Marvel Announces New Untitled 2016 Film, Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella Gets A Release Date

Since beginning their campaign to take over Hollywood in 2008, Marvel Studios has worked to try and squeeze in two projects per year. Their first year brought us Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk; then in 2011 they had both Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, and in 2013 thus far we've already seen Iron Man 3 and are now patiently waiting Thor: The Dark World in November. Marvel has already confirmed that they will be keeping this up for years to come, with both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy coming out next year and having The Avengers 2 and Ant-Man lined up for 2015, but now we learn that they will be keep that streak going through 2016 as well.

A little less than two weeks ago Marvel Studios and Disney announced two separate untitled projects for release on May 6, 2016 and May 5, 2017, and today Exhibitor Relations has revealed plans for a third movie within that time frame. According to their sources, the studio has bookmarked July 18, 2016 for yet another one of their mysterious in-development movies. This set up on the schedule is very similar to what Marvel did back in 2011, with Thor getting its U.S. debut in the first week of May and then Captain America: The First Avenger coming out in mid-July.

Both films will be part of Marvel's Phase 3 plans (a.k.a. post-Avengers 2), but what's unknown at this time is which characters the stories will center on. Doctor Strange, for one, is officially going to be a part of the studio's plans going forward, but we have yet to hear an answer to "when." Both Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans are attached to make three solo movies as Thor and Cap, so it's possible that one or two of the 2016 spots belongs to them. Or they could be making room for a whole crop of new heroes or finally making a S.H.I.E.L.D. movie. The possibilities are kind of endless.

But that's not all the news that Exhibitor Relations dropped today. Sources have also told them that Disney is now planning to have their upcoming live-action Cinderella movie in theaters on March 15, 2015. The project, which is being directed by Kenneth Branagh, has been picking up a great deal of steam in recent weeks, particularly in the casting department. Downton Abbey's Lily James is set to play the titular heroine, Cate Blanchett will be her evil stepmother, Game of Thrones' Richard Madden is taking the role of Prince Charming, and it was most recently announced that Helena Bonham Carter will play the Fairy Godmother. Looking at the release date, presumably the film is looking to go into production either later this year or at the start of next - depending on how much time they feel they need for both production and post-production. Branagh is still working to have Jack Ryan ready for release this Christmas, so that could impact his schedule some as well.