Since Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios has had a string of hit-or-miss movies. While Spider-Man: No Way Home, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Deadpool & Wolverine were huge success stories, flops like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Marvels, and Captain America: Brave New World contributed to a sharp decline in quality for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
However, the MCU has been slowly building itself back up with acclaimed movies like Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Since there is a lot more excitement to come from the franchise in the next few years, we’re taking a look at all of the upcoming MCU movies that we know about.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026)
Following No Way Home’s extraordinary success, many people were left wondering what Marvel Studios would do with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man next. After months of speculation, Entertainment Weekly reported that the studio is now developing a fourth solo film.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will see the webslinger cross paths with Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher in a “street-level” story. It will also feature the return of Michael Mando’s character from Spider-Man: Homecoming, Mac Gargan, who will eventually become the supervillain Scorpion.
Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton stepped in to direct Brand New Day, filling in for Jon Watts after the latter finished helming the MCU’s first Spider-Man movie trilogy.
Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026)
Formerly known as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Doomsday will see the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the New Avengers, and the original X-Men teaming up to confront the film’s main antagonist, Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.). Such a massive cinematic event will see characters assembling from all corners of the MCU, including Wakanda, Talokan, and the Time Variance Authority. It will also see characters from alternate universes coming together in what is sure to be the next Multiversal War.
After leading the production of the mega-successful Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, directors Anthony and Joe Russo have returned to direct the fifth Avengers film, which is sure to be the biggest superhero crossover yet. Screenwriter Stephen McFeely has also returned to pen the script for Avengers: Doomsday alongside writer Michael Waldron (Loki, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness).
Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027)
Since this film will adapt one of the most famous comic book storylines in history, the excitement for Avengers: Secret Wars is arguably greater than any other Marvel movie. The original Secret Wars was published in 1985 and featured Marvel’s most prominent heroes and villains pitted against each other on Battleworld at the behest of the all-powerful Beyonder.
A similar concept unfolded in 2015’s Secret Wars event, which expanded the scope as the final survivors of the Multiverse found themselves on a new Battleworld ruled by Doctor Doom, who had stolen the power of the Beyonders for himself and had become “God Emperor Doom.”
Since Doom will be the main villain of this upcoming film adaptation, it seems like the movie will draw more elements from the 2015 comic. Because Avengers: Doomsday could have a dark twist ending akin to Infinity War, the sequel could follow Earth’s Mightiest Heroes fighting Doom after the latter defeats them and reshapes the world in his image, just like Thanos did. The Russo Brothers will also direct this superhero blockbuster, with the same writers of Avengers: Doomsday working on the screenplay.
Armor Wars (TBA)
Although Tony Stark has long passed from the MCU, his good friend, James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), will have to confront the dark side of Iron Man’s legacy when Stark’s technology falls into the wrong hands.
Armor Wars is loosely based on a famous Iron Man storyline, and this was originally conceived as a Disney+ original series. Marvel later upgraded Armor Wars to a theatrical release, but it doesn’t have a release date or a shooting schedule lined up. Nevertheless, Yassir Lester (Girls) has signed up to write the screenplay for Armor Wars.
Black Panther 3 (TBA)
After directing two successful Black Panther movies, Ryan Coogler will return to create the third film in the franchise. The plot for this threequel is unknown. The second film, Wakanda Forever, ended with Shuri becoming the new Black Panther, refusing to take the Wakandan throne, and meeting T’Challa’s secret son, Toussaint.
There has been speculation about whether the late Chadwick Boseman’s character, T’Challa, will be recast in the MCU, especially as Avengers: Secret Wars is reportedly set to reset the franchise’s canon. However, Marvel Studios executive Nate Moore claimed that T’Challa has not been recast for this film, at least not yet.
Coogler revealed that he has cast the legendary actor Denzel Washington in the film.
Blade (TBA)
Few Marvel movie productions have been as tumultuous as Blade. This film has cycled through multiple directors and writers. At this point, Mahershala Ali (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) is the only cast member still confirmed for the film, having lost actors like Mia Goth (Star Wars: Starfighter) and Delroy Lindo (Sinners). Ali will be stepping into the role of Blade, originally played by Wesley Snipes over two decades ago.
As of June 12, 2024, Blade has no director after Yann Demange left the project. Eric Pearson will rework the script after several drafts from Michael Starrbury, Nic Pizzolatto, and Michael Green. The WGA credits on Blade will be a nightmare.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings sequel (TBA)
After the massive success of the first Shang-Chi film, a sequel was all but guaranteed. With actor Simu Liu expected to return as the titular hero, the former expressed his hope that the sequel would explore how Shang-Chi chooses to use his newfound power with the Ten Rings. It’s unknown when Shang-Chi 2 will premiere or if Cretton will return as director, given that he’s been more focused on making Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
X-Men (TBA)
Fans have waited years for the X-Men to make their appearance in the MCU. Though Fox’s iteration of these mutant heroes have appeared throughout the Multiverse Saga, a new version of the X-Men will soon get a blockbuster movie. This film will be directed by Jake Schreier, who helmed the critically acclaimed MCU movie, Thunderbolts*. Screenwriter Michael Lesslie (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) has signed on to write the film’s script.
