Credit: Marvel StudiosThe Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to take its first step into Phase Six next month, but for one franchise, the journey is reportedly over.
The MCU Enters Phase Six
On July 25, 2025, Marvel’s First Family will debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Starring Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing, Matt Shakman’s movie will be the first of the MCU’s Phase Six, setting the franchise on a new course.
The Fantastic Four comes after a turbulent Phase Five, which ended on a high note back in May with Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts* (2025). The transition from Thunderbolts to The New Avengers primed the MCU for upcoming conflict as Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is also aiming to rebuild his own Avengers team thanks to his new role as Earth-616’s Captain America.
Looking into next year, Marvel Studios will bring the return of Avengers in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), which opens in movie theaters in December–a shift from its originally planned May release. The delay of the Russo Brothers’ movie caused a ripple effect, with Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) also heading into the Holiday corridor a year later.
On the streaming front, Ironheart will be the next live-action Marvel series to drop onto the platform. Unfortunately, one MCU franchise is reportedly no longer in production for the streamer.
Marvel Cancels MCU Franchise on Disney+
After years of peeling back the curtain on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it looks like Marvel Studios: Assembled has reached its final episode.
First introduced during the height of Phase 4, Assembled carved out a niche for itself by offering fans a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the making of Marvel’s expansive Multiverse Saga. From WandaVision’s sitcom-inspired set pieces to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s (2022) emotionally charged tribute to Chadwick Boseman, each installment allowed audiences to step into the creative process like never before. But now, the ride’s over.
Without any major announcement, Marvel appears to have shelved the docuseries altogether. The news came subtly via a response from TV Line journalist Matt Webb Mitovich, who revealed that no new episodes are currently on the horizon.
“I love me a Marvel Studios: Assembled episode, too,” Mitovich said. “Alas, I’m hearing that there are no new episodes of the Disney+ franchise planned at this time.”
It’s a blow for fans who came to rely on these feature-length deep dives, not just for trivia or Easter eggs, but for a more meaningful understanding of how the MCU comes to life.
While Marvel’s blockbuster movies can still lean on Blu-ray releases to include bonus content and making-of featurettes, that luxury doesn’t extend to Disney+ series. That means shows like Daredevil: Born Again won’t get the same backstage access treatment fans have come to expect. For a franchise known for its interconnected storytelling and long-form character arcs, this marks a noticeable change in how stories are not just told, but shared.
This move doesn’t just eliminate a fan-favorite bonus—it erases a valuable tool for building emotional investment in the creative process. The absence of Assembled threatens to widen the gap between the MCU’s surface-level content and the fans who’ve long craved a deeper understanding at the world-building.
On the surface, this decision might seem like a cost-cutting measure or a strategic shift in content focus. But behind the scenes, there’s a more complicated story unfolding.
Several high-profile Phase 5 projects have undergone major creative shakeups. Daredevil: Born Again, for instance, had a creative overhaul during production. Meanwhile, 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World reportedly underwent extensive reshoots. In these cases, trying to splice together behind-the-scenes footage from both “before” and “after” phases could prove chaotic at best and damaging at worst.
Put simply, it may have become more trouble than it’s worth. In the tightly controlled world of Marvel Studios, managing the narrative is everything. A documentary that unintentionally highlights creative uncertainty or behind-the-scenes conflict is not the kind of publicity Marvel’s likely to invite.
It’s easy to forget just how extensive the Assembled catalog became. Nearly every Phase 4 project—from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to Moon Knight—received its own dedicated episode. Even animated shows like What If…? got their due.
However, Phase 5 saw the wheels begin to wobble. Though Marvel released Assembled specials for titles like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Secret Invasion, others mysteriously fell off the radar
The discontinuation of Assembled feels like more than just the loss of bonus content—it’s a missed opportunity. The show offered rare transparency in a franchise often known for secrecy. It gave fans a sense of inclusion, a peek into the effort and artistry behind their favorite moments.
How do you feel about the end of this MCU franchise? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!