The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, covering everything, including the Multiverse Saga. While 2025 sets the stage with reality-bending heroes and complex anti-hero teams, 2026 is a monumental pillar within Marvel Studios’ Phase Six.
The 2026 releases are ready to deliver some of the most significant developments since Avengers: Endgame, paving the way for the saga’s conclusion.
This article will discuss confirmed films, the talent bringing them to life, plot speculations, and the immense impact 2026 will have on the MCU.
Marvel Upcoming Movies: Release Date
Phase Six of the MCU, running from mid-2025 to mid-2027, is packed with theatrical releases and Disney+ series. The schedule has shifted due to production adjustments and strategic planning, but the current slate promises major event storytelling.
Here’s a look at the upcoming Marvel Studios projects, including the confirmed 2026 theatrical releases and surrounding titles:
| Movie Title | Release Date | Phase | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain America: Brave New World | February 14, 2025 | Phase 5 | Post-production |
| Thunderbolts* | May 2, 2025 | Phase 5 | Post-production |
| Fantastic Four: First Steps | July 25, 2025 | Phase 6 | Filming |
| Blade | November 7, 2025 | Phase 5 | Pre-production |
| Untitled Marvel Studios Film | February 23, 2026 | Phase 6 | In development |
| Avengers: Doomsday | May 1, 2026 | Phase 6 | Pre-production |
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day | July 31, 2026 | Phase 6 | In development |
| Untitled Marvel Studios Film | November 6, 2026 | Phase 6 | In development |
| Avengers: Secret Wars | May 1, 2027 | Phase 6 | In development |
| Untitled Marvel Studios Film | July 23, 2027 | Phase 6 | In development |
Marvel’s New Phase 6: What’s Coming Next?
Phase Six marks the concluding chapter of the Multiverse Saga, spanning from mid-2025’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps to mid-2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars.
This phase dramatically follows revelations at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, establishing Doctor Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., as the saga’s central antagonist, replacing Kang the Conqueror.
Directed by returning directors Anthony and Joe Russo, the phase is divided into a two-part Avengers epic (Doomsday and Secret Wars), promising multiversal collapse and unprecedented team-ups.
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Marvel Movies 2026 Cast And Crew
The 2026 Marvel lineup brings together established MCU stars, returning directors, and surprising new additions, generating significant excitement among fans. Each film features notable talent both in front of and behind the camera.
1. Untitled Marvel Studios Film (February 2026)
While Marvel hasn’t revealed the identity of this project, it likely features characters already established in the MCU or introduces new heroes ahead of “Avengers: Doomsday.” Potential candidates include sequels for “Shang-Chi,” “Eternals,” or possibly an “X-Men”-related film, as teased in recent MCU projects.
Cast members remain unannounced, but given its strategic placement before “Doomsday,” this film may feature characters who will play crucial roles in the upcoming Avengers adventure.
2. Avengers: Doomsday (May 2026)
The fifth Avengers film marks a significant event with the return of fan-favorite Robert Downey Jr., not as Iron Man but as the iconic villain Doctor Doom. This surprising casting announcement at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 generated massive excitement across social media.
The film will be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, who previously helmed “Captain America: Winter Soldier,” “Civil War,” “Infinity War,” and “Endgame”. The Fantastic Four cast will also appear, with Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm) reprising their roles from “First Steps”.
Additional cast members are expected to include several established MCU heroes, though specific confirmations haven’t been announced.
3. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 2026)
Tom Holland returns for his fourth solo outing as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, following the multiverse-altering events of “No Way Home”. While the director hasn’t been officially announced, Jon Watts, who directed the previous trilogy, may return.
Zendaya is expected to reprise her role as MJ, though her involvement hasn’t been officially confirmed. The film, co-produced with Sony Pictures, will likely continue exploring the consequences of Peter Parker’s identity being erased from everyone’s memory while potentially introducing new villains from Spider-Man’s extensive rogues gallery.
The strategic placement between two Avengers films suggests this movie may serve as an important connective narrative.
4. Untitled Marvel Studios Film (November 2026)
This mystery project closes out Marvel’s 2026 slate and will likely set up crucial elements for “Secret Wars” in 2027. Given its placement, it could potentially focus on characters central to the multiverse storyline or introduce key players for the final confrontation.
While casting and specific details remain under wraps, Marvel often uses these late-phase films to tie together narrative threads before major crossover events.
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Plot Predictions And Theories For 2026 Marvel Movies
Marvel’s 2026 lineup has sparked intense speculation across fan communities, with Reddit and online forums buzzing about possible storylines, character arcs, and how each film will set the stage for “Secret Wars.”
Based on fan insights and recent leaks, here’s a breakdown of predictions and theories for each major 2026 Marvel movie.
1. Avengers: Doomsday
The cast announcement for “Avengers: Doomsday” – featuring not only the Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four but also the return of Fox’s X-Men actors like Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), and others – has fueled major theories about the film’s direction.
Redditor @u/adam AlexanderGreen speculates that the X-Men’s inclusion hints at a storyline where the Avengers and X-Men are at odds, possibly echoing the “Avengers vs. X-Men” comics, but with a multiversal twist. They suggest the film could serve as a bridge, bringing together disparate Marvel universes before the final collision in “Secret Wars.”
u/CollarMassive4112 believes “Doomsday” will be a “civil war”-style film for the multiverse, with Doctor Doom orchestrating events that pit heroes against each other. They theorize that Strange could even be positioned as an antagonist, believing Doom is the only hope to save reality.
The film is expected to center on incursions—catastrophic events in which universes collide and are destroyed, leaving only the MCU and Fox’s X-Men universes as survivors. Doctor Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., is likely to exploit this chaos to not just conquer but reshape the multiverse itself.
He may orchestrate the destruction of all realities as a calculated gambit, aiming to seize ultimate power and remake the multiverse in his image. This would echo the 2015 “Secret Wars” comics, with Doom reigning as a godlike ruler over a patchwork Battleworld, forcing the Avengers and X-Men to adapt or unite against him.
The stakes are expected to surpass even “Infinity War” and “Endgame,” serving as both a send-off for the pre-MCU era and a setup for a new X-Men team.
2. Spider-Man: Brand New Day
There are many different theories for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”, showing both hopes for a grounded story and the likelihood of multiversal chaos:
u/omegaman101 has predicted a plot where Peter Parker navigates college life, meeting Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn while struggling to reconnect with lost friends. Norman Osborn, who is involved in occultism and corporate, could become a new threat, with the story blending psychological elements and street-level drama.
Another Redditor predicts a showdown with Scorpion, supported by Daredevil and Kingpin in smaller roles. They see this as a natural progression from the “Homecoming” post-credits scene, finally bringing Mac Gargan’s vendetta to the forefront.
From another detailed thread on this, the four major plot routes are discussed:
Plot A: Peter faces Kingpin and Hobgoblin (possibly Ned, influenced by Goblin tech), leading to a three-way war and the potential for MJ and Ned to regain their memories of Peter.
Plot B: Scorpion becomes the main villain, possibly powered by the Venom symbiote left behind after “No Way Home,” creating a grounded yet superpowered threat.
Plot C: The movie shifts to Battleworld, with Peter and other multiversal heroes navigating a fractured reality, possibly setting up the Beyonder and leading directly into “Secret Wars.”
Plot D: J. Jonah Jameson funds Alistair Smythe to create Spider-Slayers, offering a classic, tech-driven “friendly neighborhood” Spider-Man story. However, this is less likely given the multiversal focus.
Fans on Reddit are split: some want the intimate, street-level feel of “No Way Home,” while others are excited by the prospect of Spider-Man being thrust into cosmic events, especially with leaks suggesting “Spider-Man 4” will bridge “Doomsday” and “Secret Wars” and might even end with Peter waking up in Battleworld.
3. Untitled February 2026 Marvel Project
There are many speculations about what this film could be:
u/BrendanBatman52 and u/PapaSmurph0517 suggest it could be “Shang-Chi 2,” especially since the Ten Rings’ mysterious signal and connection to Kamala’s bangle remain unresolved. They theorize Kamala Khan could play a key role, tying in multiversal elements and possibly even hinting at a link to Doctor Doom.
u/CollarMassive4112 and u/CleanAspect6466 argue for a “Young Avengers” film, with America Chavez’s multiverse powers being pivotal before the saga ends. Fans believe the team could be assembled to deal with the escalating multiversal crisis, potentially searching for Wanda Maximoff or confronting Kang/Doom directly.
4. Untitled November 2026 Marvel Project
Most fans agree that this could be “Doctor Strange 3”. Fans point out that the timing would mark the 10th anniversary of the original “Doctor Strange,” making it a fitting slot for a sequel. They have also highlighted that “Multiverse of Madness” ended with Strange and Clea setting out to fix an incursion, which could be the focus of this film, bridging the gap to “Secret Wars”.
u/CollarMassive4112 speculates that this movie could see Strange and Doom at odds, with Strange possibly becoming a “villain” in “Doomsday” before ultimately aligning with the Avengers. They see this as a “Time Runs Out” scenario, where Strange’s actions are misunderstood but crucial to the survival of the multiverse.
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How Marvel’s 2026 Movies Will Impact The MCU Universe
The 2026 film schedule is ready to reshape the MCU fundamentally. Avengers: Doomsday acts as the saga’s Infinity War, cementing Doctor Doom as the ultimate threat and forcing an unprecedented convergence of heroes across the multiverse, including the Fantastic Four and legacy X-Men.
This integration dramatically expands the MCU’s scope and raises the stakes exponentially, likely ending on a cliffhanger that propels events toward Secret Wars.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, provides a crucial character anchor amidst the chaos, exploring Peter Parker’s new status quo while potentially bridging street-level narratives with the overarching multiversal conflict.
The untitled films are essential for connecting plots, resolving plotlines, or introducing new essential elements and characters that are important for the climax in the long run.
Marvel Movie Releases In 2026: What Fans Are Saying
Fan reactions to the 2026 Marvel movie announcements have been explosive, dominating social media. The return of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom sparked widespread shock, excitement, and even criticism.
On Reddit, user u/Grand-Dependent1955 commented, “It doesn’t make sense. There are so many people on this earth, and they keep picking the same guy.” At the same time, others were excited by Robert Downey Jr. ’s return.
The massive Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, especially the legacy X-Men, generated immense hype. One X (formerly Twitter) user, @SondagarChetan, exclaimed, “I’m beyond hyped to see Professor X, Magneto, and the crew back in action—let’s go!”
Spider-Man fans are divided into two groups, one group is in favour of an action-filled multiverse movie. In contrast, the others want a normal Spider-Man movie with villains from the original series.
Other groups of fans on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit have expressed their interest and love for the upcoming movie without mentioning what they expect and showing how much they love the Spider-Man series on its own.
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Conclusion: Marvel Is Releasing 4 Movies in 2026
Marvel’s 2026 Phase Six lineup is epic, featuring two untitled films: Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. Doomsday will star Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom alongside the Fantastic Four, setting the stage for multiversal collapse.
These films are expected to fundamentally reshape the MCU, helping integrate legacy characters like the X-Men and establishing Doom as the saga’s main villain, driving the narrative towards Avengers: Secret Wars. Fan reactions are mixed, but regardless, all the fans are hyped up about the series.
FAQs
Anthony and Joe Russo direct, and Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU to play Doctor Doom, the main villain.
The Fantastic Four (Pascal, Kirby, Quinn, Moss-Bachrach) and legacy Fox X-Men actors like Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen appear.
Speculation includes Shang-Chi 2, Eternals 2, an X-Men related film, or potentially a Young Avengers project before Doomsday.
It follows Peter Parker post-No Way Home, possibly bridging Doomsday and Secret Wars or exploring street-level threats like Kingpin.
Fan theories suggest Doctor Strange 3 is a strong possibility. It could potentially address the incursion cliffhanger from Multiverse of Madness.
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