Credit: Marvel StudiosMarvel’s next big cinematic event, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), is set to mark a massive change for the MCU.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been divided into multiple phases since launching with Iron Man in 2008. Phases One through Three, collectively known as the Infinity Saga, built toward the showdown with Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), culminating in one of the biggest box office successes in history.
Marvel has since shifted into the Multiverse Saga, spanning Phases Four, Five, and Six. This era has introduced new heroes, expanded storytelling onto Disney+, and explored alternate realities across projects such as Loki, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), with the saga set to conclude in the upcoming Avengers films.
While the Multiverse Saga has proven more divisive than the Infinity Saga, anticipation remains high for its conclusion. Marvel Studios has spent the past several years laying the groundwork for Avengers: Doomsday – a conflict originally planned to be led by Kang (Jonathan Majors), but will now focus on Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) after the former was fired following an assault and harassment conviction.
However, a newly surfaced detail suggests Avengers: Doomsday could be even more important to the MCU’s future than fans first realized.
Russo Brothers Reveal New ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Info
Avengers: Doomsday directors Anthony and Joe Russo, AKA the Russo Brothers, have opened up about what fans can expect from the film during an appearance at SXSW London.
According to Joe Russo, the filmmakers view the movie as a fresh starting point for the franchise, despite its ties to the Multiverse Saga (via The Hollywood Reporter).
“That serial shifting and changing and surprising you and then reinventing itself and then shifting and changing and then surprising you — that’s exciting and I think you’re going to see some shifting and changing [with Doomsday]. So, get ready for it. Look, we were with Rob [Downey Jr.] earlier today. We were both talking about this concept that we are back to phase zero. This is starting over from scratch. We want to make sure everybody feels like this isn’t leaning on anything from the past.”
The directors also addressed the challenge of balancing the film’s massive ensemble cast, which includes Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Pedro Pascal (Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), and Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), among many others.
Joe Russo explained that every character has devoted fans, making it essential to ensure each hero receives the attention they deserve.
“Each one of those actors is playing somebody’s favorite character,” he said, “and so if you’re not going to search the character properly, then you’re going to disappoint someone in that audience. We grew up in the biggest Italian family. … We understand how to tell stories with multiple characters. A lot of that has to do with very subtle POV shifts throughout the story. If Thor, when he lands, if that accidentally cuts [Sebastian] Stan’s head off… That’s how close those points of view are to each other, and that’s all very calibrated, from a protocol standpoint.”
One of the biggest rumors surrounding Avengers: Doomsday is that the film will serve as a direct setup for Battleworld, the patchwork reality ruled by Doctor Doom in Marvel Comics’ “Secret Wars.”
Meanwhile, recent marketing – including the announcement of what appears to be a Latveria-themed Marvel pop-up cafe during SXSW London – has fueled theories that Latveria will play a much larger role than originally expected. The Russo Brothers have repeatedly referenced Doctor Doom’s homeland in cryptic teasers.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to arrive in theaters on December 18, 2026. First, however, Marvel fans will return to the big screen with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is scheduled for release on July 31, with some international markets receiving the film even earlier.
Are you excited for Avengers: Doomsday?
