The Avengers are coming… but not when you expected. Marvel Studios has hit the brakes on its two most ambitious films yet — Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars — pushing both to the tail end of the decade. What was once a high-speed race toward a multiversal climax has become a slower, more calculated march through chaos, rewrites, and bold reinventions.
According to Variety, originally slated for summer releases, the films will now debut on December 18, 2026 (Doomsday) and December 17, 2027 (Secret Wars). The delay isn’t just a scheduling tweak — it’s the result of major behind-the-scenes shifts. The firing of Jonathan Majors, once positioned as the MCU’s next Thanos-level threat, left a gaping hole in the franchise’s future. Marvel’s answer? A narrative overhaul — and the jaw-dropping return of Robert Downey Jr., this time not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom.
Filming for Avengers: Doomsday is already underway at Pinewood Studios in the UK, with a six-month shoot planned to bring the post-Endgame MCU into a darker, more complex phase. Meanwhile, Secret Wars is expected to begin production in mid-2026, aiming to be the ultimate crossover event, weaving together decades of Marvel lore. With the delays, Marvel now has more breathing room to reset its universe — and to prove that even after stumbles and shakeups, the Avengers can still deliver a cinematic spectacle like no other.
Directed by the Russo Brothers and promising appearances from not only the Avengers, but also the X-Men and Fantastic Four, these films are poised to redefine the future of the franchise. The wait just got longer — but if Marvel sticks the landing, it could be worth every second.
