New Information Comes To Light Following the Removal of ‘Avengers 5’
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is preparing for a major restart as the Avengers assemble once again in the franchise’s long-awaited fifth installment, arriving next year.
The MCU has spent the last several years navigating unpredictable terrain. Kevin Feige’s once unstoppable blockbuster machine has seen dramatic fluctuations, from the explosive triumph of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) to the more muted responses toward Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and Captain America: Brave New World (2025). The landscape has shifted, and no release has been a guaranteed theatrical victory.
But Marvel Studios is banking on a new creative spark with the return of directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who are stepping back into the universe to helm the two-part Avengers event: Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). Both the Russos and Feige have characterized the pair of films as a fresh era for the MCU—essentially a franchise-level reset meant to drive the next phase forward.
The cast reflects the studio’s ambitions, pulling together longtime Marvel favorites like Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson/Captain America, while also incorporating legacy characters from 20th Century Studios’ X-Men universe. That includes the return of Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan as Professor X and Magneto, reprising their roles for what is shaping up to be a major Multiversal convergence.
Of course, one of the biggest surprises involves Robert Downey Jr., who steps back into the MCU not as Tony Stark but as iconic villain Victor Von Doom. First teased in the post-credits stinger for The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), this version of Doctor Doom is said to function more as an anti-hero—one who tests the Avengers’ perspective on the Multiverse as the saga unfolds.
Marvel has shifted its release strategy as well. Originally slated for May 2026 and May 2027, both Avengers films are now positioned for December debuts in their respective years. The decision places the studio squarely in the highly profitable holiday corridor. After the rollout of Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) this December, Disney will have three straight years of major end-of-year tentpoles.
Production details are also becoming clearer thanks to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter.
“AGBO and the Russos are in post-production on Avengers: Doomsday, with additional photography expected to take place in the spring before cameras roll on Avengers: Secret Wars in the summer,” the outlet wrote.
This update aligns with earlier claims suggesting that the ending of Doomsday is still being shaped, and reshoots scheduled close to the start of Secret Wars filming could influence how the Russos decide to conclude the fifth Avengers movie.
As with earlier entries in the series, high stakes are expected. Some longtime heroes may face their final battle, including Thor (Hemsworth), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), and even Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier. The studio is keeping a tight lid on specifics, but speculation is already running high.
How do you feel about the filming process for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars? Let us know in the comments down below!
