Credit: Marvel StudiosMarvel Studios isn’t saying much about Avengers: Doomsday (2026), but within the industry, the message is clear: the tentpole is a high priority for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s future.
As the film remains deep in post-production, early chatter suggests confidence behind closed doors. On The Hot Mic, industry insider Jeff Sneider shared a brief but pointed update on how the project is shaping up.
“It’s still very much in post. Let me see if I have anything on that. I did check in before the show, just in case. I did get a little something. Avengers is in post, and they still have a lot of pick-ups to do, but the buzz is good. The buzz is good. You’re going to like it,” Sneider said. “You’re going to like the movie.”
That optimism comes as Doomsday prepares for additional photography. Production activity has already been observed in the U.K., hinting at sequences that may stretch far beyond present-day MCU continuity. Rather than functioning as traditional sequels, the films are expected to reshape the MCU’s hierarchy and redirect its long-term focus toward what Marvel has seemingly dubbed the Mutant Saga.
A major piece of that strategy is the return of directors Joe and Anthony Russo. The duo previously helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019), guiding the franchise through its most commercially dominant era. Their involvement signals Marvel’s desire to recapture that event-level momentum.
If early marketing is any indication, Doomsday will draw from nearly every corner of the franchise. During the theatrical run of Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), Marvel attached teaser footage that featured Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, various X-Men characters, Wakandan heroes like Letitia Wright’s Shuri/Black Panther, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm/Thing from The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). The preview confirmed that Evans’ Captain America remains in play.
Evans’ return dovetails with perhaps the film’s most headline-grabbing development: Robert Downey Jr. re-entering the MCU—not as Tony Stark, but as Victor Von Doom. After anchoring the Infinity Saga as Iron Man, Downey is now set to portray one of Marvel Comics’ most complex adversaries. Doctor Doom’s presence was first teased in the post-credits scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, where he appeared opposite Franklin Richards.
Whether this iteration of Doom functions as an outright villain or something more layered remains unclear. Online theories suggest a morally gray figure—less a Thanos-style destroyer and more a rival architect of the Multiverse. Some speculation even ties Doom’s motivations to lingering consequences from Steve Rogers’ time-travel decisions in Avengers: Endgame. Marvel has yet to confirm any plot specifics.
Unverified reports have added further intrigue. Among the most persistent rumors is that Doomsday may open with Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man battling members of the X-Men, including Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Neither actor has been officially announced, but the possibility underscores how aggressively Marvel could lean into cross-franchise nostalgia.
Not all insider commentary has been entirely positive. Daniel Richtman recently shared a more cautious perspective, writing, “I have mixed feelings about the direction they’re taking with Avengers: Doomsday/Secret Wars. Some of it sounds super epic, but there are certain decisions I don’t want to spoil that I really don’t understand, and I think they’re going to make people REALLY angry,” the insider said.
That said, a report detailing the thoughts of internal sources positions the movie in a much more positive light. According to Variety‘s exploration of how Josh D’Amaro will handle his new role as Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, new information has surfaced regarding the tentpole MCU movie.
“Executives are pleased with what they’ve seen for the December release, and rival studio heads privately predict Doomsday will be the year’s highest-grossing film,” the outlet notes.
And while many may see the fifth Avengers movie as a pivotal point in the MCU franchise’s long-term future, apparently, the Mouse House does not see it as a make-or-break. That is, the MCU’s cancellation will take a lot more than the underperformance of Avengers: Doomsday.
“Recent Marvel films Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World fell far short at the box office,” Variety writes. “Some pundits argue the future of the superhero franchise may ride on the hotly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, although sources inside the company’s film division believe the health of the MCU does not hinge on an individual title.”
As for the story itself, Marvel remains tight-lipped. Reports have suggested that Doom’s arc could involve encounters with the Fantastic Four, Thor, and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) as incursions threaten the Multiverse. If accurate, the implications are enormous. With Doomsday and Secret Wars described as a “new beginning,” it’s possible that the MCU’s current reality may not emerge intact.
Doomsday will be the second major MCU blockbuster of 2026, with the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)–which itself is a reboot of sorts–dropping first in July. For a franchise built on interconnected storytelling, Brand New Day and the next two Avengers films appear designed to test just how much change audiences are willing to embrace.
How do you feel about the MCU’s future under the new Disney CEO, Josh D’Amaro? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!