!