Marvel Studios is continuing to hold back a project that has been quietly developing in the background of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for several years, extending a delay that now appears tied directly to the future of the Avengers franchise.
The project, long associated with the so-called Young Avengers lineup, is not expected to move forward until after the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga, according to new industry reporting.
Marvel has not formally announced a release date, title, or cast for the project. However, the studio has steadily introduced characters widely understood to be part of a next-generation team across multiple films and Disney+ series.
Since Avengers: Endgame ushered in the end of the Infinity Saga in 2019, Marvel has expanded its storytelling aggressively. New heroes were introduced across theaters and streaming, while legacy characters were phased out or repositioned.
That expansion has coincided with inconsistent audience response. Films such as The Marvels (2023) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) struggled at the box office, while Disney+ titles including Secret Invasion and She-Hulk failed to maintain momentum.
Even projects that performed better with critics did not guarantee strong theatrical results. Thunderbolts (2025) earned favorable reviews but did not emerge as a breakout success.
As Marvel reassesses its release strategy, attention has shifted back toward the Avengers films as the primary narrative drivers. Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) are positioned as the centerpiece events of the current saga.
Doomsday will feature the return of Robert Downey Jr., this time as Doctor Doom rather than Tony Stark. Chris Evans is also confirmed to appear, with his involvement teased ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025).
The cast includes Sebastian Stan, Pedro Pascal, Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, and Anthony Mackie, combining characters from across multiple Marvel eras.
Some reports suggest additional appearances could follow, including Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire. Marvel Studios has not confirmed those claims.
Several younger characters remain notably absent from current Avengers announcements, including Kamala Khan, Kate Bishop, and Cassie Lang, despite being positioned as future leads in recent phases.
Young Avengers Plans Remain on Hold
Industry insider Daniel Richtman reports that Marvel intends to delay its Young Avengers project until after Avengers: Secret Wars. According to the report, the project will not debut while the Avengers storyline remains unresolved.
Richtman says the series will instead use the alternate name “Champions” and is being developed for Disney+. Its setting would place it after the Multiverse Saga concludes.
The timing suggests a release no earlier than late 2027, with 2028 viewed as the earliest possible window. That date could shift further if Secret Wars is delayed or restructured.
One notable detail is the reported scope of the project. Richtman claims the series may “run for multiple seasons,” which would be unusual for Marvel’s recent live-action output.
So far, only Loki and Daredevil: Born Again have received more than one season. A second season of Hawkeye has been rumored but not confirmed.
Marvel has seeded potential Young Avengers members for years without formally launching the team. Instead, characters were introduced individually through existing franchises.
Kate Bishop debuted in Hawkeye. Cassie Lang was expanded in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. America Chavez appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The clearest acknowledgment came in The Marvels, when Kamala Khan referenced assembling a team and contacted Cassie Lang, marking Marvel’s first explicit on-screen signal toward a group formation.
Why ‘Champions’ May Replace ‘Young Avengers’
As development stretches on, the “Young Avengers” label has become increasingly strained. Several actors associated with the lineup are no longer particularly young by franchise standards.
Hailee Steinfeld, who plays Kate Bishop, is 29. She is older than Scarlett Johansson was when she joined the MCU as Black Widow in Iron Man 2 (2010).
That shift may explain Marvel’s reported move toward the Champions branding, which allows for a younger-skewing ensemble without positioning them as direct Avengers successors.
The delay aligns with earlier reporting that Marvel had abandoned plans for a Young Avengers feature film. In 2024, YouTuber Kristian Harloff said the project had shifted to television.
“I am hearing that this is as show,” Harloff said. “It’s a full-on show that they’re going to do.”
Watch this space.
Do you think Marvel is making a mistake by delaying Young Avengers?
