If you rewatched every film in the Marvel cinematic universe in preparation for Avengers: Endgame, you'll know just how intimidating a task that is.
It took the MCU just over a decade to reach 22 films (and in a few months, Spider-Man: Far From Home will become 23). By comparison, next year's as-yet-untitled James Bond movie will be number 25, and that series has been going since 1962.
There's plenty more where that came from too — relax, that's not a spoiler, but a certainty based on box office records that Marvel keeps breaking (the latest being the reported $US169 million ($240 million) Endgame made on its first day of release outside the US).
So, whether you love them or loathe them, the MCU is here to stay. Here's what we know about what Marvel has planned — along with the next steps in some other big franchises.
(SPOILER WARNING: This article doesn't specifically talk about the plot of Endgame, but avert your gaze if you want to go into that movie completely cold.)
Next up, Spider-Man: Far From Home on July 4
Marvel studios boss Kevin Feige has confirmed this film, not Avengers: Endgame, will mark the official end of the MCU's third phase (which began in 2016 with Captain America: Civil War).
We've also previously been told by Marvel that Far From Home takes place after the events of Endgame.
Back in April last year, Feige had this to say to IGN about Far From Home (back before Endgame even had a title):
"What is it like to try to go back to a normal life after what happens in this movie [Infinity War]? Not to mention what happens in the next [Avengers] movie."
Beyond the next Spider-Man film, Marvel has given us some tidbits about what we can expect:
- Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is in pre-production, with James Gunn back as director after previously being fired by Disney over resurfaced jokes about paedophilia and rape
- Follow-ups to Doctor Strange and Black Panther have been announced
- We'll reportedly see a film about the Eternals (ancient super humans created to defend Earth), with actors Angelina Jolie and Kumail Nanjiani rumoured to be on board
- The long talked about solo outing for Black Widow is reportedly in pre-production with Australian Cate Shortland (Berlin Syndrome) as director — according to the the Hollywood Reporter, it will be set before the first Avengers movie
Meanwhile, Marvel TV shows (including Loki and an untitled Hawkeye series) have been announced for Disney+, Disney's upcoming streaming service.
We've also got two X-Men movies coming in 2019
The first, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, stars Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, who gets hit by a "mysterious cosmic force" which makes her both more powerful and out of control.
That gets released on June 6, 2019.
The second, The New Mutants, also stars a Thrones alumnus — this time, Maisie Williams as one of five young mutants held in a secret facility.
That film has much more of a horror feel than the mainline series and will be in cinemas just a couple of months later on August 1.
With Disney now owning both Marvel and 20th Century Fox (the maker of the X-Men series), it's possible future outings of these superheroes (as well as the Fantastic Four and Deadpool) could be in the MCU.
As for DC, we'll see our first glimpse of Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker on October 4
The Joker will tell story of how Arthur Fleck became the archnemesis of Batman.
This isn't part of the DC extended universe, however, and looks like it will have a very different tone — the trailer suggests it will be a psychological thriller more grounded in reality.
You'll have to wait until next year for DC's Birds of Prey (starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn) and Wonder Woman 1984.
Star Wars will close out a year of epic finales on December
We don't know much about The Rise of Skywalker, but a cackling laugh that can be heard at the end of the new trailer tells us the evil emperor Palpatine will be making a return (and that's since been confirmed).
Carrie Fisher, who died in 2016, will also return as Princess Leia via unused footage from The Last Jedi.
The film will bring an end to the latest Star Wars trilogy, but knowing Disney there will be more soon enough.
Then, next year, Daniel Craig will make his last appearance as James Bond
We don't have a title yet, but we know that Craig will face off against this year's best actor Oscar winner Rami Malek, who overnight was announced as the latest Bond villain.
"I promise you all I will be making sure that Mr Bond does not have an easy ride of it," he said.
The film will be directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (the man behind the first season of True Detective) and co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (who wrote TV comedy Fleabag and drama Killing Eve).
