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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is never quiet for long. Even as the post-Avengers: Endgame chapters wrapped up, the studio has been drawing a straight line toward the next massive crossover. With “Secret Wars” on the horizon, every new release feels less like a standalone adventure and more like a piece of a gigantic puzzle. For anyone trying to keep track of the upcoming Marvel movies, it’s helpful to know not just when they’re coming, but why they matter.
The Road to Secret Wars: What’s Coming in 2025
2025 might be a smaller year for Marvel, but it’s a pivotal one. The studio has a handful of releases that set the board for the next big saga.
Thunderbolts*: The Anti-Hero Squad Turns the Page
“Thunderbolts*” (that’s a star in the official title, for reasons that remain a mystery) is set to open on May 2, 2025. It brings together a group of characters who aren’t exactly heroes: Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, David Harbour’s Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The weird part? They’re not a team; they’re more like a hostage situation that decided to go on a mission. Directed by Jake Schreier, the film is rumoured to deal with government intervention and a crisis that forces these broken individuals to work together. It’s a different kind of team-up movie, one that leans into grey morality and complicated allegiances.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Brings the Family Back
On July 25, 2025, the first family of Marvel finally makes their way into the MCU with “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Pedro Pascal plays Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby is Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn is Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach is Ben Grimm. What’s interesting is that the film is set in an alternate 1960s, a retro-futuristic world that doesn’t have the same history as the main MCU. That means we’re going to get a period piece with a space race twist, and the villain is none other than Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, plus his herald, the Silver Surfer. The casting of Ralph Ineson as Galactus is a bold choice, and the film’s visual style promises to be a departure from anything the MCU has done before. It’s easily one of the most anticipated upcoming Marvel movies.
We also had Captain America: Brave New World out in February, and it sets up some political threads. Sam Wilson is now officially considered the Cap, but the fallout from that film will ripple into the next few releases.
2026: The Year of Two Avengers Movies
2026 isn’t just a big year for Marvel, it’s arguably the biggest year the studio has ever had. They’re releasing not one, but two Avengers films, and they’re only a few months apart. That takes a level of management and confidence that few franchises could pull off. If you’re planning ahead, you might want to clear your schedule. A good way to keep track is to use a reliable calendar that updates as studios shift their slates.
Avengers: Doomsday – The Return of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
“Avengers: Doomsday” hits theaters on May 1, 2026. The title itself is a spoiler, but it gives away the big twist: Robert Downey Jr., who famously played Tony Stark for over a decade, is coming back as Victor Von Doom. This isn’t a recast of Iron Man; it’s a different character entirely, likely a variant from another reality. The Russo Brothers are directing, which brings them back to the franchise after guiding “Infinity War” and “Endgame” to record-breaking heights. The film is expected to feature a massive roster of heroes, including characters from the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts, and maybe even a few mutants if the rumour mill is correct. The fact that Marvel chose to make Doom the centrepiece of this next saga tells you they’re determined to elevate one of comics’ greatest villains to the same level as Thanos.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day – A Tom Holland Reboot of Sorts
Just a few months later, on July 31, 2026, Tom Holland returns in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” This one is a bit of a mystery. After “No Way Home” erased the world’s knowledge of Peter Parker, he’s starting over from scratch. The title implies a clean slate, and this could be a softer, more street-level adventure that lets Holland’s Spider-Man breathe between the city’s skyscrapers. It’s also the first Spider-Man movie with a title that doesn’t reference a specific comic story, which might mean Marvel and Sony are consciously striking a new path. We know Destin Daniel Cretton is directing, and there are rumours that Nicolas Cage might finally get to play a live-action Spider-Man variant. That, combined with the street-level vibe, could give fans the version of Spider-Man they’ve been asking for.
Beyond the Confirmed Slate: What’s Rumoured and What’s Possible
Beyond “Secret Wars”, which is set for May 7, 2027, there are several projects that have been announced, but we don’t have official dates yet. Past the two big Avengers films, fans are keeping an eye on a swath of possibilities:
- A Scarlet Witch movie is in development, expected to pick up after the events of “WandaVision” and “Multiverse of Madness.”
- A “World War Hulk” film has been teased multiple times, and it would give Mark Ruffalo a chance to go full rage mode.
- A “Doctor Strange” threequel is likely, especially after the end of a certain multiverse adventure.
- A “Shang-Chi” sequel is on the cards, and it might finally explore the Ten Rings organisation more deeply.
The tricky part is that Marvel has a habit of reshuffling its slate. Projects like “Armor Wars” and “Blade” have been pushed around so many times that fans are starting to wonder if they’ll ever see release.
This is where the studio’s relationship with Disney comes into play. Marvel runs on the same production engine that powers the rest of the company’s animated and live-action output. If you’re curious about how that machine works, it’s worth reading our piece on Disney movies: the magic, the milestones, and what’s next to see the full scope of the company’s film strategy.
Why 2026 Matters for the Future of the MCU
The stakes for “Doomsday” and “Secret Wars” aren’t just about box office revenue. These two films are supposed to provide a definitive conclusion to the Multiverse Saga, the same way “Infinity War” and “Endgame” wrapped up the Infinity Saga. The difference is that this new saga has been less focused. It’s been a series of detours into alternate realities, with characters coming and going. It hasn’t had an obvious “Thanos” sitting in the background, though Doctor Doom is now filling that role.
What this means for the audience is that the upcoming Marvel movies will have to do the heavy lifting of making the multiverse feel coherent. It’s a tall order, but with the Russo Brothers back at the helm, there’s a sense of a return to form. They know how to balance a huge ensemble cast and give every character a moment to shine, something that “Infinity War” did remarkably well.
Also, we have to consider the impact of actors like Jake Gyllenhaal, who played a memorable Mysterio in “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” If you want to see the kind of performances that elevate these comic-book roles, you can check our ranking of the best Jake Gyllenhaal movies. His Mysterio was a great example of how a villain can be both theatrical and menacing, and it’s likely that the new batch of antagonists will try to match that level of performance.
How to Keep Up With All the Release Date Shuffles
Marvel has a tendency to move release dates around, sometimes just weeks before the premiere. Right now, the confirmed upcoming Marvel movies look like this:
- “Thunderbolts*” – May 2, 2025
- “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” – July 25, 2025
- “Avengers: Doomsday” – May 1, 2026
- “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” – July 31, 2026
- “Avengers: Secret Wars” – May 7, 2027
But these dates have changed before, and they will change again. The best way to stay on top of it is to follow official announcements from Marvel and keep an eye on a calendar that updates in real time. Our movie release dates 2026 guide can help you track not just Marvel films, but every major premiere next year.
