Confirmed: Marvel is skipping SDCC 2015

It's been rumored for months, but we now have confirmation that Marvel will not have a Hall H panel at this year's San Diego Comic-Con International. Marvel has been the star of Hall H for quite a few years now and it's a bit confusing as to why they are skipping this year.

Many are speculating this is due to Marvel's somewhat lackluster panel last year. They had attempted to use the platform to announce all of Phase Three, tease Guardians of the Galaxy, and announce Joaquin Phoenix as Doctor Strange, but his negotiations fell through just prior to the convention. As a result, they didn't reveal much at all.
However, there are a couple options why. Seeing that Marvel is a Disney owned entity now, Kevin Feige might decide to save whatever they have for the D23 Convention in Anaheim. They are Disney owned, after all. Another theory is they just don't have enough to show. Captain America: Civil War just started filming, Spider-Man hasn't begun production yet, and there is no point trying to hype Ant-Man because it's hitting next month.

Elizabeth Olsen confirmed for Captain America: Civil War

Looks like Marvel isn't finished with Scarlet Witch just yet. Elizabeth Olsen, who debuts the character in Avengers: Age of Ultron, confirmed that she will reprise the role of Scarlet Witch in the third installment of Captain America, Civil War, next year. She will evidently begin filming her scenes in Atlanta in a couple weeks.

Marvel has yet to confirm Olsen's involvement, but I'm sure a list of character confirmations are coming. Given the involvement required for this Civil War arc, I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of Marvel actors make cameos in this film. My fingers are crossed for another Erik Selvig appearance or Jane Foster.

The Russo's to direct Avengers: The Infinity War

Captain America: The Winter Soldier directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, have officially been hired to direct Avengers: The Infinity War - Part 1 and Part 2. This isn't much of a surprise as they also were selected to direct Captain America: Civil War. Also in talks for The Infinity War are screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The pair has written scripts for all three Captain America films along with Thor: The Dark World and ABC's Agent Carter.
The Infinity War is going to be the biggest production yet as both parts will shoot back to back in 2016 and 2017. Part 1 is set for a 2018 release while Part 2 is set for 2019. 

A random sidenote, but this also confirms that Joss Whedon is indeed finished with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He previously stated that Avengers: Age of Ultron would most likely be his last Marvel film and that seems to be true. He wants to move on and start doing some more original projects. Sad day.

Daniel Bruhl joins Captain America: Civil War

German actor Daniel Bruhl has officially joined the cast of Captain America: Civil War. Bruhl will be playing an undisclosed villain and is also rumored to be the main villain in Doctor Strange as well.

Marvel made the official announcement before anyone else managed to leak it, but they neglected to mention exactly which role he will be playing. If the Doctor Strange bit is true it will reunite him with Benedict Cumberbatch as the two shared the screen in The Fifth Estate.
So far it seems that Civil War is going to be a key point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it is apparently going to unite a ton of characters together and set the course for the rest of the films. I say that because along with the announcement of Marvel's film schedule they announced that Chadwick Boseman was set to play Black Panther and that he would make his first appearance in Civil War. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see a Guardians of the Galaxy cameo or an introduction to Captain Marvel, either.

Either way, it should be interesting to see what character Bruhl has been brought on to play. You might recognize him as the Nazi poster child in Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds back in 2009. He also previously shared the screen with Marvel alum Chris Hemsworth in Rush.

Iron Man to appear in Captain America 3

Robert Downey Jr. has had a bit of a rollercoaster lately. Rumors are circulating around whether or not there will be an Iron Man 4 and in light of that, it was announced tonight that he is on the verge of signing a contract that will place him in Captain America 3 in 2016.

If this happens it is a pretty good sign that Marvel is introducing the Civil War storyline which pits Captain America against Tony Stark as they feud over the Superhero Registration Act. The act forces all people and creatures with superhuman abilities to register and disclose their gifts with the government and agree to act as a police force for them. Stark, along with Mr. Fantastic and Hank Pym, agrees with the SRA while Capt. Rogers and his team does not. Cap cites it as a violation of civil liberties and believes superhumans need privacy in order to help whenever the law cannot, they are not meant to actually be the law.

Basically, if this is the way they go it would put Stark in a somewhat villainous role that could lead into him being a villain in the third and/or fourth Avengers movie as well as a fourth Iron Man, if that happens.
Marvel is already planning on rebooting the 2006 Civil War storyline in 2015 to re-introduce and bring in new audience members before Captain America 3. The original comic series included crossover characters such as Spider-Man, Mr. Fantastic, Luke Cage, Wolverine, and Cyclops.

This is somewhat intriguing as another rumor going around in the past week or so was that Sony and Marvel were doing some re-negotiating and that it was possible that Spider-Man could possibly make an appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There is also the case of a new X-Men film coming out in 2016 as well as the new Fantastic Four. If there is any possibility of a Marvel film crossover it very well could stem off Captain America 3 and extend into the third or fourth Avengers.