Brace yourselves, Marvel fans — the multiverse is shifting once again.
Marvel Studios has officially delayed the release of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, pushing both highly anticipated blockbusters from their original May dates to December 18, 2026, and December 17, 2027, respectively.
The announcement came late last night as Disney unveiled a major reshuffle of its upcoming film slate. Alongside the Avengers delays, an unnamed Marvel movie previously set for February 13, 2026, has been pulled, and two additional untitled Marvel projects scheduled for November 2026 and 2027 have been replaced by general “Untitled Disney” placeholders.
The Waiting Game Begins
Following The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, 2025, Marvel fans are now looking at a full year-long gap before the next MCU movie hits theaters — Spider-Man: Brand New Day, currently scheduled for July 2026. However, with Marvel’s shifting schedule and ongoing script developments, even Spidey’s latest adventure may not be immune to another date change before filming begins this summer.
What We Know So Far
While the delays are disappointing, it’s far from all bad news. Production is ramping up for Avengers: Doomsday, and fans recently got a major tease when Robert Downey Jr. shared behind-the-scenes photos, hinting at his return — not as Iron Man, but as the infamous Victor Von Doom.
The cast lineup for Doomsday is already being called one of the most ambitious in superhero movie history. We’re talking Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler, Sir Ian McKellen’s Magneto, and yes — Channing Tatum finally suiting up as Gambit. It’s a multiverse mashup fans have only dreamed of until now.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has confirmed the addition of Sadie Sink and Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear), adding even more star power to Peter Parker’s fourth solo outing.
The Bigger Picture
As Marvel recalibrates its universe and focuses on quality storytelling over quantity, these delays might just be a sign of a more measured, ambitious approach to Phases 5 and 6. And let’s not forget — before the next Avengers saga hits, we’ll still be treated to Matt Shakman’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, where Ralph Ineson takes on the role of a terrifying cosmic threat.
Final Thoughts
While it’s never easy to hear that your most anticipated superhero films are being pushed back, the scale of Marvel’s upcoming projects suggests the wait will be well worth it. With the multiverse wide open, and legends returning to the big screen, the future of the MCU still looks incredibly bright — even if it’s arriving a little later than expected.
