REPORT: Kevin Feige To Erase “Bothering” MCU Storylines in 25% Reset
Nearly two decades after Iron Man launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the franchise faces one of its biggest transitions yet. Once the gold standard of blockbuster storytelling, the MCU has recently been the subject of mounting criticism — too many spinoffs, too little cohesion, and a growing sense of fatigue among audiences.
Box office returns have reflected the sentiment. Recent films like Eternals (2021) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) struggled to capture the same fervor as earlier installments. Even Disney+ series, once hailed as an expansion of the universe, have been faulted for diluting the narrative.
Marvel Studios, however, is betting on its next two ensemble films to regain momentum. Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) are being positioned as the franchise’s next defining chapter, potentially rivaling the seismic cultural impact of Avengers: Endgame.
A Reset, Not a Reboot
Reports suggest Marvel will use these upcoming projects to implement what insiders are calling a major “reset” of the MCU. According to early details, as much as 25 percent of the cinematic universe could change during the process.
“Reboot is a scary word,” Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige told Variety earlier this year. “Reboot can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline — we’re thinking along those lines. ‘X-Men’ is where that will happen next.”
The distinction matters. Marvel appears intent on avoiding a clean slate in favor of carefully recalibrating storylines. A new report from industry insider Alex Perez (via Cosmic Circus) claims the plan is to selectively edit the canon. “It’ll just be a quick scrub of details the MCU wants to sort of forget and redo,” Perez said.
Perez went further, noting that the adjustments would involve “the resurrection of some heroes and villains as well as the erasure of some minor events that bother fans (and Kevin Feige), but all in all, it will be like 75-80% the original timeline, with some minor changes.”
What Fans Can Expect
That strategy could allow Marvel to reverse unpopular decisions, like abrupt character deaths, or streamline storylines that failed to resonate. It may also provide room for sidelined heroes to reappear — whether as variants, recasts, or through resurrection.
Perhaps most headline-grabbing is the return of Robert Downey Jr., who will play Doctor Doom, a creative swing that would place one of Marvel’s most iconic actors into a radically new role.
This potential shift underscores Marvel’s willingness to gamble as it looks to restore its momentum. The Multiverse Saga has delivered ambitious storytelling, but critics have long argued it lacks the narrative clarity that made the Infinity Saga’s climax so effective.
If the “reset” plays out as described, Marvel may manage to preserve the emotional impact of earlier films like Avengers: Endgame while paving the way for new sagas. Legacy characters such as Iron Man or Black Widow could return without undermining their sacrifices, and controversial entries could fade quietly into the background.
Whether the gamble pays off remains to be seen. Yet for Marvel, a franchise that once redefined the blockbuster, the decision to carefully reshape its own history may be the boldest move yet.
How do you feel about a potential MCU reset?
