We expect that the key event in the upcoming phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will revolve around the multiverses. We were previously unsure about whether the focus would be on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the mythology established by The Eternals, or the plot possibilities of the Skrulls’ in Secret Invasion, which now has its own standalone series. However, it appears that the multiverses will be the major theme. Here's everything we currently know about the upcoming Avengers movie.
What Do We Know About the Next Avengers Movie?
Unfortunately, very little information has been confirmed. We do know that there are two movies scheduled as the culmination of Marvel’s Phase 6: Avengers: Doomsday (set to be released in May 2026, previously known as The Kang Dynasty and Avengers 5) and Avengers: Secret Wars (May 2027). These movies will be released a year apart, in a similar style to Infinity War and Endgame, and will be the conclusion to what Marvel refers to as the Multiverse Saga. However, the release will be a year later than originally planned.
At Comic-Con 2024, it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom in Doomsday. It’s interesting to see if he’ll be portraying a character other than Tony Stark or if it’ll be a version of Stark from a parallel timeline where he’s a villain. There were rumors that Downey Jr. might return to the MCU, and although he had expressed interest in returning, it was initially assumed that he was referring to returning as Iron Man, a character he portrayed in ten films.
Has the Creative Team Been Confirmed?
Initially, the director chosen for this project was Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. However, he was fired. Jeff Loveness was the writer for the film, known for his work on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but he was also fired. Michael Waldron was chosen to replace him. Waldron is best known for his work on Loki.
During Comic-Con 2024, Marvel announced a new creative team, putting an end to all the rumors. The Russo brothers, who directed the previous four Avengers films, are officially returning to the MCU to direct the two new films. Stephen McFeely, who co-wrote the Russo’s previous Marvel films, will write the script for both movies.
This confirms that Shawn Levy will not be directing, despite rumors. Additionally, it’s been rumored that up to 60 characters, including Thor, Loki, Hulk, Doctor Strange, Nebula, and Shang-Chi, will appear in the films. The storyline will have a more ensemble approach rather than focusing on just two or three characters.
Who Will Almost Certainly Not Be Coming Back to Avengers?
Based on the characters Marvel is giving prominence in Phase 4 and the background we have from the comics, we can make a tentative list of characters who are almost certainly not going to be Avengers.
Iron Man, Black Widow, and Vision won’t be there for obvious reasons. Additionally, Hawkeye is retired (although his own TV show has shown how easy it is to convince him to take a little adventure), and the original Captain America is currently an old man. Thor has been with the Guardians of the Galaxy and regains independence in Thor: Love and Thunder. However, given the ending of this movie and the fate of Natalie Portman, it’s not entirely clear if he will remain the bearer of Mjolnir. That leaves only Hulk, who is still active, as seen in his cameos in Shang-Chi and She-Hulk.
It’s worth noting that there’ll still be movies and shows with heroes from the first four Avengers installments, including Captain America: New World Order. Plus, there are characters in the comics who have been Avengers but are not yet in the MCU, such as She-Hulk.
Who Has the Potential to Be in the New Avengers Movie?
Let’s consider a few names and their odds:
- Doctor Strange: The surprise star of the MCU after the success of Multiverse of Madness, he has fought alongside the Avengers and has been a father figure to Spider-Man, like Tony Stark. With the multiverse theme likely to be present in Avengers 5, there is no figure more essential than Strange.
- Captain America and War Machine: Sam Wilson and James Rhodes, successors to Steve Rogers and Tony Stark as Captain America and Iron Man respectively. They are almost guaranteed to be present in future incarnations of the Avengers. Not only have they officially picked up the respective mantles of their predecessors, but their characters have been classic Avengers in the comics. In addition, both will star in their own films.
- Wong: Despite being a secondary character in the Marvel Universe, his consistent appearances in different movies such as Shang-Chi, Doctor Strange, or Spider-Man: No Way Home make him a safe bet to appear in future Avengers movies.
- Spider-Man: Another unofficial Avenger, but if legal issues between Sony and Marvel don't prevent it, we will almost certainly see him in Avengers 5, either as a member or a guest.
- Thor and Loki: We'll have to wait to see what happens with Thor. However, Loki has more chances to become an unofficial member of the Avengers, especially after Kang's appearance in his series.
- Moon Knight: Possibly, the most enigmatic of all. Unlike most Marvel heroes, his show doesn’t have any links to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), except for a brief reference in Doctor Strange 2. However, in the comics, the character has been a part of the Avengers, particularly the West Coast division in the 80s.
- Ant-Man and The Wasp: Regulars in the Avengers and Captain America movies. Although they might not be part of an Avengers adventure, it’s possible that they may get an invitation. Until now, it was clear because Kang was the villain in Quantumania, but given that it's possible that he won't be the nemesis in fifth Avengers movie, appearances from Ant-Man and The Wasp are unclear.
- Scarlet Witch: After what we saw in the Doctor Strange movie, she may not appear in any future Avengers movies. However, her past as an Avenger in the comics, her romance with one of the group’s legendary characters, and her own history in the MCU give us hope that she might make a comeback in the future.
- The Marvels: This team consists of Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan, who have all been Avengers in the comics. Monica and Kamala are set to star in an upcoming Marvel movie where the original Captain Marvel is also expected to appear. Although she already helped The Avengers in Endgame, it was suggested that she was preoccupied with her own cosmic duties. However, Kevin Feige hinted that she may become the leader of the group.
- Shang-Chi: He's been a recent and minor in the comics, but the inevitable post-credit scene insert him in the MCU with Captain Marvel and Bruce Banner. It is still unknown how the Ten Rings mythology will impact the future of the franchise, but if it becomes more significant, the Avengers may become involved.
Was Endgame the Last Avengers Movie as We Knew It?
Yes. In The Making of Eternals documentary, Kevin Feige stated that Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe have completed the 22-film Infinity Saga with the release of the final Avengers movie. However, Marvel’s plans may involve creating a new official supergroup, the Fantastic Four, with a film already planned, and having the Avengers in the next two movies by 2025 be from a supergroup created specifically for those films.
What About Jonathan Majors?
Regarding Jonathan Majors, he was fired from the MCU following the final judgment in his domestic abuse case, which left Marvel in a delicate position. The new Avengers movie has removed all references of Kang from its title. Although Loki established Kang as Marvel’s new big villain, the writer’s strike prevented rewrites and reshoots of much of Loki’s sophomore year to erase him from the plot.
As a result, one of big options on the table was to look for another actor to portray Kang, but it looks like Marvel has decided to replace him as its main villain, opting for Downey Jr.'s Doom. It's clear that after the recent lackluster performance of Quantumania and The Marvels, as well as the problems with Majors, Disney has rewritten its original plans.
When Was It Decided That Secret Wars Would Be One of the New Avengers Movies?
In 2019, a Marvel leaker named Charles Murphy leaked a timeline of future releases from the company, which included a movie set to be released in May 2024. However, due to the pandemic, the whole plan was disrupted. In 2022, Murphy revealed that the movie scheduled for May 2024 was going to be Secret Wars. This classic Marvel movie from the 1980s features heroes and villains engaged in a fierce battle on an alien planet, under the watchful eye of an Almighty being.
The Russo brothers had reportedly expressed interest in directing this project, and even claimed that it had “even greater ambition than the Infinity Saga.” It is unclear whether this project, which seemingly takes place outside the Multiverse, will be the same Secret Wars that we will see in May 2027.
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