Credit: MarvelMarvel fans have been side-eyeing the studio lately. From creative shake-ups to shifting release plans, Disney and Marvel have not been shy about making big decisions that have left fans divided. Now, whispers of yet another surprising move are circulating, and this one involves one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars.
If true, Marvel quietly cutting a major actress from future Avengers plans might be one of the most eyebrow-raising developments yet. Marvel built an empire on beloved characters and crowd-pleasing crossovers, so hearing that a fan-favorite talent may not return feels like a signal. Something is shifting behind the scenes.
This isn’t just about one casting choice. It fits into a larger pattern of Marvel adjusting its strategy in real time as the franchise heads into a high-stakes stretch. With the Multiverse arc reaching its peak, the decisions happening now will shape how the MCU looks for years to come.
Phase Six Approaches a Breaking Point
Marvel has officially entered Phase Six, and expectations feel sky-high. This era marks the buildup to what fans see as the franchise’s most dramatic chapter yet, with every character decision carrying weight as the Multiverse storyline races toward its breaking point.
Phase Six is already being tied to Avengers: Doomsday (2026), a title that suggests the stakes could not be higher. The cast list keeps growing, timelines are colliding, and Marvel is trying to juggle nostalgia with bold new story paths while still proving it can surprise longtime audiences.
Earlier plans once pointed to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty as the next central turning point, but strategies have shifted as Marvel refines its endgame. Now, all eyes are moving toward Secret Wars (2027), the epic event touted as the biggest collision of heroes and realities in Marvel history.
Secret Wars Promises the Biggest Marvel Crossover Yet
Marvel has hyped Secret Wars as an Avengers-level crossover on a scale fans have never seen before. It’s marketed as the moment where countless universes collide, classic heroes return, and long-running arcs get their final bow.
Fans expect to see characters spanning every corner of the MCU, and even some legends from earlier Marvel eras. This setup has raised excitement sky-high, but it has also created anxiety. With such a massive cast, someone was always going to get left out.
And lately? It feels like Disney might be leaving out more than a few familiar faces. Some beloved MCU heroes appear to be fading from the future slate. If this latest chatter is true, one of the most surprising omissions involves Hollywood royalty.
A Cast That Turned Heads
Let’s rewind to Eternals (2021) for a second. The film introduced a new super-team, expanded cosmic lore, and featured a star-studded cast. People forget that Eternals actually pulled solid numbers. To put it in perspective, it made roughly $20 million more than Thunderbolts did, which is wild considering the internet discourse at the time.
And a big part of that draw? The cast was stacked. Fans got everything from fresh faces to established icons like Angelina Jolie, who played the fierce warrior Thena. Jolie’s presence alone brought extra attention to the film.
She isn’t a background player either. Best known for major movies like Maleficent (2014) and Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005), Jolie has been one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars for decades. Seeing her in the MCU felt like Marvel flexing its casting power.
So the idea that Jolie might not return for Marvel’s most significant upcoming crossover raised a lot of confused reactions online.
Farewell to a Fan-Favorite
This new wave of speculation started after chatter from industry sources suggested that the Eternals are not expected to appear in Secret Wars. When that claim circulated, insider Daniel Richtman reacted strongly online, noting that Marvel has Angelina Jolie in the universe and still isn’t using her.
Fans didn’t exactly disagree. Jolie’s absence from a film being teased as the biggest crossover in MCU history feels unexpected, especially for casual viewers who simply assume big names equal big screentime.
If Marvel does move forward without her, it raises one question: What other characters are quietly being pushed out of the spotlight?
Who Else Might Disappear?
As fans dig into the speculation, concerns have widened. Marvel has introduced numerous new characters in recent years, but not all of them have received meaningful follow-through.
Some viewers are now wondering whether heroes like She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany), Moon Knight (Oscar Isaac), or Echo (Alaqua Cox) will appear in the franchise’s climactic Multiverse storyline. Recent online chatter has highlighted that these characters feel underutilized and their futures are uncertain.
If the Eternals — and someone as iconic as Jolie — truly aren’t part of the endgame, fans worry that other characters may be benched too. That’s not just a casting surprise. It signals how selective Marvel might be about shaping its core team again.
Recasting and Timeline Resets on the Horizon
There’s also another wild card in play. Secret Wars could trigger major recasting and a streamlined timeline as Marvel transitions into Phase Seven. Some reports suggest that different universes might merge into one, giving the studio a clean slate for legacy characters and new faces to coexist.
If that happens, Marvel could use Secret Wars as a soft reboot. Iconic heroes might return in new forms, while others quietly retire. Jolie’s absence — if confirmed — may be less about dropping a character and more about clearing narrative space.
The Future Remains Uncertain
Marvel’s future is loaded with possibilities and risks. Fans are in a holding pattern right now, waiting for the next theatrical release and monitoring every new rumor that appears on their social feeds.
Nothing here is set in stone yet. Still, the idea that Disney may cut a major actress from future Avengers movies has stirred real conversation. When a franchise built on star power starts making decisions like this, it means a new creative era is taking shape.
Marvel spent the last decade building a universe where no character felt too big to ignore. Now we may be entering a chapter where some legends step aside so a new generation can rise — whether fans are ready or not.