Just when will Marvel finally announce the title of next year’s Avengers 4? So far, the studio has kept the title a closely-guarded secret, partly because it’s apparently some sort of a spoiler. In Kevin Feige’s view, that approach has backfired somewhat. “It’s gotten entirely out of hand,” Feige noted, “and now [we] will have no chance to living up to any expectations of what it’s gonna be.”

That hasn’t stopped the Russo brothers whetting fans’ appetites with obscure clues, though. So far, the closest guess they’ve apparently seen is Avengers: Forever, but - given the title is unlikely to be lifted from the comics - that hasn’t really served as a particularly significant hint.

A recent report from MCUCosmic has suggested Marvel will announce the title at this week’s CineEurope, a theater exhibitor’s convention in Spain. Marvel is expected to be a major part of Disney’s presentation on Wednesday 13, and MCUCosmic believes that will include revealing the title of Avengers 4. Even if that doesn’t happen, though, the site claims sources confirming the title will be announced within the next week.

It’s important to note that this is just a rumor, so should be treated with a certain degree of caution. But whether this report is accurate or not, the site makes a solid point; the title simply has to be revealed soon. Firstly, it’s important to note that marketing for a blockbuster movie tends to begin about seven or eight months before theatrical release. As a result, by October or November, Marvel will be preparing to release a first trailer. The title will surely have been revealed long before that.

Meanwhile, Joe Russo has stressed there’s a simple reason Marvel is holding the title back - and it’s not just a matter of building up the hype. “It’s advancing the narrative,” Russo explained. “So we’re gonna sit on that until we feel the time is right and when people have absorbed the first movie enough.” Marvel wanted to focus as much attention as possible on Avengers: Infinity War; but now, over a month after that film’s theatrical release, people have surely had enough time. More recently, on June 3, Stan Lee promised Marvel fans they could expect a “big surprise” in “the near future.” Although Lee refused to drop any hints, it seems most likely this is related to Marvel Studios, and a title reveal would certainly fit the bill.

But there is one complication. Although both Ant-Man & the Wasp and Captain Marvel are set before the events of Infinity War, there seems to be some sort of overarching narrative running through the next Marvel movies, building to a climax in Infinity War. Screenwriter Stephen McFeely gave Buzz Feed a sense of it when he explained:

“So there are four big shoeboxes, and we’re responsible for the bookends. As we’re going through deciding what we want to do, we have these two shoeboxes in the middle that you can either look at as burdens or opportunities.”

If Ant-Man & the Wasp is a crucial part of the buildup to Avengers 4, it’s possible Marvel will choose to hold the title back a little while longer, in order to avoid damaging marketing for the Ant-Man sequel.

Whatever the truth may be, the reality is that Marvel will indeed have a presence at CineEurope, so we’ll likely have some Marvel news; what’s more, Stan Lee’s “big surprise” is sure to come soon too. If that isn’t a title, it will surely be something equally exciting.

More: Every Upcoming Marvel Movie (2018 - 2020)

  • Ant-Man 2 Release Date: 2018-07-06 captain marvel Release Date: 2019-03-08 The Avengers 4 Release Date: 2019-04-26 spider-man homecoming 2 Release Date: 2019-07-02