Marvel Phase Three: All You Need To Know About Black Panther, Captain Marvel & The Inhumans

Marvel just blew up the internet announcing a slew of new films extending into 2019.

There are two Avengers films, Captain America, Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy sequels, and the well-known debuts of Doctor Strange and Ant-Man.

There were however, three new additions. Rumoured for some time but still kept well (ish) under wraps, Marvel will be bringing Black Panther, Captain Marvel and the Inhumans to the big screen over the coming years.

But who are they? Here's a crash course...

Black Panther, aka T'Challa

First appearing in a 1966 issue of The Fantastic Four, Black Panther pre-dates other notable black superheroes like Luke Cage, Storm and Falcon by many years.

He is the ruler of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, which just so happens to be the material vibranium (which was used to make Captain America's shield) originates and largely comes from.

Black Panther possesses exception levels of strength and speed, and has superhuman senses. He is also a highly-intelligent leader, scientist and hunter.

His chief nemesis is Ulysses Klaw, who is rumoured to be played by Andy Serkis in next year's Avengers: Age of Ultron. This in turn has lead to rumours that Black Panther may appear in the film as well, or a post-credits sequence.

Chadwick Boseman will play the character in the film set for release on 3 November 2017.

Captain Marvel, aka Carol Danvers

Carol Danvers made her first appearance in the Marvel world in 1968. She original adopted the moniker Ms Marvel, because Captain Marvel was originally a man, or a male member of the Kree alien race.

Originally without powers, Danvers is caught in an explosion with the male Captain Marvel and assumes his powers after their DNA merges. She was Ms Marvel until 2012 when she finally assumed the Captain Marvel mantle.

Danvers is a high ranking Major in the United States Air Force whose powers include the standard increased strength, stamina and endurance, but also notably flight which no other current big screen superhero has without the aid of something (Iron Man's tech, Thor's hammer).

No casting announcement has been made (we'll be championing Emily Blunt) but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said that director and writer announcements will be coming shortly.

Captain Marvel will be released on 6 July 2018.

Inhumans, led by Black Bolt.

The Inhumans aren't a superhero group in the traditional sense, they're a race. In the comics they are created by alien Kree scientists, who experimented on humans to unlock latent ability. If you're a big Marvel film buff than that may ring a bell.

At the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier we discover that Hydra are experimenting on two humans Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, who will star in Avengers: Age of Ultron as Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.

Their abilities are granted to them or unlocked through the experiments by Hydra, so that could well be what provides the origins of the Inhumans (or "age of miracles" as Baron von Strucker puts it in the Cap 2 scene) of Marvel's films. This could mean that Hydra are experimenting on other humans as well.

These other humans (as well as Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver) could form the Inhuman team, led usually by Black Bolt, who was once rumoured to be played by Vin Diesel (who voices Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy).

Other notable Inhumans include Medusa, Crystal, Gorgon, Karnak and The Unspoken.

Inhumans will be released on 2 November 2018.