The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always growing, thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. As such, fans are constantly wondering about upcoming Marvel movies, and hoping to see their favorite characters appear. For years now fans have been waiting for Spider-Man Miles Morales to join the MCU, and Kevin Feige finally revealed when we should expect that to happen.

Fans who have been watching the Marvel movies in order have likely seen the online discourse about Miles Morales. The character has been gaining a ton of popularity in recent years, thanks to the Spider-Man PlayStation games as well as the Spider-Verse franchise. During a conversation with China's Watching Hollywood (via Deadline), Feige spoke about bringing Miles to the shared universe, offering:

Do you hear that? It's countless Marvel fans cheering. Because not only does Kevin Feige seemingly want to bring Miles Morales into the MCU, but he's got a timeline. Namely, after the animated Spider-Verse franchise ends and the character is freed up to appear in the live-action Spider-Man movies.

This timeline makes a ton of sense, as Chris Miller and Phil Lord's animated Spider-Verse movies have been an Oscar-winning success. So Feige and company have to wait until that story is finished before finding a way to bring Miles to life in live-action. Still, the fact that it's going to happen one day is thrilling.

Fans aren't the only ones who have been calling for the web-slinger to join the MCU. Tom Holland himself wants to bring Miles Morales into the fold, possibly with his Peter Parker serving as a mentor the way that Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark did for him earlier in the shared universe.

In the comics, Miles Morales in a teenager who ends up (you guessed it) bitten by a spider that gives him superpowers. But his abilities are different from the traditional Spider-Man, including invisibility and bio-electric manipulation. Both the Spider-Verse movies and the Sony video games have shown him as a partner to Peter Parker, with the older hero helping to guide him as he becomes a vigilante in New York City. Folks are ready to see this dynamic play out in live-action, although we'll have to wait for the animated franchise to conclude first.

Tom Holland's Spider-Man will return to the big screen when Brand New Day arrives on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, that animated blockbuster will hit theaters June 18th, 2027.

Every so often two major movies are released on the same weekend and some competition is started at the box office. While Barbenheimer resulted in huge numbers for both Barbie and Oppenheimer, we're about to get another one of these moments with the forthcoming release of both the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday and Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three. The forthcoming theatrical event had been named Dunesday, although Marvel's Kevin Feige reportedly admitted that having another blockbuster to compete with might not have been the best plan.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but there's a ton of hype surrounding both that movie and Dune 3. It's unclear if they'll end up cannibalizing each other's box office performance, or if folks will simply do double features to see both titles.

Kevin Feige allegedly spoke about this at a Chinese event, with a translated quote coming to us from Weibo (via Threads). He reportedly said:

If true, this is illuminating. While I'm gonna take this translated quote with a grain of salt, it sounds like Doomsday wasn't always going to be competing with Dune. But when The Russo Brothers' movie needed more time during the editing process, that's how things shook out. And just like that, Dunesday was born.

When the next Avengers movie got moved to its December release date, some fans worried that it would suffer at the box office due to both competition and superhero fatigue. But if Doomsday's record-breaking trailer performance is any indication, that might not be the case. While superhero fatigue might be a think, folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are still seemingly invested in the forthcoming crossover event.

It should be interesting to see just how much money both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three end up making during the opening weekend. Will this competition result in both movies performing well, or will they interfere with each other's profitability? In addition to Barbenheimer being a pop culture moment, last year we were treated to Wickediator aka the release of Wicked: For Good and Gladiator 2. While they were very different movies, they were both able to make a ton of money at the box office. Only time will tell if that happens this December for Dunesday.

Both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. No matter what happens Florence Pugh is winning, as she'll star in both of those highly anticipated blockbusters.

It’s somehow been almost three years since Marvel confirmed a new era of live-action X-Men adventures, and we’re still months away from seeing the mutant group’s return in full for Avengers: Doomsday. (The first full-length trailer gave us some hints of what’s to come.) With the Russo brothers’ busy helming Avengers: Secret Wars, it seems like a good time to wonder what Kevin Feige & Co. are planning to do with these beloved characters in the aftermath of these mega-sequels.

Thankfully, Marvel Studios’ big bossman offered up some solid insights into the X-Men’s future while speaking with journalists during a press event in Shanghai, China (via Weibo). He first talked about the state of things between Endgame’s release and Doomsday, while also speaking to the idea that the O.G. X-Men films were as much an organic starting point for the next couple of upcoming Marvel movies, even if that universe will likely get destroyed via incursion.

Just hearing the words "streamlined" and "simplified" coming out of Kevin Feige's mouth feel revolutionary, given how convoluted and messy things have gotten in recent years between big-screen features and TV projects streaming via Disney+ subscription. So cue all the sighs of relief on that note.

On a more downbeat note, Feige does use the phrase "bring some storylines to a close" in reference to the mutant clan, which does not bode well for any of the OG actors' characters surviving Doomsday and Secret Wars. If anyone could do it, it'd be Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, but it's possible that he'll be hanging his claws up before the next Phase kicks off.

To that end, Feige talked about the goal of bringing younger audiences into the MCU fandom, and having to look beyond just the most popular X-Men hero to make it happen.

I'd much prefer a multi-stage saga than another multiverse saga right now, so that all tracks. Although I do wonder if the plan to skew younger also applies to the aforementioned Deadpool, since Ryan Reynolds only just this week confirmed that Deadpool 4 is in the works. Will that movie feature some kind of passing-of-the-torch between Reynolds' Wade Wilson and someone else? Ehhhh.

Kevin Feige revealed that the latest studio exec meeting centered on planning the next 16 years of potential feature releases, going up to 2042. Which isn't to say that every one of those plans will play out successfully, but just in case anyone things they're sitting around and winging it.

Kevin Feige's Amusingly Simple Take On Fox's X-Men Movies

Though the goal is obviously to give fans something new with the X-Men's arrival in the MCU, Feige certainly isn't ignoring everything that came before, and I can't stop chuckling over his brevity and limited word choices when sharing opinions about Fox's entire X-Men franchise lineup. (Not that he was expected to go on at length with his critiques or anything.) As he put it:

How hilarious would it have been if Kevin Feige was seen on-camera for local news on premiere night for 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, and when asked how he liked it, he just said, "I think it hasn't lived up to expectations."

That is such a funny and diplomatic way to make an assessment like, "This was a steaming pile of dogshit." Not that I'm trying to put words in Feige's mouth or anything. Hell, maybe that was one that he really liked. (Hopefully not.) I may nip that phrasing in the future for when Secret Invasion comes up again, assuming anyone ever talks about Secret Invasion again.

As exciting as it is to think about what a future will look like with all-new mutants comprising the X-Men, director Jake Schreier told CinemaBlend how difficult rebooting things for the MCU can be, and a lot of decisions will need to be made. And we'll be here to talk about them all.

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

I had been thinking about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday as the next massive Marvel roll call. You know the deal: heroes from all corners of the MCU multiverse, the Fantastic Four, returning legacy names, Doctor Doom chaos stirring things up, and so many heroes it could feel a little crowded. But producer Kevin Feige just made me much more interested in the upcoming Marvel movie, thanks to his comments about Florence Pugh’s Thunderbolts* character, Yelena Belova.

During Feige’s appearance at BiliBili World in Shanghai, via Entertainment Weekly, the Marvel Studios boss teased what is coming for Pugh’s fan-favorite former assassin on the 2026 movie schedule. While talking about Yelena’s MCU future, Feige made it clear she will not just be hanging around in the background of the next Avengers movie. He said:

That is the kind of Feige tease that immediately sends Marvel fans like me into detective mode. The obvious part is Doomsday. Yelena playing a “big part” in the next Avengers movie makes sense after everything Marvel has been building with her and how Thunderbolts* ended. Since her debut in Black Widow, Pugh has turned Yelena into one of the MCU’s most reliable newer characters, bringing dry humor, emotional baggage and a very specific “I could kill you, but I’m hungry” energy to every appearance.

The more interesting part is Feige saying we might see Yelena “a little bit sooner in the movies.” Unless Marvel is holding back another theatrical surprise, that seems to point toward the soon-to-be-released Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which hits theaters nearly six months before Avengers: Doomsday. And, honestly, Yelena crossing paths with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is just odd enough to have my attention.

At first, Peter and Yelena do not sound like an obvious pairing. Peter is still dealing with the fallout from No Way Home, where everyone forgot Peter Parker existed. Yelena is a trained killer with a sharp tongue and very little patience for nonsense. But Brand New Day already seems interested in unusual combinations, especially with the Punisher and Hulk appearing in the movie. If those characters can fit into Peter’s world, Yelena does not feel like much of a stretch.

The team-up of characters is also not as strange as it might sound, because to anyone with a Disney+ subscription who has already watched Hawkeye and seen Yelena work in a more family-friendly Marvel story. She brought a sharper edge to that show, but she never felt out of place or as if she were pulling it into a completely different tone.

From a bigger MCU standpoint, it makes sense too. Avengers: Doomsday is going to be huge and, if Yelena really has a major role in it, Marvel may want to remind audiences where she is before that movie arrives. A smaller appearance beforehand could give her story some momentum and make her role in the next Avengers film feel less sudden.

That is especially important because Yelena is not just another name on the team sheet. Pugh has been one of Marvel’s strongest additions in the post-Endgame era, and the MCU could use more characters who feel specific rather than interchangeable. So, yes, Avengers: Doomsday is still the big heroes team-up. That is clearly the main event. But Feige’s comments have me watching the road to that movie more closely, because Yelena may be more important to this phase than I expected.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which could possibly feature Yelena, hits theaters July 31. As for Avengers: Doomsday, where we know she is confirmed to appear in the stacked cast, that arrives in theaters Dec. 18.

Paul Rudd has been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for more than a decade now, with his character, Scott Lang, having debuted in Ant-Man back in 2015. Since then, Lang has gone from ex-con trying to reconnect with his daughter to full-blown Avenger, quantum realm survivor and one of the few heroes who can say he helped undo Thanos’ snap. Now, as Avengers: Doomsday approaches, Kevin Feige’s latest description of Ant-Man makes it pretty clear that some of the MCU’s fan-favorite heroes are entering a new age bracket.

In a new profile of Paul Rudd, The Hollywood Reporter quoted Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, as he described where Scott Lang fits into the massive upcoming superhero movie ensemble headed for the 2026 movie schedule. According to Feige:

For longtime Marvel fans, that comment might feel like finding your very first gray hair. Ant-Man -- the goofy guy who once got fired from Baskin-Robbins -- and the dad who accidentally became one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, is now one of the older guys in the room.

It makes sense, even if it stings a little. Scott Lang has been around since Phase Two, and he has already crossed paths with Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange the Guardians-adjacent cosmic weirdness of the quantum realm and Kang. While Rudd looks like he never ages, his character has seen enough world-ending nonsense to earn a folding chair at the veteran heroes’ table.

That “elder statesman” label says a lot about where Avengers: Doomsday may be heading. The movie is expected to bring together multiple corners of Marvel’s current and past screen universe, with the first trailer and teasers hinting at returning MCU characters, new heroes and legacy names from the Fox-era X-Men films. Robert Downey Jr. is also returning to Marvel, though this time as the big bad, Doctor Doom, rather than Tony Stark.

Scott Lang may be getting older, but he could still serve as a connective piece between the older MCU and the newer lineup. That role fits him better than it might seem. Scott was never the team’s main strategist or strongest fighter, but he has always been one of Marvel’s most human heroes. He is a dad first, a thief second and an Avenger somewhere after “guy who really needs this plan explained twice.”

If you’re someone who’s seen all the Marvel movies in order, you know Ant-Man was introduced as the scrappy outsider looking up at icons like Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. Now, he may be the one standing across from younger heroes with the battle scars and war stories. And hey, I kind of dig that.

The funny thing about Marvel’s shared universe is that it has now been around long enough for its comic book problem to become a movie problem. These characters do not stay frozen in amber—actors age. Storylines pile up. New heroes enter. Older heroes either leave, die or retire.

For Rudd, that is especially amusing because, as I mentioned, so much of his public image has been built around the joke that he does not age. The new profile even digs into that long-running perception while Rudd jokes that he is “a withering 80-year-old man on the inside.”

Still, Feige’s description gives Doomsday an interesting emotional angle. This does not sound like Scott Lang being treated as comic relief. It sounds like Marvel understands he has history now, and he is ripe for the mentor role. The guy who once felt like the least likely Avenger may now be responsible for helping the new kids survive the next impossible fight.

Check out Ant-Man's return in Avengers: Doomsday, hitting theaters on December 18, 2026. Until then, fans can revisit his past appearances by streaming all the MCU entries with a Disney+ subscription.

It’s hard to think of another 2026 release that has sparked the gobsmackingly large number of fan theories and assumptions that the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday has. From its earliest days with Kang in the mix to the heavily revamped approach that brought the Russo brothers back into the fold, the MCU’s next mega-blockbuster will no doubt keep fans guessing until it’s officially out. Assuming Kevin Feige doesn’t spoil the whole shebang, that is.

Okay, so that’s just farcical, since Kevin Feige is generally Marvel’s biggest enforcer of keeping franchise secrets intact. But he’s not entirely immune to hyping up future projects, including what’ll likely be the biggest release of 2026. When the studio head honcho spoke with Fandango (as seen in this X clip), his own fandom crept through his comments while speaking to the X-Men’s official MCU introduction as a full group. As he put it:

The biggest takeaway from this comment is obviously the implication that Anthony and Joe Russo had the crew rebuild multiple sets (or parts of them) from Bryan Singer’s 2000 X-Men film, as a way of visually bridging the gap between Fox’s mutant saga and the MCU.To be fair, many fans probably already gathered that to be true just from the Professor X and Magneto Doomsday teaser, with interiors from his lavish mansion on display.

But what about other familiar locations? Feige implied Avengers: Doomsday will feature multiple scenes taking place within sets central to X-Men films even beyond that first entry. (Here’s hoping everyone just forgot The Last Stand existed during that part of the process.) I’m guessing we’ll see a similar take on Cerebro, and it would presumably make sense for the Russos to rebuild the Alkali Lake complex where the Weapons X experiments took place. (Assuming the impending X-Men standalone feature from Jake Schreier also shares some of those previously set up details.)

For a comparison, Feige referenced Deadpool and Wolverine finally putting Hugh Jackman in the yellow costume that fans clamored for years for, which Singer & Co. wanted to avoid entirely for being too cartoonish. As he put it:

For all the acclaim and fan-love aimed at Fox's X-Men movies, fans' biggest complaints often circled around the lack of comic-specific costumes in favor of all things black and leathery. He made the excellent note that the look of James Marsden's Cyclops is aligned with the source material, and it sounds like fans will finally get to see the mutant squad's traditional looks in live action for the first time. Even though I'm perfectly fine with adaptations taking artistic license with details like costuming, hairstyles and the like, I cannot WAIT to see how the X-Men look in Avengers: Doomsday and beyond.

Especially Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler and Jim Lee's Rogue costume. (Not that Rogue or actress Anna Paquin have been confirmed to appear in Doomsday, but I'm still hopeful.)

Despite being namechecked earlier, fans probably shouldn't expect to see Deadpool in Avengers: Doomsday, but I'm as hopeful as anyone that Hugh Jackman is bringing his A-game once more as Wolverine, where his Aussie-Canadian accent can sit prettily alongside Channing Tatum's Alabama-Cajun accent as Gambit.

Find out which familiar X-Men sets and costumes will be on display when Avengers: Doomsday finally hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

Wonder Man is one of the best things Marvel has released in a while, and those who haven't watched it with a Disney+ subscription are missing out. Part of that is thanks to Yahya Abdul Mateen II, who recently revealed he wouldn't take the role as Simon Williams without speaking to Marvel's Kevin Feige first.

The actor spoke about the conversation during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, and how he insisted on speaking to Kevin Feige before accepting the role as the MCU hero. It may sound silly to think about, given the mass acclaim for the series and excitement for Season 2, but the Watchmen vet wanted assurance from Feige that this was THE MCU role he should be invested in, as opposed to other potential options. As he put it:

Yahya Abdul Mateen II wanted to make sure he was getting a quality role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I don't blame him. Even for as long as the comic book giant'smovie universe has been around, there are still plenty of Marvel heroes that need to make big-screen debuts. I, too, would be skeptical about taking on a character like Wonder Man, especially if the chance was available to possibly play one of the X-Men in the future.

Kevin Feige indeed took time from his busy schedule to meet with the actor and assure him that working on Wonder Man was the right call. Abdul Mateen II just gave an overview of the conversation:

In the end, I'm sure the actor has no regrets, considering how Wonder Man pulled in an audience who may have been suffering from Marvel fatigue. It also created one of the best bromances of the MCU we've seen yet, in Simon teaming up with disgraced actor Trevor Slattery. I'm excited to see how or if these two feature into the greater story being told in the universe.

It does have me wondering if Simon Williams factors into Avengers Doomsday at all, with conflicting information out there about whether he's involved. Simon has some devastating power that he has trouble controlling, and I have to think heroes or villains would love to exploit that to turn the tables in a big super showdown.

We'll just have to wait for more updates, keeping our fingers crossed that we'll see more of Trevor and Simon in upcoming Marvel movies and shows before Wonder Man Season 2 comes out. All this talk about the series has me eager to watch it again, so it's a good thing it's so bingeable.

In the years since Iron Man died in Avengers: Endgame, Robert Downey Jr. has reached a new height of success. That’s because, a few years after he left the MCU as Iron Man, he took a role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which earned him an Oscar. Now, as RDJ prepares to play Doctor Doom, Kevin Feige has opened up about why they decided to bring him back for the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. And yes, it does relate to the Academy Award-winning movie the actor made after he said goodbye to Tony Stark.

Ever since it was revealed that Downey was going to play Victor Von Doom in the MCU, I’ve been wondering why they cast him. While I love the choice, RDJ is synonymous with Tony Stark, so why have him play a new character? Well, now that we’re getting closer to Doomsday’s release on the 2026 movie schedule, Marvel boss Kevin Feige is providing some more details to this answer. Telling EW about when they started forming this idea, he recalled how Downey's performance in the 2023 film Oppenheimer inspired them:

Listen, anything is possible in the multiverse, so why not, right? I totally see what they’re saying, too. Robert Downey Jr. is one of the all-time greats, and that’s in part thanks to his work in both the MCU as Iron Man and Oppenheimer. So, yeah, it tracks that if you want to get an all-time great to play your villain, you should maybe give this guy a call.

I also think it’s worth noting that for a very long time, we got to watch Downey play a hero on the big screen. People loved his take on Tony Stark, and Iron Man was a fundamental part of the Avengers and the MCU in general. Then, we got to see a whole other side of his range in Oppenheimer.

In Christopher Nolan’s biopic about the father of the atomic bomb, Downey played Lewis Strauss. He was the primary antagonist of the film, and RDJ turned in a nuanced performance that was not carried by the charisma and wit that helped make him so beloved as Tony Stark. It was far more dramatic than we’re used to when it comes to him, and ultimately, he served as a brilliant foil to Cillian Murphy’s J. Robert Oppenheimer. Both men took home Oscars for their performances, and the film won many other awards at the 2024 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

In short, Nolan’s movie gave audiences a chance to see Robert Downey Jr. do something totally new and different as an actor.

It also proved that he is one of the best, and I hope that’s what Avengers: Doomsday will do too. Downey is clearly excited about it, with his Doctor Doom-inspired outfits and his coining of the term “Dunesday” to celebrate the fact that his Marvel movie comes out on the same day as Dune: Part Three. Kevin Feige is clearly thrilled about it, too, especially since they got the Oppenheimer actor to come back to the MCU for it.

So, now, to see Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, you can catch Avengers: Doomsday in theaters on December 18. In the meantime, you can go back and watch the performances that made him one of the best of the best by streaming the Marvel movies in order with a Disney+ subscription and buying or renting Oppenheimer.

I’ve never felt anything quite like sitting in the theater in 2018 to watch Avengers: Endgame. Captain America facing Thanos again, the powerful moment when Falcon’s voice breaks through the static and says "on your left," and Tony Stark’s ultimate sacrifice marked the end of an era, over a decade of storytelling. With Avengers: Doomsday coming soon, and directed by the same team and bringing back nearly all the original Avengers, fans are eager to see whether these films will connect as the previous ones did. However, Kevin Feige explains fans might want to temper those expectations.

The first of two new Avengers movies, Doomsday, lands on the 2026 movie schedule on December 18, with Secret Wars expected the following year. In a recent interview with Fandango, Feige discussed how these two new films will relate, similar to the comic book storylines they are based on, but in a way that differs significantly from Infinity War and Endgame. He explained:

Details on Doomsday are still pretty locked down, even after Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr reunited at CinemaCon and debuted footage for select audiences. But, if you’ve been paying attention to the Multiverse Saga, there are some pretty loud clues about where this could be headed. The idea of “incursions,” first introduced in Loki season 1, streaming with a Disney+ subscription, has been simmering in the background for a while now. It feels like Doomsday is most certainly drawing inspiration from Time Runs Out, one of the more brutal Marvel storylines in recent memory.

The Time Runs Out story arc is basically the universe eating itself while its heroes argue over how much they’re willing to sacrifice to stop it. A group of godlike beings known as the Beyonders rig the multiverse to collapse, turning every version of the Molecule Man into a ticking bomb. When Doctor Doom figures out what’s happening, he starts moving behind the scenes, trying to dismantle the system before everything goes dark.

What follows is a slow, inevitable multiversal collapse. By the end, Doctor Doom is one of the last ones standing, taking what’s left of reality and reshaping it into something new, setting the stage for Secret Wars.

If current theories track, Doomsday could be where it all collides. The MCU, the Fantastic Four world, and the Fox X-Men universe crashing into each other at once. While everyone’s busy fighting, Doom is the only one thinking ahead. He’s not just trying to win, he’s trying to survive the end of everything.

That’s where Feige’s “similar but different” seemingly starts to make sense. This likely won’t be another Infinity War/Endgame situation, where each movie feels like one half of one story. Doomsday could stand on its own, with Doom coming out on top, while Secret Wars picks up in the aftermath, throwing together characters from across Marvel’s history to fight for what’s left. And, if the comics are any guide, that battlefield has a name: Battleworld.

Of course, this is all speculation for now. We won’t know how it actually plays out until Avengers: Doomsday arrives on December 18, followed by Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.

Avengers: Doomsday is on the way, and fans seem to be hanging on every single morsel of information they can get their hands on. Of course, the cast and crew behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest team-up film mostly seem to be doing a solid job of not saying too much. Yet, a few months ago, Sir Ian McKellen went viral for seemingly dropping a spoiler regarding Magneto (his character) destroying New Jersey. Producer Kevin Feige has since downplayed that notion, and superfan Kevin Smith had a great response.

This past week, Kevin Feige promoted Doomsday at CinemaCon alongside directors Joe and Anthony Russo. All three also took part in some interviews after their presentation at the convention and, at that time, Feige fielded a question about Ian McKellen’s comments during one interview. When asked if New Jersey would be destroyed, he merely said there would be “a New Jersey presence.” That sentiment isn’t too much to go off, but it was enough for Kevin Smith to react by sharing an A+ nod to his own body of work:

Hilariously, the video Smith shared to Instagram showed a report on Feige’s comments, and the Avengers theme music plays in the background. The Alan Silvestri-written music, however, gets cut off by a quick clip of Smith and longtime friend and co-star Jay Mewes in character as Jay and Silent Bob. Smith’s nod to the lovable stoner characters plays on Feige’s mention of a “New Jersey presence,” since the pair appear in the New Jersey-set View Askewniverse.

Both Smith and Mewes themselves are also New Jersey natives, and I love that the former took the opportunity to reference his home state and his own movies using this funny clip. I’d like to think that Feige could also appreciate this gag, given his love of movies and his own connection to “The Garden State.” Feige himself was raised in NJ, so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Smith’s clip were to get a good chuckle out of him.

Kevin Smith may have jokes, but trust and believe that he has an extreme amount of reverence for what Kevin Feige and co. have done at Marvel Studios. Over the years, Smith has long hyped up the MCU films and showered some major praise on Avengers: Endgame. Smith was also emotional after learning that Captain Marvel referenced one of his most famous films, Mallrats, specifically Stan Lee’s cameo in it. So trust and believe Smith is really looking forward to Doomsday.

On that note, something fans have seemed particularly excited about with Doomsday is the return of the OG X-Men cast, including franchise veterans like McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Rebecca Romijn and James Marsden. Apparently, McKellen was quite a force on set, as the 86-year-old actor’s eagerness to do stunts made Marsden more comfortable with doing them at his own age (52). From a narrative standpoint, it’s looking like the X-Men and Avengers will do battle in the movie, and it should be a sight to behold.

I’d be lying I didn’t have plans to be amongst those who end up seeing Doomsday amid its opening weekend. What I’ll also be looking out for is to see whether or not Magneto actually lays waste to New Jersey. Regardless of whatever that “presence” Kevin Feige is referring to ends up being, I’ll be eager to hear what Kevin Smith has to say about it.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, stream other MCU films as well as the original X-Men flicks using a Disney+ subscription.

In 2013, Ryan Coogler made his filmmaking debut with Fruitvale Station. It kicked off a professional career that delivered him his first Academy Award earlier this month, winning the Best Original Screenplay category for his work on Sinners. But five years before Fruitvale Station’s release, and 10 years before he delivered Black Panther to the world, Coogler wasn’t anywhere close to being famous. And yet, he still had an interesting encounter with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and Tony Stark actor Robert Downey Jr. at an Iron Man event.

Ryan Coogler recalled this while speaking with Feige and Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy at the dedication celebration for USC’s Kevin Feige Division of Film & Television Production for its School of Cinematic Art (via THR). This is the same event where Feige talked about the last time he saw Chadwick Boseman, and earlier in the evening, Coogler wound the clock back further to talk about when he saw Iron Man during its opening weekend at Hollwood’s Arclight. At one point, he left to use the bathroom, but then was locked out of the theater by security because they were making way for three special guests to appear ahead of the screening:

Don’t worry, Ryan Coogler was able to get back into the theater. Frankly, if I was in his shoes and had been kept out, I’d have been mad about missing out on not just seeing Robert Downey Jr., Kevin Feige and director Jon Favreau, but also not getting to see one of the biggest summer blockbusters of 2008. But thankfully Coogler avoided that and had a good time watching Downey entertain the audience and Iron Man itself:

Less than a decade later, Ryan Coogler would find himself following in Jon Favreau’s footsteps in directing a Marvel movie. Following the success of Creed in 2015, Coogler was tapped to helm Black Panther, which pushed Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa to center stage after he was introduced in Captain America: Civil War. He then returned for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but his original plans for the sequel needed to be overhauled following Boseman’s death. So Letitia Wright’s Shuri inherited the Black Panther mantle, and we’ll see her back in action when Avengers: Doomsday arrives to the 2026 movies schedule.

Looking further ahead into the future, Ryan Coogler is turning his attention next to Black Panther 3, and Sinners actor Delroy Lindo has expressed interested in being added to the cast. The threequel doesn’t have a release date on the upcoming Marvel movies slate yet, but MCU fans can look forward to Spider-Man: Brand New Day hitting theaters on July 31 ahead of Doomsday’s December release.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s existence has garnered a major fan following, and that’s evident due to the viral conversations that surround it. Over the years, plenty of fans have taken to the web to discuss not only existing films and TV shows in the franchise but also upcoming Marvel movies and series. Studio head honcho Kevin Feige is definitely no stranger to such chatter at this point, and he recently admitted that. Additionally, Feige spoke about handling the discourse, which can even incite “panic” in some cases.

It would be impossible for me to count the exact number of MCU-related theories I’ve come across since the interconnected universe began in 2008. For me, personally, it can be a bit overwhelming to keep track of all the discussions being had on social media. So it’s been hard for me to even imagine how Feige has handled it all these years. The producer shared some insight into that during the dedication of Kevin Feige Division of Film & Television Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. During that discussion, Feige said:

Feige also noted that while Marvel had long interacted with its fans on some level, such communication “can be wielded with such force now that you have to be beware.” He also advised that tuning in to too much of the chatter will “crush you.” Joining Feige for that event at USC were directors Deadpool & Wolverine’s Shawn Levy and Black Panther’s Ryan Coogler, and Levy echoed his colleague’s sentiments on the social media discussions. Levy and Feige also discussed (via THR) the pressure with test screening reactions:

• Feige: It happens when you’ve already spent almost $200 million on a movie and you screen it for people and they’re like, ‘What was that?’
• Levy: And then the panic sets in. You panic, feel like shit, and then you go back to work.

Test screenings are a polarizing (but heavily relied-upon) part of the rollout process for a film, and that’s no different for Marvel Studios. Such early reactions can also stoke up conversations online. For instance, many surely took notice when the earliest reactions to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 made their way online in early 2017, and that may have also been true just last year when a fan shared their thoughts after a Thunderbolts* test screening. All in all, Feige doesn’t seem to be dismissing fan discussions in general, though he just seems to be of the belief that it’s unwise to consume too much of it.

As of late, there have been plenty of MCU theories making the rounds, with some of the most popular ones being linked to some major upcoming films. For example, there are those who’ve gone down the rabbit hole while reading theories about Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. There’s also an assumption running around about how this franchise may be rebooted after 2027’s Secret Wars.

Kevin Feige, of course, holds the answers to all those secrets and knows what Marvel’s ultimate plan is. Considering that, it makes sense that he would prefer not to pay too much attention to the noise and instead, remain focused on his work. In the age of social media, that may be solid advice for everyone – MCU fan or not. Those who are fans of the superhero franchise, however, can grab a Disney+ subscription and stream MCU shows and movies.

2016’s Captain America: Civil War remains one of the most important Marvel Cinematic Universe movies for a variety of reasons, including introducing Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, a.k.a. Black Panther. Following that memorable debut, Boseman reprsied the character for his own solo movie, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and he was supposed to return for the Black Panther sequel. Sadly, the actor died on August 28, 2020 at the age of 43, and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has now shared the last thing Boseman told him before his passing.

Kevin Feige recalled this while speaking with Ryan Coogler, director of the Black Panther movies, and Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy at the dedication celebration for the Universtiy of Southern California’s Kevin Feige Division of Film & Television Production for its School of Cinematic Arts, with all three men being USC graduates. During the conversation (via THR), Feige said that during his last meeting with Chadwick Boseman, the actor shared how much fun he was having voicing an alternate version of T’Challa in the animated series What If… ?. Boseman was hoping to bring that same kind of “vibe” to Black Panther 2, but he unforunately never got to do so.

The Marvel Studios president talked about this to reflect a broader point about how he took Chadwick Boseman, as well as other colleagues and friends, for granted. With this shared universe allowing for continued colaborations with many actors and other talents, Feige just assumed he’d spend more time with Boseman once the time came to make another Black Panther movie or Avengers movie. He continued:

As for Ryan Coogler, he shared back in 2022 that he last spoke with Chadwick Boseman a few weeks before he died. The filmmaker called the actor up to get his thoughts on the Black Panther 2 script before it recevied notes from the studio. However, Coogler revealed last December that Boseman was too sick to read the script by that point. So there was never a point where a T’Challa-focused Black Panther sequel was ever in development past that stage, and after Boseman died, Coogler and Marvel decided to have T’Challa die offscreen as well and have his sister, Letitia Wright’s Shuri, succeed him in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

It’s a shame that Kevin Feige and Ryan Coogler, and really the entire world, didn’t get to spend more time with Chadwick Boseman and see him not only play T’Challa many more times, but inhabit various other roles. Boseman’s passing went on to help inspire Coogler’s latest movie, Sinners, which is nominated in 16 categories at the 98th Academy Awards. We’ll see how it fares this Sunday on ABC, and Coogler is also hard at work putting together Black Panther 3 as his next movie.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been ramping up to the introduction of the X-Men for years now. It began in 2022 when Kamala Khan was revealed to be a mutant in the Ms. Marvel finale; continued with the appearances of Professor X and Beast in Doctor Strange And The Multiverse Of Madness and The Marvels; advanced with the parallel universe story that is Deadpool & Wolverine, and most recently, we got a look at a few beloved characters in a teaser for Avengers: Doomsday. At this point, fans are very much salivating to learn where it is all going – and that includes not just the people watching the films, but also those who are making them.

Nia DaCosta, who is best known to MCU fans for directing 2023's The Marvels, has spent recent weeks on the press tour for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (which is presently battling with Avatar: Fire And Ash for the number one spot at the box office), and she was asked about her relationship with Marvel Studios during an interview with Inverse. Although her contribution to the franchise has a bit of a sour legacy thanks to its underwhelming performance in theaters, she is still very much on good terms with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, and she even got to pepper the executive/filmmaker with questions about the future of mutants in the canon during a visit to the set of Avengers: Doomsday. Said DaCosta,

As alluded to above, the filmmaker personally got the chance to tell stories with mutant characters in the MCU in The Marvels, but what the future has in store for the core X-Men team in the franchise has been a question looming ever since Disney and Fox completed their merger in 2019. From what we can tell, the question will at least be directly addressed if not answered in Avengers: Doomsday, which is confirmed to feature a number of mutant characters in the cast, including Kelsey Grammer as Hank McCoy / Beast, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, James Marsden as Cyclops, and Channing Tatum as Gambit.

Will those versions of the characters become established as the core X-Men characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Or are there plans ahead within the plotting of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars that will see the canon totally change? It doesn't sound like Nia DaCosta got the answers she was craving during her one-on-one time with Kevin Feige, and we don't expect them to be public any time particularly soon.

New teasers for Avengers: Doomsday keep rolling out – including the most recent, which features heroes from Wakanda meeting the Fantastic Four – and they are helping satiate our hunger for now, as we still have exactly 11 months to wait before the MCU blockbuster arrives in theaters on December 18.

An entire book could probably be written about the reported behind-the-scenes push and pull between Sony and Marvel since Tom Holland’s Spider-Man first swung into the MCU in Captain America: Civil War back in 2016. From rumored release date clashes to Sony dropping MCU-adjacent characters like the Vulture into its Spider-less villain universe, the historic crossover deal has rarely sounded simple.

Now, a new rumor is making the rounds about Spider-Man’s next solo outing, the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and it claims Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige allegedly shut down one big-name director Sony (reportedly) wanted for the job.

The Rumor About Who Should Direct Brand New Day

According to entertainment scooper MyTimeToShine on X, Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman “really wanted” longtime Spider-Man director Jon Watts back for Brand New Day. Watts, of course, helmed all three of Tom Holland’s solo films.

However, after Watts exited Marvel’s Fantastic Four and reportedly moved on from more Spidey flicks, Sony is said to have turned to a familiar collaborator. The scooper claims the studio pushed for Venom director Ruben Fleischer to take over. The post reads:

None of this has been officially confirmed, so I cannot be clear enough that fans should treat this as a rumor. That said, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton is the director behind Brand New Day, and I do firmly feel it's fun to think out the could have, would have beens related to this particular implication.

Personally, if that is how things shook out behind the scenes, I think Feige, reportedly, made the right call. Sony’s Spider-Man spin-offs, as of now seemingly defunct, have had a rough ride with critics, and while the Venom movies have their fans, that tone is not exactly the vibe I would hope to see in Tom Holland’s fourth solo outing as Peter Parker. It also seems like plenty of longtime Spidey fans feel the same way.

Spider-Man Fans Sound Off On The Rumored Director Shuffle

Whenever a rumor surrounding a new superhero movie drops, social media wastes no time weighing in, and this alleged Feige versus Sony director debate is no different. Some fans are firmly in the “trust Feige” camp, but reactions run the gamut from cautious curiosity to full-on relief. Here’s a temp check of what folks are saying:

• “isnt this the guy who didnt want to make a Deadpool movie when he was at fox?” – @Hazardgo457
• “Interesting behind the scenes shuffle. Feige clearly had a vision.” – @VermaAb5
• “Thank god Kevin feige stood his ground and avoided Ruben, his venom movies sucked. And Jon watts is good but we need better action sequences that are visually more appealing… Destin will evolve Spider-Man to visually look more like the games! I’m happy!” – @JPhoeni57673975
• “Yeah...another reason for Marvel to get back the rights from them. It should be a priority now.” – @FreshIbz13858

Not everyone is thrilled Cretton stepped in, and some are ready to defend Fleischer’s track record while taking shots at Shang-Chi. They wrote:

• “Sony: Let’s get the dude who directed that decent Venom movie! Fiege: Nah, let’s get the dude who directed that terrible Shang-Chi movie! Were there no stronger options available? I mean, it’s frickin SPIDER-MAN. It’s not like there’s a shortage of directors who’d love to try.” – @S_itmeanshope
• “Now u see me 3 was actually really good better than most marvel flick and VFX were great unlike marvel usual shit. So I would have been ok with it.” – @Thechosenone875

There is clearly no consensus on this rumor, but the conversation does highlight the tightrope Marvel and Sony walk when it comes to a character as beloved and valuable as Spider-Man. Whether or not the rumor is true, this tightrope is certainly accurate.

What This Rumor Could Mean For Spider-Man: Brand New Day

If this report is legit, it's another example of just how carefully the "House of Ideas" seems to be guarding its version of Peter Parker. A Fleischer-led Brand New Day would likely lean harder into the chaotic, scrappy energy of the Venom films. A Destin Daniel Cretton Spider-Man movie, on the other hand, will more than likely focus on character first, and more carefully staged action, closer to what we saw in Shang-Chi.

Rumor or no rumor, it's always fun to hear BTS info come down the pipeline. We'll have to wait and see if Feige and co. made the right directorial decision when Brand New Day hits the 2026 movie schedule on July 31, 2026. Until then, fans can revisit all the Spidey Movies streaming with a Disney+ subscription; get one with these big Black Friday streaming deals.

A plethora of directors have worked with Marvel Studios at this point, with each seeking to add their specific mark to the company’s massive cinematic universe. Nia DaCosta sought to do just that with 2023’s The Marvels, the sequel to the 2019 film Captain Marvel. Unfortunately, the creative process didn’t go all that smoothly, as DaCosta previously revealed. However, DaCosta holds no ill will towards the studio and, on top of that, head honcho Kevin Feige even did her a sweet favor.

For context, the Candyman filmmaker was hired to direct The Marvels in 2020, around which point she expressed excitement about helming a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. The movie – which was released amid the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and Writers strikes – ultimately underwhelmed at the box office and was met with somewhat lukewarm reviews. Earlier in 2025, DaCosta spoke about not having full creative control of the movie and also explained that a key issue amid production was the lack of a solid script from the jump.

Despite making those comments, Nia DaCosta recently told The Guardian that there’s no kind of “ire” between her and the Disney-owned superhero brand. DaCosta actually revealed to the outlet that she recently took a little trip overseas, which serves as evidence that she’s still tight with at least some of the folks she worked with:

It’s unclear exactly when this interview was conducted, but the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday was indeed filming in the UK for a large part of the past year. Hearing that the Little Woods director is still close enough with her former collaborators that she would visit the set of Joe and Anthony Russo’s upcoming superhero film. What’s also sweet, though, is that Kevin Feige managed to help make that trip happen in one key way:

Considering that Nia DaCosta appears to still be on relatively solid terms with Marvel Studios, I’d honestly love for her to receive an opportunity to helm a film in her way. She’s a gifted director, who can certainly tell an entertaining story if given the space to do so. However, I can also understand why she may not want to jump back into that comic book-birthed sandbox. DaCosta has also been quite busy as of late, as she helmed the recently released drama film Hedda and the upcoming 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

Whether DaCosta rejoins the fray or not, it makes me smile to know there are no harsh feelings between her and Marvel. That aside, I’m also feeling a bit of envy knowing that she was able to make her way to the Avengers set courtesy of Kevin Feige. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall for the conversations that likely took place amongst those collaborators.

Many secrets will surely be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 amid the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, stream Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels using a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga has been bumpy in certain places, but its conclusion is set to be a grand sight to behold. Collectively, the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will serve as the conclusion to this chapter of the MCU. Few specific plot details are known about the movies, though it’s been said that they’ll have multiversal ramifications. Producer Kevin Feige recently teased the upcoming Secret Wars, saying that it won’t be about “endings” like Endgame was.

Avengers: Endgame marked the end of an era in the MCU, with certain characters taking their final bows and others moving towards greater prominence. While the Marvel movie’s ending may be somewhat divisive in some circles, a number of Endgame reviews were quite positive. Many hailed it as a satisfying conclusion to the massive story arc that began with 2008’s Iron Man. When it comes to the sixth Avengers movie, Kevin Feige discussed how Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić’s 2015 Secret Wars run will inform the story:

2015’s Secret Wars is a massive story that marks the destruction of various universes across the multiverse. At the center of the story is Doctor Doom, who steals power from the Beyonders and creates a Battleworld (a place made up of a collection of Earths) of his own. He’s eventually overthrown, however, by Reed Richards and more. Surely, as with every MCU production, the 2027 movie of the same name will differ from the source material. Yet, as Kevin Feige told members of the press (via Variety), one element will remain the same:

It’s true that SW did mark the beginning of a new era in Marvel Comics. While some universes were destroyed, others were changed. Most notably, even Miles Morales (Spider-Man) and his allies were integrated into the main Earth-616 universe continuity. (Don’t expect Miles to join the MCU soon, though, per Kevin Feige). So, if anything, the film version will more so reset the board in the cinematic universe, so to speak, than it will usher in the end of long-running storylines and characters.

Of course, fans still have plenty of time before Secret Wars arrives in theaters. There is, after all, the matter of Doomsday, which will see Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their allies taking on Doctor Doom. Robert Downey Jr. is set to play the iconic comic book villain and, based on all accounts, Downey is really committing to crafting the role. At this point, I’m eager to get a few more small plot details on the film, though I wouldn’t expect specifics on how young Franklin Richards will figure into the story.

What I’m ultimately hoping for with both Avengers films, though, is that they provide cohesive narratives that enhance the MCU, genuine catharsis and of course, some excellent spectacle. Fans will be able to see the scope of Kevin Feige and co.’s plans when Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, 2026, and Secret Wars arrives on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, stream Marvel movies using a Disney+ subscription.

Warning: spoilers for Superman are in play!

In an alternate universe, the 2025 movie triumph known as Superman may have been overseen by Marvel Studios mastermind Kevin Feige. However, we live in the world where writer/director James Gunn is running the show, providing an adaptation that only the Guardians of the Galaxy helmer could.

Though Feige’s attempted DC hiring never went through, the man does have some notes on what he’s hoping to see in an upcoming DC movie. Reading through what he has in mind, I'd swear the man was reading my notes.

Kevin Feige Wants To See Bizarro In The DCU, And Don’t We All?

Speaking with EW, Mr. Gunn was able to chat about the similarities between the Superman clone Ultraman (both played by David Corenswet) and another, very specific DC villain. As it turns out, this baddie is exactly who Kevin Feige is hoping to see in the hypothetical future, with James Gunn revealing that information thusly:

To think that Mr. Feige and myself shared some similar thoughts walking away from Superman’s climactic ending is kinda cool. Then again, how can anyone not want Bizarro to show up in an entry of this franchise’s latest reboot, when James Gunn is at the wheel? He clearly loves working with characters people might see as “freaks,” and turning them into greater narrative foils.

That point in particular is something that shines in further remarks the Superman director provided in connection to some interesting details. You might be surprised with what we saw, and didn't see, in Ultraman's big screen debut.

James Gunn Cut Some Of Ultraman’s ‘Sadder’ Story Beats, And I’m Kind Of Bummed

I must preface the next remarks from James Gunn with the caveat that we don’t know that Ultraman will become Bizarro. That’s a pet theory of mine, and there’s compelling evidence to look over in Superman; especially for folks looking to revisit it in theaters, or through the eventual HBO Max subscription debut. With that in mind, here’s more from Mr. Gunn on how Ultraman’s role changed:

I know we’ve already got Creature Commandos’ complicated Eric Frankenstein representing Mary Shelley’s tale of bioethics and hubris. Which, if we're being honest, already seems to be shaping up as a driving narrative for DCU Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters.

Having acknowledged that, I wouldn’t be opposed to an upcoming superhero movie that explores Ultraman's potential transformation into Bizarro, reckoning with his tragic status as a “defective” copy of Kal-El. It'd also be the ultimate test of Superman's powers and kindness, watching how he handles his alternate self's potential new identity.

We still saw some of that story play out in Superman, but these notes have me thinking that this could be the main thread of the more immediate sequels to follow. Kevin Feige is probably thinking the same thing about now, so can you really argue with this pitch? If you want to re-examine Ultraman’s storyline through these new remarks, you can still travel up, up, and away with Clark Kent at a theater near you.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a behemoth franchise, one that's constantly producing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Harrison Ford recently joined the fun with Captain America: Brave New World, taking on the role of Thaddeus Ross from late actor William Hurt. The A-lister was recently asked if he's returning to that role in upcoming Marvel movies, and offered a one-word answer.

Captain America 4 struggled at the box office, and starred Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson as the new Cap. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have been wondering about what's next for Ross, and in a recent interview with Variety Ford was asked if Kevin Feige has convinced him to return to the MCU. his answer was short and sweet, stating:

Talk about on brand. Ford isn't known for mincing words, so he was honest about the lack of plans for him to return to the MCU. But given the fact that the studio is currently in the midst of filming Avengers: Doomsday, perhaps it's just a matter of timing. Fingers crossed.

Ford has some big shoes to fill when he joined the MCU, but the Star Wars icon brought his signature charisma to the role. On top of playing Thaddeus Ross, he also got to hulk out as the Red Hulk for the movie's final action sequence. And yes, it was pretty epic.

The ending of Captain America: Brave New World saw Ross imprisoned in The Raft after the events of the film. But there was a silver lining, as he finally reunited with his daughter Betty (Liv Tyler). We'll just have to wait and see if/when this long-standing character reappears in the shared universe.

As a character Ross has appeared in a ton of movies across the MCU timeline, starting with 2008's The Incredible Hulk and then returning for Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame, and Black Widow. As such, Harrison Ford's possible return in the role seems pretty inevitable. There's just always a reason for the long-standing character to pop back up.

Harrison Ford's one-word response about his Marvel future is super on brand for the actor, whose interest in major franchises is always in juxtaposition to the fans. He's been fielding questions about Star Wars for decades now, and the same is likely going to happen with the MCU until the time that Ross is written off for good.

Sine Captain America 4 failed to perform critically and financially, only time will tell if a fifth movie is green lit. The MCU has had peaks and valleys since Endgame, so the pressure is on for the next Avengers movies to reset things.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll have to wait and see if/when Ford pops back up again.

In this day and age, we live in a world where Marvel surrounds us. Whether it is upcoming Marvel movies or maybe upcoming Marvel TV shows, there’s a lot to look forward to in the MCU. But I have to admit something to you all – I’m a little concerned about the future of Marvel after what Kevin Feige just said regarding recasting old heroes.

I’m the kind of person who really loves new ideas and stories, so revisiting old ones never really sat right with me. However, I want to get into the why in this article, so let’s dive deep.

It Has Been Hard To Adjust, But I've Been Liking The New Heroes

If you’re wondering what the quote was, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige spoke to Variety in July 2025 and said that eventually, they would “recast” characters like Tony Stark and Captain America. He compared it to other major franchises that recast roles as time goes on, like James Bond and Superman.

Recasting characters, in and of itself, is fine. I’m not going to be the person who gets up on her soapbox and says that we can’t recast characters at all. I know how the world works, and I’m not about to get cancelled for that.

But it’s the messaging behind it as well as what we’ve already established in this world. I’m not going to lie – it was hard to adjust to all the new heroes that we were given over the last couple of years, ever since Avengers: Endgame. There have been numerous changes in structure, as well as speculation about who will become the next big villain and who won’t. I have to admit, now that I’m here, I love the new heroes.

Thunderbolts* depicted depression so wonderfully and was one of the best MCU films in a long time, featuring some incredible acting and storytelling from several new and returning characters who played much larger roles within the MCU. I also love that older characters have gotten more chances to shine. I’m the biggest supporter of Wanda having her time in the sun and all of those kick-butt Scarlet Witch instances.

But when it comes to recasting those old heroes – the ones that we’ve grown so used to – it doesn’t feel great, I’ll tell you that.

Recasting The Old Heroes Within This MCU Feels Like A Huge Step Back

As I said in the section above, I’m not opposed to recasting overall. I don’t mind it if it’s done with intention, and it isn’t just an excuse to make more money off of a new character. We’ve had three different recasts of Spider-Man at this point, and everyone still debates who the best Spider-Man is. This is essentially how Hollywood works.

However, the issue I have with this kind of recasting is that it creates a singular universe. Sure, we have been made aware that there are millions of variants of the same character. We saw that at length, when it came to Loki. But at the same time, it feels like a stab in the back to recast a character when their stories have already come to an end.

This feels worse than bringing back Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. It feels like it somehow tarnishes the legacy of Tony Stark. The story of his character was complete, and honestly, we don’t need to see his character recast again in this same universe for us to love him still. He is, and will always be, Tony Stark.

So, the idea of recasting him – even if it is a long time away – feels like a slap in the face to those who not only love his interpretation of the character but also the story of him as a whole, with the movies we’ve watched. The same goes for Steve, Natasha, Thor – everyone.

How Are We Going to Explore New Characters and Stories If We're Revisiting the Same Ones?

This is something else that worries me. Do you know how many heroes are in the Marvel line-up? There are a ridiculous number. Hundreds, if not thousands. How are we going to explore new heroes if we keep looking at the ones everyone knows? How are we going to build new fan bases if we continue to focus on the characters that Marvel insists we do?

Let me tell you – I knew next to nothing about Ironheart, otherwise known as Riri Williams. I didn’t know who she was or what she stood for. But you want to know what turned me onto her? The Ironheart TV show was great. Now, I have a new favorite character. Would I have been able to experience that if the show had been featured around Tony? No, because it would have been the same character that we all already know.

Recasting characters takes away the chance to introduce new ones to the world. And in the world of Marvel, there are so many we could get into. Another character I ended up loving more this time around was Yelena, played by Florence Pugh. She’s become one of my favorites, but she didn’t appear until after Avengers: Endgame. If she had been around the same time as Natasha, she probably would have been overshadowed.

I want these characters to survive on their own, not to become just sidekicks to recast characters that we all already know.

What Does This Mean For The Multiverse? Is It Just Going To Forever Expand?

And this is the biggest thing – if we’re recasting characters within this MCU, what does that mean for the Marvel Multiverse as a whole? Are we recasting them as if they were variants from another planet, and that’s how they’re infused back into the story? Or are we just not bothering with that anymore and just throwing them right back into the ringer in order to take on the next big baddie?

I don’t know. To me, it sounds like this universe really is just never going to stop expanding, and now Marvel Studios might just be using this as an excuse to bring back these characters. That’s where this really suffers.

The only way to truly make this work is if they completely redo the entire universe. Start from the very beginning because then, there will be that exact distinction of who plays who and what universe we are in. If not, all of this sounds like a confusing mess.

Things like this really make me wonder what Marvel will do in the future. I’ve been an avid Marvel supporter over the last few years, particularly with some of their releases, from a personal favorite of mine, Agatha: All Along, to their latest release, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. But recasting these characters might be where I draw the line.

Only time will tell. I’m sure we’ll see more in the next Avengers film. Until then, I’ll enjoy my marathons of the Marvel movies in order and live in the good old days of simple movies and fewer multiverses.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, one that constantly releases new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While OG fans have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order, the younger generations weren't alive to were very young when it all began with Iron Man in 2008. That was the case for Kevin Feige's son, who just got invested in the MCU through an unexpected entry point.

While the hardcore fandom is constantly hoping for details about upcoming Marvel movies, Feige's son wasn't historically tht passionate. In a conversation with The Wrap, the studio head said he merely "feigned interest in a supportive way”, although that changed with the video game Marvel Rivals. He explained how that online game changed his son's perspective, offering:

Rather than getting into the MCU as a result of his famous father, it sounds like the younger Feige had to find his nerdiness organically. So instead of watching the shared universe's TV and move content, Mr. Feige's son's entry point was actually Marvel Rivals. And as someone who actively plays that game myself, I don't blame him.

Marvel Rivals was released back in December, and features a big ensemble of villains and heroes from the comics. The game, which is free to play, is a multiversal story that isn't necessarily tied to the events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although you can purchase skins for characters that are tied to costumes from titles like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Thunderbolts*, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and more.

While Kevin Feige's son started asking about Marvel characters thanks to playing Rivals, some of the most popular ones haven't even made their way into the MCU so far. Jeff The Land Shark is a major character in the game, as are other favorites like Squirrel Girl and Luna Snow. Of course, the game also features some of the most popular Marvel characters like Iron Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Scarlet Witch, and more.

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall during these conversations between father and son, nerding out over character from Marvel history. It sounds like Feige's son might be primarily playing as Hela and Punisher, but maybe he's got a new man nowadays... especially after dipping his toes into MCU programming. Personally I primarily use Invisible Woman, Mantis, and Psylocke.

Marvel Rivals is available to play now for free, although there are in-game purchases available. The next installment in the MCU is The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25th as part of the 2025 movie release list. And that quartet of playable heroes is expected to get MCU-inspired skins in Rivals shortly.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a giant machine, one that's constantly releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Because of this, there are countless questions and fan theories about upcoming Marvel movies. One of these lingering queries is if/when Miles Morales will show up in live-action in the MCU, and now Kevin Feige has gotten honest about whether or not this will happen.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen Tom Holland's wildly successful run as Peter Parker, as well as the Oscar-winning success of the animated Spider-Verse movies. While speaking at a press conference (via THR), Feige got real about whether or not we'll see Miles pop up in a live-action upcoming Spider-Man movie. He said:

That was certainly honest. And while I appreciate Feige's candor, this update is sure to be a disappointing one for comic book fans who are dying to see Peter Parker and Miles Morales share the screen together. Instead, it looks like the only type of crossovers we'll see will be between the three Spider-Man actors.

This update is sure to disappoint the many fans of Miles Morales out there. On top of the comics and the Spider-Verse movies, the character also became a playable character in Playstation's Spider-Man video games. This web slinger has never been more popular, which is why fans have been hoping to see him and Tom Holland's Peter Parker together on the big screen. Alas, it doesn't look like we should hold our collective breath for this to happen anytime soon.

While this comment by Feige is a definite bummer, it makes a ton of sense. Because while Sony's live-action Spider-Man universe has been struggling for years, Phil Lord and Chris Miller's animated franchise has been wildly successful. So why would they want to give away their lead character to go join the MCU sandbox?

The Spider-Verse franchise is going to continue with a third movie, titled Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. While that title isn't expected to hit theaters until 2027, fan interest is high after the twist ending of Across the Spider-Verse. In the final moments of the 2023 movie, Miles ends up in an alternate universe, one where his father died and his Uncle Aaron is alive. The protagonist comes face to face with a variant of himself, one that's The Prowler instead of Spider-Man.

What we know about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is super limited, but it appears that moviegoers shouldn't hold out hope that Miles will appear. Let's just hope that we eventually get a live-action version of the character... even if we have to wait for the animated Spider-Verse franchise to end.

Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is expected to hit theaters on June 25th, 2027, while Brand New Day will arrive July 31, 2026. Since neither title is on the 2025 movie release list, fans will have to be patient.

The superhero genre has been dominating the entertainment industry for years, with a number of shared universes competing at the box office. DC co-CEO James Gunn is crafting a new one, thanks to projects in theaters and streaming with a Max subscription. The first movie Superman is killing it in theaters, and now Marvel boss Kevin Feige is giving the title its flowers... while also getting real about some MCU missteps.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will recall how Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker James Gunn pivoted over to DC. The latter shared universe's first slate of projects is titled Gods and Monsters, with Superman being the first entry for the big screen. While speaking with Variety about the state of the MCU, Feige offered his reaction to the new DC flick saying:

Points were made. Rather than a series of origin stories, the DCU's first movie installment dove in with a fully formed shared universe. Superman was able to bring audiences right into the action, while also doing a ton of setups for upcoming DC movies and TV shows. And that's largely thanks to the vision of James Gunn.

The success of Superman in theaters showed that audiences are still invested in the genre, despite concerns about superhero fatigue. In the same interview, Feige addressed this saying:

So if moviegoers are still interested in comic book projects, what's been happening at the MCU? There have been a number of missteps the years since Avengers: Endgame, including The Marvels bombing at the box office, and other disappointments like Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. There are also number of shows that were released to varying levels of success for those with a Disney+ subscription.

In his long interview with Variety, Kevin Feige addressed the MCU changing its release strategy in Phases Four and Five. After Endgame we were treated to a ton of content, both in theaters and on Disney+. The Marvel boss spoke about what happened, saying:

In the end, it looks like this was a huge learning experience for Feige and the rest of the powers that be at Marvel Studios. They're looking to pump the breaks on its pacing of content, especially regarding the live-action shows that go to Disney+. We'll just have to wait and see how fans react to this pivot in release strategy moving forward.

Feige seemingly admitted that the studio got in the sauce of producing and releasing as much content as possible, seemingly echoing concerns of fan fatigue. It should be interesting to see if the quality of future MCU projects rises as a result.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25th as part of the 2025 movie release list. The hype for that project is very real, especially as the team is expected to pop up in upcoming Marvel movies.

Almost a year ago, Marvel Studios left fans in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con (and fans who were not in attendance) shook when it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr. would play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. All of that came after Jonathan Majors was dropped from his role as Kang the Conqueror due to being tried and found guilty of multiple charges, including assault. I’ve been curious about the exact timeline of the switch from Kang to Doom and, now, Kevin Feige is providing some clarity on that front.

Kevin Feige Explains When Marvel Studios Shifted Away From Kang For Doom

It may be easy for some to infer one thing about Marvel Cinematic Universe’s transition from Kang the Conqueror as the Multiverse Saga’s Big Bad to Doctor Doom. The obvious assumption could be that the Doom idea was initiated in the aftermath of Jonathan Majors’ firing. However, I’d long wondered if that was definitely the case, and it seems it wasn’t. Kevin Feige recently took part in a wide-ranging discussion with news outlets, including THR, and he set the record straight on why Doom was brought into the picture:

So, as the Marvel Studios president laid out, the notion of getting Robert Downey Jr. to play Victor von Doom pre-dated Jonathan Majors’ legal entanglements. What I find particularly interesting is that these discussions apparently even came before Kang’s big-screen debut in 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. I have to say that I personally enjoyed Kang as a character and was curious to see how he and his variants would be a threat in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (which ultimately became Doomsday).

As much as I liked the concept of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes being in conflict with someone who was figuratively (and literally) in conflict with himself, I’m hopeful for the Doctor Doom plans. While that all continues to unfold, Jonathan Majors now finds himself in a very different professional space.

Where Did Jonathan Majors’ Kang Pop Up In The MCU, And Why Was The Actor Fired?

Jonathan Majors’ casting in the third Ant-Man film broke in late 2020, with many expressing curiosity about the then-rising actor reportedly taking on the role of Kang the Conqueror. From there, Majors made his MCU debut as a Kang variant named He Who Remains during Loki Season 1, and he later reprised that role and portrayed Victor Timely in Season 2. In addition to playing Kang in Quantumania, Majors also appeared as the variants Rama-Tut, Centurion and Immortus during the film’s mid-credits scene.

In April 2023, the Creed III star was arrested for assaulting his then-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, and the case eventually went to trial in November of that same year. The verdict was delivered in December 2023, with Majors being found guilty on a charge of reckless assault in the third degree and a charge of harassment as a violation. Also acquitted on a charge of assault and aggravated harassment, Majors was eventually sentenced to 52 weeks of probation and ordered to take part in a domestic violence intervention program.

Jonathan Majors has since revealed that he wrote a letter to Kevin Feige in the aftermath of the verdict coming down. Not only that, but Majors expressed interest in returning as Kang. Still, Feige and co. are now fully on track to bring Doctor Doom to life once more on the big screen. Regardless of how everything ultimately shakes out, I’m just glad to finally have some clarity regarding Doom’s entrance and Kang’s exit.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, 2026. While fans wait, they can stream other MCU movies as well as TV shows on Disney+.

The landscape of 2025 movies has been taken over by the punk rock kindness of Superman. That was made possible by the absolutely punk James Gunn finally accepting an assignment he seemed fated to take. While we know that Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 firing/rehiring, learning how is quite a ride - and the final stop involves details that even the man himself hadn’t recalled until a recent interview.

James Gunn Was Asked Back To Marvel… Right After He Accepted His First DC Movie

Sitting down with Dax Shephard’s Armchair Expert podcast, the co-CEO of DC Films set the scene for his current gig by recalling how he (temporarily) lost the last one. Sharing the first part of his story, Gunn explained how he landed in Warner Bros.’ comic universe in the first place, as follows:

Knowing that Mr. Gunn initially turned down Superman helps enrich this story on a whole, as does the fact that the Guardians trilogy helmer got to finish his MCU story. But that twist has its own consequence, as Alan Horn, the chairman of Walt Disney Studios at the time of the firing, wanted James Gunn back.

With one trusted mentor/collaborator back on his side, it was time to talk to the other - Kevin Feige. Though some consider what he had to say as predicting the future, I think something else was at work.

Kevin Feige’s Superman Crack Might Have Come From Some Personal DC Knowledge

At this point in the talk, James Gunn remembered something from that meeting with Kevin Feige that he hadn’t talked about, until now. Taking us into that talk he had with his then once and future boss, the man behind Creature Commandos continued that tale thusly:

Now call me crazy, but since DC tried to steal Kevin Feige before going with its Superman writer/director, I have a feeling that Supes was always going to be the foundation of the new DCU. There must have been an ask in the air, in order for the head of Marvel Studios to assume that James Gunn would be reviving Metropolis’ champion of truth and justice.

Of course, we may never know, as the two men who had this conversation probably wouldn’t share that. At least we know the story ended with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 being an emotional triumph, and the three men in question all probably having a laugh over how it all worked out.

We the audience have also won, as you can see the new Superman in theaters now. Or if you’ve already made a trip to Metropolis, you can always see how Supes shines in 3D/4DX, unless you don’t want to know what it feels like to be a Kryptonian.

There’s an old Earth saying that’s going to play pretty heavily into the story we’re about to discuss: “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” As the 2025 movie schedule hits Superman-o-clock this weekend, the DC/Marvel rivalry just might find itself refueled. On one hand this is great news for James Gunn; but on the other, it’s bad news for the folks that apparently tried to win Marvel Studios’ mastermind Kevin Feige over to what is now DC Films.

In a rundown that recaps Warner Bros.’ modern woes with its legendary comic movie brand, The Wall Street Journal shared a twist in the tale I somehow missed. Apparently in the fallout of Justice League’s tumultuous 2017 release, the top brass were convinced to take this course of action:

I think we can all see why those talks failed, but I would venture a guess that the never really perked up to any point of abundant hope either. At that point in his current tenure as the president of Marvel Studios, Mr. Feige was still on the hot streak leading up to Avengers: Endgame in 2019. For reference, in 2017 alone, the Marvel movies released were Spider-Man: Homecoming, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Thor: Ragnarok.

Moving over to DC Films would have been a lateral move with mammoth expectations. Whereas James Gunn's ascendance to DC Films co-CEO with producer Peter Safran is more of a promotion, as he only ran a corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It almost didn't happen, as James Gunn initially turned down Superman in favor of The Suicide Squad, but then had a change of heart. Which in turn led to the new DC movie that sees David Corenswet debuting as the Last Son of Krypton, and the potential hope for an ailing brand. That last could seem like a steep hill to climb, with the monetary height varying depending on who you talk to.

With an estimated production budget of $225 million, Gunn has dismissed $700 million as the supposed target gross. Meanwhile, the report cited above has the expectations of Warner Bros.’ boardroom set at a more modest $500 million. Which could be buoyed by HBO Max subscription holders enjoying Peacemaker and The Suicide Squad looking forward to what Mr. Gunn has to show them this time.

If we were in that parallel universe where Kevin Feige pulled a Joss Whedon-style defection, that budget might have been higher - as well as the expectations. The good news is that it’s been so long since the Justice League debacle that Superman has a legit shot of crossing that $500 million threshold.

Of course the bad news is that all of the flameouts that preceded the opening entry to DCU Chapter 1: “Gods and Monsters” might still be clouding people’s minds; despite James Gunn offering this storied brand a fresh coat of paint. We’ll see how Truth, Justice, and the Kryptonian way play out at the box office this weekend, as the new superhero movie Superman is currently showing in theaters.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly producing new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and its properties it finally opened the door for Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool to join the fun... but it took years before Deadpool & Wolverine hit theaters (and broke records). And the character's creator Rob Liefeld recently offered a Kevin Feige-related explanation for why fans were left waiting for so long.

Prior to its release, Deadpool & Wolverine was one of the most hotly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies hitting theaters. So it might be surprising that it took the studio so long to actually green light the threequel. During an appearance on the Millar Time podcast, Liefeld made some allegations about why Marvel dragged its feet in this regard. In his words:

Well, that's definitely one explanation for how things went down with Deadpool. While we should treat this as a rumor for the time being (especially since Liefeld doesn't like Feige), but it could offer some context into what was reportedly happening in the studio. Because it was strange how many years it took before Deadpool & Wolverine finally started production.

Liefeld's story might be conjecture, but he does offer some solid points. After all, there have been a number of MCU movies that have failed in the years since Avengers: Endgame hit theaters and became the highest grossing movie of all time. For example, The Marvels was a box office flop, while other titles like Ant-Man 3 struggled as well.

In addition to titles that struggled at the box office, other titles like Eternals and Thor: Love and Thunder failed to resonate with audiences. The pressure was likely on at the studio, and Deadpool & Wolverine's success came at the perfect time. So that part of Liefeld's allegations about Kevin Feige seems logical.

Given how much audiences turned out to see Deadpool 3, I have to assume that we'll be seeing Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in their roles sometime in the future. While they weren't listed in Avengers: Doomsday's cast announcement, fans are definitely hoping to see them finally join the Avengers franchise.

The Deadpool franchise is streaming on Disney+ now, and the next MCU movie hitting theaters is The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25th as part of the 2025 movie release list.

Secrets are waiting out there, in the dark of the 2025 movie schedule. Tons of new films are heading our way, with their own gigantic reveals that studios are taking great lengths to hide until those very projects debut at a theater near us. But in a recent interview pertaining to Thunderbolts*’ big Fantastic Four tease, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has said something so mindboggling it’s raised more questions than answers.

Kevin Feige’s Comments On That Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Tag Are Puzzling

Empire Magazine was on hand for last year’s Fantastic Four set visit, and in its July 2025 issue, the publication shared what they’d learned during that walkthrough. This is where these enigmatic statements about Thunderbolts*’ post-credits tag originated. You may want to have a pillow on hand for screaming, as here’s what Mr. Feige had to say:

I’m not gonna lie, that’s a bit frustrating; and that’s coming from someone who already has enough frustrations with Thunderbolts*. Just when I was starting to forget that Bucky and Sam Wilson are now having a fight over the Avengers branding, this had to happen.

Ok, fine, Kevin Feige, I’ll play your game. Let’s assume this isn’t one big troll, like *The New Avengers title reveal. If that’s the case, let’s start asking some questions.

If That’s Not The Fantastic Four’s Ship, Then Whose Is It?

So if that tease at the end of Thunderbolts* isn’t meant to directly tie the First Family of Superheroes in from their universe in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, who the hell is on that ship?

I’m presuming that the only people who know that besides Kevin Feige himself are the creative team on Avengers: Doomsday, considering The Russo Brothers directed this cryptic scene. That fact itself leads me to two big guesses, and neither are good news.

Did We Just See Doctor Doom Heading To Earth-616?

My first theory is that this Reed Richards-designed spacecraft is carrying none other than Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. Whether he’s looking to conquer our universe or purposefully exiled into it, this harbinger of MCU disaster could be zooming towards Earth-616.

And that, my friends, is how you get Doomsday.

Could This Ship Be A Lifeboat For Franklin Richards?

If we’re going to double down on unintended parallels to the Superman mythos, what if this ship is carrying young Franklin Richards, son of Reed and Sue Storm? With rumors that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will see the team’s world devoured by Galactus, as well as some of the supposedly leaked art from Doomsday seeing Vanessa Kirby’s MCU hero unwillingly sitting at the side of a triumphant Doctor Doom, this could have been the only play to save their child.

Is Kevin Feige Just Trolling Us?

Look, I hate to be that guy, but Kevin Feige loves to muddy the waters of speculation as much as he fancies baseball caps. Even Gizmodo’s reporting on this Thunderbolts* post-credits kerfluffle knows it. So with that in mind, could the MCU’s head honcho be trying to throw us off the scent of something so obvious? Again, this is coming after *The New Avengers mind game that proved “the asterisk” really wasn't the world's biggest deal.

I wouldn’t be surprised if any of these scenarios were true, because all things are possible in the Multiverse. So I guess I’ll just sit here patiently and wait for The Fantastic Four: First Steps to arrive on July 25th, as that will more than likely have the answers we’re seeking. At least there’s a pretty sweet H.E.R.B.I.E. Concession Vessel that’ll help tide us all over in the meantime.

The X-Men have been referenced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on more than a few occasions in recent years. However, Charles Xavier and his band of mutants have yet to take center stage in their own film set within the continuity. That’ll eventually change, though, as there are apparently big plans for the beloved characters. Marvel Studios’ upcoming flick centered around the mutants has already garnered some attention from filmmakers, including Deadpool director Tim Miller, who’s apparently already reached out to Kevin Feige.

Back 2016, when Tim Miller – along with Ryan Reynolds and so many more hard-working creatives – gifted the world Deadpool, they effectively brought the Merc with a Mouth to life. Miller definitely made an impression on the superhero genre with that film, though I also love how enthusiastic is when it comes to the MCU’s X-Men movie. In addition to sharing his hype with The Hollywood Reporter, Miller also explained how he was able to shoot his shot for the highly anticipated production:

The notion of Tim Miller getting the opportunity to direct a movie starring Marvel’s famous mutants is exciting to me. Yes, some may bring up the fact that he also helmed the panned 2019 legacy sequel Terminator: Dark Fate. However, his work on Deadpool shows he has a keen understanding of comic book thrills and, given his work as a visual effects artist, he could surely dream up some incredible sequences for his film.

Of course, Wade Wilson’s adventures are a lot more bombastic (and violent) than those of Professor X and co. Yet Tim Miller’s work as creator and EP on the animated anthology series Love, Death & Robots makes me confident that he can help develop layered stories for the characters. Miller’s also one who doesn’t mind taking chances when it comes to storytelling and, as he told THR he was working on a wild-sounding spinoff of the X-Men films (which are streamable with a Disney+ subscription), before the Fox merger:

Slowly but surely, Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige has been sharing more details about when the X-Men are joining the MCU in earnest. In November 2024, Feige hinted that the characters would indeed become power players before the end of the Multiverse Saga. That proved to be true as, in March, it was confirmed that multiple mutant characters would play roles in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Notably, though, these seem to be variants of the characters introduced in the OG films and not newer incarnations.

It’s hard to say when newer variants of the X-Men played by a fresh cast will appear in the MCU, but I’m excited to see it happen. Clearly, Tim Miller is as well, considering the fact that he reached out to Kevin Feige. Reports have suggested that Thunderbolts* helmer Jake Schreier is being eyed for the job, but at the very least, I hope Miller receives consideration. In the meantime, it’s fun to imagine what lies ahead movie-wise for one of the most beloved superhero teams in the history of comic books.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always adding new content, thanks to projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The latest title to hit the big screen is Thunderbolts*, which performed well at the box office and with critics. That movie was directed by Jake Schreier, who recently revealed the three words of advice that Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige gave him.

Ahead of its release, Thunderbolts* was one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies, thanks to its connections to previous movies and TV shows. But Kevin Feige wanted to bring something unique to the shared universe, especially for those of us who have sent years watching the Marvel movies in order. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the director revealed the valuable, (albeit brief) advice that the studio head offered. As he put it:

Well, mission accomplished. Thunderbolts* stood in opposition to superhero fatigue, thanks to its unique tone, motley crew of antiheroes, and surprisingly grounded story about depression. So it sounds like Schreier took Feige's advice to heart when working on the recent blockbuster.

The MCU has had peaks and valleys in the time since Avengers: Endgame hit theaters and changed everything. While projects like Deadpool & Wolverine broke records, there were also less successful ventures like The Marvels bombing at the box office. The pressure was on for Schreier to deliver with Thunderbolts*, but that's exactly what he did.

Kevin Feige's make a great deal of sense to me as someone who has watched every new movie from the MCU. I've found that the projects with something unique to say tend to be better, and end up higher on the Marvel movies ranked. Some prime examples of this would be the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and (most recently) Deadpool 3.

On top of telling a contained story about mental health struggles, Jake Schreier's MCU blockbuster will also influence future projects coming down the line. Thunderbolts* post credits scene teased the entrance of the Fantastic Four, while the movie' final moments revealed that the team is actually the New Avengers.

The starring cast of Thunderbolts* was included in Marvel's cast announcement for Avengers: Doomsday, so it's clear that we're going to see this motley crew of antiheroes facing whatever multiversal chaos follows in the next two Avengers movies. And it should be fun to see how they interact with the likes of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, as well as the X-Men and Fantastic Four. The crossover with the latter team is already basically a sure thing, and I've go to assume it'll make way for plenty of comedic beats.

Thunderbolts* is still in theaters now and Fantastic Four: First Steps will follow suit in July 25th as part of the 2025 movie release list. As for the crossover, that'll begin next summer.

Disney is looking for a reset with its upcoming Marvel movies. The latest flick Thunderbolts* came out this weekend, and while the MCU ensemble film is getting positive reviews, its projected opening still falls beneath many of Marvel’s most beloved projects. The company once felt untouchable, churning out multiple films a year that garnered crowds and built off of each other. After the major success of Avengers: Endgame however, the storytelling style grew more confusing. Adding mediocre Disney+ shows into the mix made everything feel even more bogged down. Apparently, corporate strategy is to blame, and three words can be credited for Marvel running in one direction.

Many people have wondered why Kevin Feige and co. made so many Disney+ shows mistakes in the wake of Endgame, and now we seemingly have an answer. The man who has been the creative force behind the MCU for over 15 years was reportedly directed by Disney CEO Bob Iger to prioritize expanding the MCU once streaming content made for audiences with a Disney+ subscription became a priority. "Expansion, expansion, expansion” became the motto that Iger bandied about in this era. The three words that then guided the more recent MCU?

Per the Wall Street Journal, Feige, wanting to be a “good corporate citizen,” obliged.

What The Disney+ Expansion Meant For Marvel Audiences

The streaming landscape grew convoluted as a result of this back-and-forth between Iger and Feige. Secret Invasion was absolutely panned by critics. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law did better in reviews, but still was heavily criticized for feeling unfinished. Even shows that garnered good reviews like Ms. Marvel, had poor viewership because there was simply "too much Marvel content" leading up to its release.

As a result, some people who were previously fans weren’t tuning in, and the mass amount of material and “expansion” of the universe felt like homework for many in order to understand the next film. The Ms. Marvel example is a great example of this. Few people saw the Disney+ series, so when Iman Vellani was re-introduced in The Marvels, there was a lot of backstory left to impart. The movie lost money.

While this seems like a simple explanation for dwindling audiences and sometimes poor quality -- and something easy for Marvel to point to that can be fixed with a different approach -- I’d argue there's more at play here. Marvel may be pulling back on their output, but they don’t really seem to be adjusting the tone.

The “joke, joke, action scene, plot information scene, joke, joke,” script structure and format that worked for years just isn’t working anymore. Every movie sounds exactly the same, and the characters all talk similarly. How much of that ties into Feige's input remains to be seen.

There was something refreshing and charming about the Robert Downey Jr. sarcasm and charm infused in the early Marvel films, but Marvel seems to be taking this and applying it to every movie and character. I think this is becoming tired, and leading to a “seen one, seen them all” mentality.

What's Next For Marvel?

Nevertheless, Marvel is at least scaling back. The studio is still releasing several projects in 2025, with three being films on the 2025 movie release calendar. However, going forward there's not as much planned, with the focus being mainly Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

As for a tonal shift, I doubt this is on the horizon, especially with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the franchise as Doctor Doom in the slated new Avengers films. I guess we'll just have to see if limiting expansion will be enough to win back Marvel’s once loyal audience.

Ok, cards on the table: I haven’t seen Thunderbolts* yet. I know, as someone who covers the 2025 movie schedule regularly, it’s important to keep on top of everything; but in all fairness, my screening invite was at a bad time. So much like you opening day fun seekers, I’ve been avoiding the spoilers that people are putting out there about what “The Asterisk” means to the movie.

But as I eagerly await my chance to see if the claims from our Thunderbolts* review have any charge to them or not, I love watching the cast talk about the numerous theories. Especially because I think the one about Kevin Feige and his hat is actually correct in its own special way.

All Of Those Thunderbolts Theories Came Back To Haunt The Cast At The Premiere

During ET’s Thunderbolts premiere reel on Instagram, the cast was asked about their reads on what this provocative punctuation actually stood for. And in sharing these favorites, there were some pretty goofball answers, mixed in with some sly denials:

• “I do like the one where, you know when you misspell something on a text, and then you put [an] asterisk, like, ‘This is what I meant to say?’” - David Harbour
• “They’re all wrong. Probably. Although some people are pretty good.” - Sebastian Stan
• “That’s because we’re the special best team.” - Wyatt Russell

Special credit would have to go to MCU vet Florence Pugh though, as she plays off the question with silence and amused looks. Seeing as David Harbour and Wyatt Russell’s remarks on Doomsday media training reinforce just how tight-lipped this franchise can be, you can tell that this is another “special best team” of spoiler savers.

However, this leads to a Kevin Feige theory so out there, it kind of circles back around to being back in the ballpark. And while I'm not willing to bet my Disney+ subscription on this being correct, what I'm about to talk out is surely a lot of fun.

I Think Lewis Pullman Is Onto Something With His Kevin Feige Hat Theory

I have to hand it to the editor of this clip, because whether it was by coincidence or planning, a wider theory presented itself. Starting with the actor playing Sentry, er “Bob,” this chain of Thunderbolts* feels like it could add up to something; but judge for yourself:

• “I heard that it was there because Kevin just loves wearing a hat with an asterisk on it. And I don’t know if that’s not ‘not true.’ ” - Lewis Pullman
• “Oh, was it an ink mark? Was it a spludge? Was it ah…who knows? Gotta wait and see, everybody.” - Hannah John-Kamen
• “Stay seated at the end of the movie. Just stay sat.” - Geraldine Viswanathan
• “The asterisk is…OHHHHHHHHH!” - Wendell Pierce

We all know how much Kevin Feige loves his baseball caps promoting upcoming MCU movies. Those fashion statements have become a signature that lets you know what’s on deck, and what to expect. But ever since Feige’s 2024 SDCC panel announced the presence of “The Asterisk,” everyone’s been wondering what it stands for.

Cue several cast members hyping up the need to see the film to fully decode this mystery, and you’ve got a recipe for an ad campaign that runs itself. Complete with a hat that Mr. Feige may love to wear, if only because it forces people to ask questions, and marketing that prompts a very special history lesson from the Thunderbolts*:

As some think that Marvel Studios has entered a slump, this is the sort of excitement one would hope could recharge the batteries. But of course, there are some who already know the answer to this big question after last night’s early fan screenings; and news travels quickly.

So if you want to get in on the action before it becomes too loud, go see Thunderbolts* at your earliest convenience. And if you do already know the answer…why not go see it anyway? The action looks cool, the dialogue is witty, and it has a Lewis Pullman character named “Bob.” What’s not to like?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe may be the gold standard when it comes to movie franchises. Numerous other film franchises have tried, and most have failed, to copy the success of the company's first few phases. Meanwhile, Disney’s other big global franchise Star Wars has had more ups and downs on its path to sucess. Now Lucasfilm’s creative chief Dave Filoni says he is taking "inspiration" from the MCU and Kevin Feige.

Following Rosario Dawson and more appearing at Star Wars Celebration in Japan, we have a lot more visibility into what’s going on in the world of upcoming Star Wars movies and TV series. Speaking with ScreenRant, Lucasfilm CCO Dave Filoni admits that building the franchise with multiple projects in development at once is “tricky” which only makes him more impressed with what Kevin Feige was able to do with the MCU. He said…

The Marvel Cinematic Universe was certainly unlike anything that had been attempted before. The first set of movies, a collection of superhero origin stories that then came together in The Avengers, was something entirely new, and the franchise only ballooned from there. While many have argued the MCU has struggled recently, on the whole, there’s still nothing quite like it.

Star Wars certainly tried to do something like its own version of the MCU. In the years since Disney bought Lucasfilm, we have seen the number of Star Wars movies in existence nearly double, with numerous Disney+ series in addition. However, even Disney has sometimes admitted that Star Wars has grown too fast. Clearly, what worked for Marvel didn’t work perfectly here.

Part of the reason the MCU model doesn’t fit perfectly with Star Wars has to due with a greatly expanded timeline. However, while Star Wars franchise growth may go differently, Filoni is clearly looking at the MCU as inspiration that something like that can be done with the galaxy far, far away. He continued…

With multiple Star Wars movies in development that now seem likely to actually happen, and even more shows on the horizon (you'll be able to access with a Disney+ subscription), the franchise is certainly looking to expand at a fast rate. Star Wars is certainly hoping to find success on par with Marvel’s high point, whether that will happen remains to be seen.

While it was Dune’s NSFW popcorn bucket that really helped put the movie theater trend on the map, Marvel has had a slew of really cool releases in recent years, including the Captain America: Brave New World shield popcorn bucket, which Anthony Mackie was even a huge proponent of. As it turns out, he’s not the only person affiliated with Marvel who’s into the popcorn bucket trend, as Kevin Feige slipped in a tidbit at CinemaCon 2025 that definitely made me very happy.

When speaking about Avengers: Doomsday going into production this month, the head honcho of upcoming Marvel films admitted he too maintains a collection of the perky plastic souvenirs.

He’s not the only popcorn bucket enthusiast. Disney fans are known to wait in long AF lines for certain buckets, and Timothèe Chalamet admitted he owns a version of that aforementioned Dune bucket. There’s a rumor running around that even Tom Cruise is fully embracing the wave and has plans to introduce a Mission: Impossible –The Final Reckoning bucket that will be a standout. But the more people champion these buckets, the more interesting I hope they get.

To note, this isn’t the first time Feige has referenced a popcorn bucket at CinemaCon. Last year, he mentioned Deadpool & Wolverine would be getting one (though he did not mention his own collection at the time). At some point during production, Reynolds caught wind of the viral Dune bucket and the Marvel team ended up totally pivoting. What we got was an equally lewd bucket, with Feige saying at the time:

I'd be willing to bet that's one Feige has in his collection. Sure, not all of these popcorn buckets are created equally, but insofar as trends go, the creativity of some of these is excellent, and it doesn’t wholly surprise me that Feige might have some in his own home. As someone who’s worked in movies for years, I’ve amassed a quantity of merch that is not for the faint of heart. I can’t imagine how much stuff is passed along to you if you are the head of a studio, as Feige is.

Anyway, the Marvel head honcho appeared via video during CinemaCon 2025’s Disney Panel, and he also shared a tidbit about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film that is worth sharing again here. The movie has gone into production, but despite that gargantuan, hours-long announcement a few days ago, Feige also noted “not all who joined the film” had been listed at the time.

Avengers: Doomsday is coming in 2026, and it will feature a stacked cast. Last week, 27 actors were announced for the upcoming Marvel movie, including several players from the original X-Men movies. Normally 27 prominent actors in any movie would be astounding, but for Marvel Studios, this was just the opening Doomsday salvo. Following Robert Downey Jr.’s tease of more names to come, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed there will indeed be other Doomsday castings revealed at a later date. Now my fingers are crossed that two MCU characters in particular will be part of that group.

Feige shared this information in a video that was presented during the Disney panel at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. With principal photography set to start in a few days, the executive said:

Now it should be noted that several other characters have been reported to appear in Avengers: Doomsday beyond the official 27, including Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter, as well as Chris Evans in an undisclosed role. But there are plenty of other characters who still have question marks stamped on them, and it’s hard to say how many will be revealed ahead of the Doomsday’s release or saved for the movie itself. Personally, I’m hoping that Monica and Maria Rambeau are added to the group.

The Marvels end-credits scene showed that after closing the rupture between realities created during the battle with Dar-Benn, Monica Rambeau woke up in another corner of the Marvel multiverse. In this universe, her mother is still alive and is the superhero Binary, though she never gave birth to her own daughter. She’s also affiliated with the mutant scientist Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, who mentioned Professor X, confirming that a version of the X-Men exist in this universe.

Since Kelsey Grammer is set to reprise Beast in Avengers: Doomsday, here’s what I’m thinking: the X-Men characters appearing in the movie hail from this universe where Monica Rambeau ended up rather than the original Fox universe. If I’m correct about this, then it would be weird if Monica and Maria didn’t appear. Maria’s already affiliated with the X-Men and Monica will likely follow in her footsteps, so there’s no reason to keep them on the sidelines.

Our own Sarah El-Mahmoud speculated that most of Avengers: Doomsday will be set in this other universe, and it won’t be until the very end that Monica will make contact with Captain Marvel in the Sacred Timeline to warn her about Doctor Doom, setting the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars. Even if this theory doesn’t end up being accurate, and even if I’m wrong about the type of X-Men will see in Doomsday, I want to see Monica back in action and how Maria does as Binary. Hopefully she fares better than the Maria who was Captain Marvel in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Whatever ends up happening with this, I’m looking forward to Avengers: Doomsday’s release on May 1, 2026. Just like Infinity War and Endgame did for The Infinity Saga, Doomsday and Secret Wars will bring The Multiverse Saga to a close, so the more cast members that can get in on this epic two-parter, the better.

Spoiler Alert for the first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again.

Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again finally hit the 2025 TV schedule, (available streaming with a Disney+ subscription), but for longtime fans of the Netflix era of the show, the experience has been bittersweet. One of the biggest heartbreaks, leaving viewers traumatized, is the fate of Matt Murdock’s best friend and legal partner, Foggy Nelson. In a shocking moment, the beloved character is killed in the show's opening minutes, and while we’re still sad about how it played out, Elden Henson himself has taken it all in stride, even joking about it with fans.

Elden Henson Responds to Foggy’s Fate

During a recent fan encounter, the Daredevil actor again proved why he’s such a fan favorite. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), a fan shared details of their interaction with Henson at a recent Con, noting that when asked why Foggy met such an untimely demise, the actor quipped:

Of course, the Idle Hands actor doesn’t know why Foggy met such an abrupt end, but that didn’t stop him from coming up with a hilarious off-set explanation. The Butterfly Effect veteran also understands the frustration surrounding Foggy’s sudden and brutal exit. He added:

That’s not what happened (as far as we know), but it’s a fantastic way for the former The Mighty Ducks star to poke fun at his Daredevil exit while keeping things lighthearted. It's hard not to chuckle imagining the Marvel Studios president holding a grudge over a parking lot mishap.

What Happened to Foggy Nelson In the Show

We were all super excited to see Elden Henson return to his iconic role, but then Bullseye took him out just minutes into the first episode of Born Again. It really cements this show as Disney's most violent one yet. I’ll admit, when the showrunner first bragged about the violence, I was skeptical, but after watching the first two episodes, I totally get it.

Characters like Matt Murdock and Kingpin have been given space to grow and evolve within the MCU. Foggy—who was the heart of Nelson and Murdock—was barely given a moment to shine before being killed off.

Many fans, like myself, had hoped that Foggy’s return would mark a significant comeback for the character, but instead, his presence served only to set the stage for Matt’s latest story arc. While Born Again is meant to be a fresh take on the Daredevil saga, it’s hard to ignore the void left by Foggy’s absence.

Could We See Foggy Return?

Interestingly, there is a precedence for Foggy dying in the comics, only for it to be revealed to have been him faking his death–actually, a few times. Here are some of the times Mr. Nelson has pretended to be six feet under:

• In Daredevil (1998) #82, Foggy Nelson looks like he’s been stabbed to death during a visit with Matt Murdock in prison. But guess what? Vanessa Fisk puts him in witness protection as part of her revenge plan against Daredevil and the Kingpin.
• After Matt Murdock told everyone he was Daredevil, Foggy's life got dangerous. With their law firm in the crosshairs, Leap-Frog came after them. To keep Foggy safe, Daredevil faked his death with an explosion in DAREDEVIL (2014) #5 by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee.
• When Daredevil and Elektra got back together to reform an ancient group called the Fist, Foggy got killed and was eventually resurrected as a spy for their enemies, the Hand. In DAREDEVIL (2022) #13, Daredevil went to the afterlife to bring Foggy back. With a fresh start, Foggy teamed up with ex-detective Cole North to launch Nelson & North Legal Services.

Though I have a hard time believing Foggy of Daredevil: Born Again faked his death, with the MCU constantly evolving and Marvel Studios known for surprise resurrections (hello, Loki!), there’s always a chance that Foggy could return in some capacity. Maybe we’ll get a multiversal twist, a flashback, or even a last-minute retcon. But for now, fans are left holding onto the memory of Matt and Foggy’s friendship—and appreciating Henson’s hilarious take on why he got the boot.

Whether or not we see him again in an upcoming Marvel show, one thing is sure: Elden Henson will always be our Foggy Nelson, no matter if Kevin Feige forgives him for that car incident, or not.

Daredevil: Born Again premiered on Disney+ on March 4. New episodes are released every Tuesday at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is still the biggest franchise in Hollywood today, but it’s not a controversial statement to say that the MCU (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription) has had difficulty finding its footing post-Avengers: Endgame. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies order know there have been a handful of clear success stories, like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Deadpool & Wolverine, many of the recent MCU films have struggled, and now a former Marvel comic writer thinks it is time for Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige to step down.

Rob Liefeld is best known as one of the creators of Deadpool, but he recently had a somewhat acrimonious split from the House of Ideas following what he claims was disrespect from Kevin Feige and others at Marvel Studios. In a post to Twitter, Liefeld took aim at Feige, claiming that the second-weekend box office drop for Captain America: Brave New World is evidence that Feige’s run of success is over. Liefeld said…

The week-to-week drop in box office for Brave New World isn't an MCU record but it is certainly significant. While the movie had a solid opening, nearly $200 million at the global box office, the movie dropped nearly 70% in its second weekend and currently sits at a global total of under $300 million. While it’s not the most significant second-weekend drop for the MCU, it’s not insignificant.

Still, it seems a bit excessive to call Kevin Feige “spent” as a result of the new Captain America movie not setting box office records. While the film is technically the fourth Captain America project, it’s essentially the first movie in a new franchise with Anthony Mackie taking the lead as Captain America. The new film’s box office hasn’t been that different (adjusted for inflation) than that of Captain America: The First Avenger.

It’s not a secret that Marvel Studios went through some issues. Disney CEO Bob Iger has been open that he believes that the franchise, under previous CEO Bob Chapek, over-extended itself. Brave New World was given the green light during that era. And there was clearly already an internal understanding that the movie had issues as it had more significant reshoots than most blockbuster movies.

Those reshoots may have made Captain America: Brave New World a better movie, but they also increased the film’s overall budget, meaning it would need to be even more successful to be considered a win in the eyes of Disney.

It’s probably a bit too early to be calling or the end of Kevin Feige’s tenure at Marvel Studios. On the whole, his track record has been incredible, and there have been enough success stories recently to prove that the MCU is far from over.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly expanding, thanks to projects hitting both theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have taken notice as a handful of projects failed to meet expectations. When asked about the upcoming Marvel movies, Kevin Feige offered hope about the future of two ill-fated superhero teams and I’m shocked.

The MCU has been in an interesting place post-Avengers: Endgame, and there have been some peaks, valleys, and even full on box office bombs like The Marvels. Some other projects that struggled include The Inhumans show and Eternals. When speaking about these titles to CinePop at D23 Brasil, Kevin Feige offered a surprisingly hopeful message, saying:

There you have it. While these two projects are somewhat infamous among the MCU fandom, it sounds like Feige is open to connecting them into future plans for the shared universe. We'll just have to wait and see if/when that might occur.

Fans have spent a few years wondering if Eternals was going to get a sequel, especially considering how large in scope its narrative was. Back in July, Feige confirmed there was no plans for another Eternals movie. But now he says he was proud of Chloé Zhao's film and would like to follow-up with the group of characters sometime down the line. But when?

Eternals' ending seemingly had big consequences for the MCU as a whole, but most of those storylines haven't been followed up on in the years since. That includes the corpse of Tiamut's half-formed body sticking out of the ocean, as well as the arrival of Arishem, who took away half of the team for judgement. Then there's the credits scene with Kit Harrington, who hasn't been seen since.

The Inhumans came before Disney's TV shows started living on Disney+, and failed to hit. That's why fans were so shocked when Black Bolt appeared in Doctor Strange 2 as a member of The Illuminati. Unfortunately he was promptly killed by the Scarlet Witch.

So when might the Inhumans and Eternals return? While they're not getting their own projects in the MCU anytime soon, a possible choice could be The Russo Brothers' pair of Avengers movies. Starting with Avengers: Doomsday, it's expected that the projects will lean into the multiverse. And as such, just about anything is possible.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going strong now (both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription), and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Ever since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, fans have been waiting for the X-Men to pop up in an upcoming Marvel movie. Kevin Feige recently revealed when that team of mutants will join, and buckle up.

Over the past few years we've seen some X-Men characters appear in the MCU, including Hugh Jackman's return as Logan in Deadpool & Wolverine. But fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are ready for the full team to show up on the big screen. While speaking at the Disney APAC Showcase (via Deadline), he offered timeline for when we'll see the team of mutants assembled. As he put it:

There you have it. It sounds like Feige and company have a plan for the X-Men movie, but it'll seemingly be after Avengers: Secrets Wars hits theaters. Although to keep fans satiated, we will see some X-Men characters pop up in projects first. I'm looking at you Avengers: Doomsday.

While fans will have to continue being patient while waiting for the X-Men to show up in their full glory in the MCU, we will be getting some familiar faces from the lore. I assume he's referencing Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, especially given the record-breaking success of Deadpool & Wolverine. Given this, it would make sense for those two title characters to appear in the next two Avengers flicks.

Another X-Men character fans are hoping to see return with The Russo Brothers' pair Avengers movies is definitely Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch. Despite her apparent death during Doctor Strange 2's ending, she remains a wildly popular character. And calls for her return have only increased since Agatha All Along aired.

A few other notable connection to the X-Men have occurred in recent MCU projects. That includes Ms. Marvel being confirmed as a mutant, as well as The Marvels' credits scene with Beast.

Since we're in the multiverse saga, it seems like just about anything could happen in the MCU nowadays. But it seems like fans should stop holding their collective breaths until after the next two Avengers movies hit theaters.

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going strong for a decade, constantly releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order waited patiently for Hugh Jackman's Wolverine to join on the fun, which finally happened in the record-breaking Deadpool 3. But will Logan stick around the MCU? Kevin Feige's latest comments are definitely giving me hope.

Deadpool & Wolverine's box office performance stood in stark juxtaposition to recent flops like The Marvels, so fans assumed the two title characters would be back soon for upcoming Marvel movies like the next two Avengers flicks. While speaking with the outlet Omelette at D23 Brazil (via SuperHeroHype) Feige addresses what might come next for the dynamic duo, offering:

Well, that's exciting. It sounds like Feige is interested in seeing Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds' faux feud play out on the screen for the foreseeable future. While he didn't reveal when this might happen, the comments are sure to be thrilling for the countless fans who saw Deadpool & Wolverine in theaters.

While a fourth Deadpool movie hasn't been green lit yet, it feels like a bit of an inevitability. And as previously mentioned, fans are hoping that Jackman and Reynolds might reprise their signature roles in the MCU's big crossover events such as Avengers: Doomsday. But exactly which heroes will be uniting to fight Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom remain a mystery for the time being.

At any point, there are a ton of questions and theories online about what might go down in future installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After Jonathan Majors was fired and Kang was dropped from the title of the next Avengers flick, there were even more concerns about exactly what will go down during the crossover. After all, we'd been building to Kang Dynasty for a few years.

Wolverine and Deadpool are just two popular characters that moviegoers are hoping appear in The Russo Brothers' two developing Avengers movies. Fans are also hoping to see the return of Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch... especially after so many references to her occurred during Agatha All Along.

Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox and its properties opened the door for Deadpool to join the MCU, but fans worried about how the R-rated franchise would fit into the shared universe. But the threequel swung hard and was a huge success.

Deadpool & Wolverine is streaming now on Disney+. Check the 2025 move release dates to plan your films for the New Year.

Over the past several years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced a number of new characters and has hinted at the return of familiar properties. Such heroes who fall into the latter category are the X-Men, who fans have seemed eager to see back on the big screen again. Marvel Studios has been cagey when it comes to exact plans for the famous team. Now, studio head Kevin Feige is dropping hints as to when the characters might truly receive the spotlight in upcoming Marvel films.

Since 2019's Avengers: Endgame, there have been numerous references and cameos to the X-Men that have been sprinkled across major MCU entries. Deadpool & Wolverine is the most recent instance of such a production with connections to the mutants. Amid Disney's D23 Brazil Expo, Kevin Feige spoke with Omelete (via ComicBook.com) during which shared some insight into some future productions. Of which, he talked briefly about the X-Men, and their future within the MCU. Feige was quoted saying:

Since the MCU’s newest entries have been focusing more and more about the multiverse, fans have been theorizing that it could lead to some kind of reboot for the X-Men franchise. That would make a lot of sense, especially since the X-related characters we've seen thus far have hailed from alternate universes. It'd be great if Kevin Feige had dropped a few more specifics but, at the very least, it sounds like we could see more mutants appear in the lead-up to 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars.

The inclusion of the X characters so far has been interesting, to say the least. For instance, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a Professor X variant appeared as a member of the Illuminati. The mid-credits scene of The Marvels also revealed the Beast and Binary, as Monica Rambeau found herself in an alternate dimension. And, as previously alluded to, the cameo-filled Deadpool & Wolverine featured the titular clawed mutant as well as X-23, Gambit and more.

Even though the beloved mutants have yet to play a massive role in the live-action realm, Marvel Studios has been giving them their time to shine in the realm of animation. The key way in which that's happened has been through X-Men '97 (which is available to stream with a Disney+ subscription). On top of that, Storm was just revealed to be appearing on the upcoming third season of What If...?

As Kevin Feige and co. continue to balance all the MCU releases coming down the pike, I'm confident that Charles Xavier and his band of heroes will take center stage sooner rather than later. Being patient is hard but, hopefully, it'll all be well worth the wait.

What you can look forward to film-wise in the immediate future is the release of Captain America: Brave New World, which opens in theaters on February 14 as part of the 2025 movie schedule.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been consistently releasing new content for years now, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The most recent series that hit the small screen was Agatha All Along, which featured plenty of references and connections to Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch. And Kevin Feige's latest comments about Wanda Maximoff have me feeling so relieved as a fan.

Moviegoers who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that certain characters have risen up as fan favorites. Chief among them is Olsen's Scarlet Witch, who fans are hoping to see appear in upcoming Marvel movies despite the character's apparent death during Doctor Strange 2's ending. During an interview with the outlet Omelette at D23 Brazil (via ComicBook) Feige teased what might be coming with Wanda, offering:

Well, I'm feeling relieved. While he didn't give anything away, it sounds like the powers that be at Marvel are interested in continuing Wanda's story at some point in the future. Does that mean she didn't actually die in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Only time will tell.

Feige specifically mentioned Agatha All Along, which offered a ton of ties to the Scarlet Witch throughout its season. The series made her fate unclear, with Agatha giving conflicting stories about whether or not Wanda was still alive. Add in her son Billy having a role and the Agatha finale ending with him trying to find his brother Tommy, and it feels like the perfect time to bring Wanda back.

While she showed remorse during WandaVision's series finale, the Scarlet Witch came back for Doctor Strange 2 after her mind was corrupted by the Darkhold. She went on a murder spree in hopes of reuniting with Tommy and Billy in the multiverse, before seemingly sacrificing herself to ensure the Book of the Damned was destroyed for once and all.

But Agatha All Along revealed that Wanda never needed to use America Chavez's powers to reunite with her kids. Billy was resurrected after she closed the hex, jumping into the body of a nearby boy who died in a car crash. Unfortunately, Lilia's sigil prevented anyone from identifying the resurrected boy, who would be nicknamed "Teen" throughout most of the series. I can only imagine how Wanda will feel that she traveled through the multiverse when her son was actually so close by.

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

Of all the upcoming Marvel movies, there’s one that’s arguably been gestating longer than the others. The Blade reboot – starring Mahershala Ali – was announced in July 2019 and, since then, the project has been hit with various delays for one reason or another. A number of fans have been eager for updates on the Daywalker’s next solo film, and producer Kevin Feige just provided an update. Some people who read the exec’s sentiments may be left wanting more, though I honestly appreciate the comments he shared.

What Did Kevin Feige Have To Say About The Blade Movie?

The head of the Disney-owned Marvel Studios was present at the company’s D23 Brazil expo this weekend, during which he showed off some of his company’s upcoming productions. Amid the festivities, he also took some time to speak with Brazilian outlet Omelete, with which he shared details on his company’s release schedule for TV shows and movies, Miles Morales and more. When the seemingly troubled vampiric superhero movie was mentioned, the filmmaker was diplomatic, conveying his dedication to the film and its star:

This Marvel Cinematic Universe film’s road to the big screen has definitely been long. After it was announced in 2019, Bassam Tariq was hired as director around September 2021. The reboot would later receive a new director in the form of Yann Demange, who was hired in November 2022 after Tariq exited the project due to scheduling issues. But, in June 2024, Demange left, marking another setback for the film. All the while, various writers – from Watchmen’s Stacy Osei-Kuffour to Black Widow’s Eric Pearson – have been brought in.

Despite all of that, Kevin Feige seems to be staying upbeat in regard to the movie’s development. Yes, someone could definitely argue that he’s merely being a good executive trying to keep fans’ hopes alive, and that’s certainly valid. However, I’m not disappointed in what he said.

Why Do I Appreciate This Latest Blade Update?

Anyone who’s followed Marvel Studios over the years knows that the company does indeed make an effort to keep fans up to date on what they’re cooking up. They definitely did that in a big way this past summer when announcing that the fifth Avengers film had been retitled Doomsday and that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the MCU in the role of Doctor Doom. While updates may not come as quickly as we desire them, I truly believe Marvel would and will inform the public if there's a major change with Blade, which is currently not on Disney’s company-wide release schedule.

On top of that, Kevin Feige has more than proven himself to be a fan, so I believe he’s devoted to making this movie happen. I may come off as a naive optimist in this case, which is fair, but I’m willing to give Feige, Mahershala Ali and co. the benefit of the doubt. I mean, given that they’ve stuck with the production this long, they must see the potential of it. And, let’s be honest, if they succeed, the House of Mouse could have a top-tier horror-action franchise on its hands.

While you wait for news on the movie, stream the original Blade movies, which star Wesley Snipes. You can also see Snipes reprise his role as the character in Deadpool & Wolverine, which will be available to stream with a Disney+ subscription starting on November 12.

Marvel Studios has been releasing a high volume of content since 2021, as the company has not only cranked out films but also a number of TV series as well. That’s led to some relatively jam-packed years filled with content. That was overwhelming for a number of fans, and I honestly felt the same. More recently, though, Marvel has seemingly been making efforts not to avoid such a back-up, and studio head Kevin Feige just revealed the company’s strategy for balancing big-and-small screen releases after 2025 and, as a fan, I really dig it.

What Did Kevin Feige Say About Film And TV Releases For The Years Following 2025?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Four (which was praised by some and criticized by others) featured a considerable number of entries. In 2021, the studio released four movies and five TV shows. 2022 wasn’t as heavy with content, though it still included three MCU-set series and three movies. And, as for 2023 and 2024, they range in terms of content as well. 2025 is set to be a massive year for the MCU brand, so it’s fair to wonder what the release strategy for content will be for upcoming Marvel movies and shows moving forward.

Amid Disney’s D23 Brazil event, Kevin Feige spoke with Omelete and shared some sweet details regarding the MCU’s future. Talk eventually turned to the manner in which the Disney-owned company plans to drop content over the next few years. Based on Feige’s comments, fans shouldn’t expect an overabundance of titles to drop per calendar year:

What the super producer described above is definitely a stark change from what franchise devotees have seen over the last several years. Of course, as he also mentioned, 2025 will be an exception to that. As it stands, six shows and three movies will be released over that 12-month period, including the upcoming Thunderbolts* as well as the long-gestating Ironheart. So those who have relished the years of constant MCU content drops may want to enjoy this coming year to the fullest.

Why I’m Pleased With Marvel’s Strategy Of Balancing TV Shows And Movies Moving Forward?

I’ve been a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since Iron Man flew into theaters back in 2008, and I’ve enjoyed a lot of the films and TV shows that have been released in recent years. However, as a fan, I've even found myself overwhelmed by the glut of content that’s been released since 2021. So I’m totally down with the company opting to reduce the amount of releases they shell out per year. With three shows and two movies a year, the titles will not only be fewer but (theoretically) better spaced out as well.

What I can appreciate is that Kevin Feige has been honest about the “overabundance” of Marvel projects and how he and his collaborators have sought to curb their output. Here’s hoping that this leads to a less overwhelming – yet still varied – slate of content for forthcoming Marvel TV shows and films as time goes on.

In the meantime, fans can stream the Marvel movies in order as well as the smattering of TV shows using a Disney+ subscription.

When the Marvel Cinematic Universe returned to theaters on the 2024 movie schedule, it came back to a world where monsters had ruled the world. Between this year’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and the sleeper success of 2023’s Godzilla Minus One, the world of kaiju continues to see quite the renaissance. How do we know that those results have really made a dent in the world? Well, MCU mastermind Kevin Feige has apparently been influenced by director Takashi Yamazaki’s picture; an admission that is music to my ears.

Virtual Gorilla Plus was on hand during this year’s Godzilla Fest in Tokyo, which allowed the publication to see Yamazaki-San address the crowd. As the franchise is celebrating the 70th anniversary of director Ishirō Honda’s original film, there’s been some promising news, such as a now in-development sequel to Godzilla Minus One.

But apparently Takashi Yamazaki noted that foreign audiences loved the style of action shown in his award winning film, which seems to be reinforced by the following remarks from this meeting:

Now it’s no secret that some see the Marvel Cinematic Universe as in a bit of a slump at the moment. Even in the wake of Deadpool & Wolverine’s record setting theatrical run, the current phase of Kevin Feige’s massive empire has also seen news like Blade’s recent removal from the upcoming 2025 movie schedule making waves.

Meanwhile, Godzilla Minus One became a Cinderella story through a leggy theatrical run, as well as Toho’s monstrous saga nabbing Godzilla’s first Oscar at the 2024 Academy Awards. Pair that up with the MonsterVerse's own success on the more blockbuster-y side of things, and Goji's recent output seems to have proven that this sci-fi legacy has landed with an atomic blast.

It appears that Godzilla Minus One has Kevin Feige noting that his four-panel juggernauts could be delivering more bang for the buck. As the budget for the World War II drama was clocked at costing, at most, $15 million, the movie’s estimated worldwide take of $116.4 million looked even better by comparison. The fact that Feige fanned out over the climactic Operation Wadatsumi sequence with Takashi Yamazaki only makes this potential lesson all the more potent.

Taking into account the big set pieces that bound together moments of personal bonding and evaluation of trauma, even the criticisms of the MonsterVerse seem to have been addressed in Yamazaki-San’s still beloved motion picture. In Minus One, you could actually root for the characters to survive in a seemingly unpredictable world.

So maybe between the intimate storytelling and frugal spending that Takashi Yamazaki used to make Minus One something truly special, perhaps the Marvel Studios brass have decided they want to do the same. Taking the more street-level approach of series like the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again might be just what the doctor ordered in the MCU.

With those guardrails in place, there could be a potential renaissance in the Marvel camp. A move away from the franchise’s need to spend $200 million on each film’s budget cold take the pressure off when it comes to delivering in theaters, which in turn might refocus the storytelling to be able to adapt some properties that might be seen as a bit of a gamble in the wake of Eternals and other more experimental flops. Could it be that, thanks to the lessons that may have been learned, the MCU could become dangerous and risk taking again?

If you want to see why this sort of thing worked so well in the Godzilla universe, Godzilla Minus One is currently available through two different methods. While the film is currently enjoying a theatrical re-release, it can also be streamed by those who have access to a Netflix subscription. But if you have the opportunity, I highly recommend you seek this one out at the movies, the way Godzilla himself would want you to see it.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is going strong over a decade after its inception, with the studio consistently producing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The latest movie to hit theaters is Deadpool & Wolverine, which broke records at the box office. And Ryan Reynolds got advice from Kevin Feige that "haunted" him through Deadpool 3's production. Let's break it all down.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were thrilled when Wade Wilson finally joined the shared universe, with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in tow. While the long-awaited threequel was wildly successful, some advice from Kevin Feige stayed in Reynolds' head throughout the filming process. As he told the crowd at the Fast Company Innovation Festival (via Deadline):

So simple, yet so anxiety-inducing. Per this advice, Reynolds and company had to try to be detailed oriented and make every single scene from Deadpool & Wolverine into something great. I'd say he succeeded, but not without a ton of work.

In the end, Deadpool 3 was a critical and financial, standing out following recent box office bombs like The Marvels and Ant-Man 3. And the threequel performed so well that fans are assuming it'll influence upcoming Marvel movies, presumably with Jackman and Reynolds returning in big crossover movies like Avengers: Doomsday.

Later in that same appearance, Reynolds shared his reaction to Feige's comments about Deadpool & Wolverine. As he put it:

Luckily that's exactly what Shawn Levy and the cast and crew of Deadpool 3 managed to do. And the blockbuster has been the most successful MCU movie to hit theaters in years. Perhaps Feige's haunting bit of advice helped to motivate the team, which clearly worked out.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman's faux feud was on full display throughout Deadpool 3's runtime, and their chemistry was truly off the charts. While we got to see the two title characters trade barbs and blows, the story was also an emotional one. The two title characters were able to find a bond, uniting for the epic final battle, as well as saving the multiverse with their willingness to sacrifice themselves. Luckily they survived, and it should be fun to see where they pop up in the MCU next.

Most fans are expecting to see Deadpool and Wolverine back for a big crossover event like Avengers: Doomsday, but the studio has been keeping its cards close to the chest. We'll just have to see if their next project has nothing but great scenes as well.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. Until then, check the 2025 movie release dates.

Like so many Marvel fans, I’ll never forget sitting in a theater for both Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. If you saw the two Marvel movies in order you doubtless had a similar experience to mine: Never have two movies felt more like an event in my lifetime than getting to behold how the many threads set up over the matter of a decade transformed into a satisfying and– somewhat Shakespearean – finale that had my jaw ajar. While I’ve always treasured those theatrical moments as a closing chapter to an incredible era of action cinema, when I witnessed Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga Concert Experience at the Hollywood Bowl over the weekend, it brought my fandom to a whole new level.

CinemaBlend was invited to share in the high energy of seeing a retrospective of the Infinity Saga with 15,000+ fans, and it has just become a new core memory for me. The music experience performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic across two nights is the first of its kind for the franchise. I gained an even deeper appreciation for the MCU’s legacy thus far, especially in terms of its collection of powerful movie themes, and I need to talk about the best moments from the music-filled evening.

The Night Began With The Marvel Studios Theme Being Performed Live, And I Was Nerding Out 

The show started with Marvel boss Kevin Feige coming to the stage to present the event by offering the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s distinguished conductor Gustavo Dudamel a “vibranium” baton to wield across the two and a half hour live event. (And, I must also point out that the harp on stage was fabulously painted withIron Man colors!)

With that, the experience got underway with a live performance of the “Marvel Studios Theme,” that we’ve heard many times over at the start of MCU movies and TV shows. It set the tone for a beautiful night out by elevating the piece in brand new ways. The opening is seriously never going to be the same again with any upcoming Marvel movies I see from now on.

I Was Bursting With Nostalgia Over The Formation Of The Avengers

The show then proceeded to go from the first Iron Man and work its way to the historical first Avengers film where the original team collided to fight Loki. Now, that movie came out more than a decade ago. Sure, a decade might be nothing to some people, but as a 28-year-old, I realized during the show that I’ve been following these characters grace the big screen for over half of my life now.

Not only are they part of pop culture, but they are woven in the fabric of my (and so many fans in attendance) upbringing and lifetime. It was really special to see the first flight of Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man with a live orchestra soundtracking it or even Chris Evan’s Cap having his first hero moments before the concert victoriously built up to “The Avengers Theme”. All while fans of literally all ages oohed and ahhed.

The Spider-Man Theme Got Me Super Emotional 

Now, it should be noted that the concert experience didn’t go through every one of the 23 Marvel movies in the Infinity Saga. It completely skipped over the Iron Man, Thor and Captain America sequels along with Age of Ultron and gave heroes like Doctor Strange, Ant-Man and Captain Marvel short and sweet tributes. But, honestly that was alright with me given the gorgeous way my favorite MCU hero, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man was highlighted. I’ve always loved Michael Giacchino’s score for Homecoming and on, but after seeing the other themes prior live just before it, I could really hear why it’s so special.

It’s a softer piece of music than the others, implementing a lot more strings and that really encapsulates how unique and human Peter Parker is in relation to the other heroes. I had tears in my eyes as the orchestra played the Spidey segment, especially considering they showed his “Come On, Spider-Man!” moment from the end of Homecoming.

My Appreciation For Black Panther In The MCU Soared Into The Stars 

During the show, I also made up my mind that Black Panther’s music is the studio’s greatest achievement in terms of this medium once this part of the concert was unveiled. The music is much different from everything we heard before that and brings new meaning to “epic superhero music” that I really felt the emotion of as scenes of the movie played on the screen.

Plus, a musician with the talking drum came out to round out the orchestra in a really stunning way. I still cannot believe Chadwick Boseman died four years ago, and I cannot imagine the role being recast – as the internet has been discussing lately.

I Was Very Happy To See Black Widow Be Given A Tribute By The Orchestra 

While the first half of the concert focused on introducing all the heroes, the second half was about saying goodbye to the Infinity Saga, particularly through highlighting the best scenes from Infinity War and Endgame. More on that in a bit, but first, here’s something I wasn’t expecting from the concert: a Black Widow tribute section!

As Marvel fans know, Natasha Romanoff dies in Endgame while she and Hawkeye are on Vormir to retrieve the Soul Stone. I’ve never been able to pick out any sort of Black Widow piece of music if I’m being honest, but I loved how the Hollywood Bowl concert dedicated an entire piece of music to the character’s memory. It was seriously beautiful and moving as it showed scenes from throughout her time in the MCU.

Somehow, My Experience With The Infinity War And Endgame Battles Got Elevated 

Something I’ve yet to talk about the experience was how interactive the whole thing felt. No, it wasn’t simply a movie screen and some instruments, there was a lot more going on than that! For one, the massive crowd was given these light up bracelets that would change colors depending on the scenes we were watching. Also, there was projections around the rim of the historic bowl and lights across the stage that would go along with the scenes being showcased as well.

This was very much effective during the entire show, but specifically when we got to the famed Infinity War and Endgame battles. While Thanos was collecting the stones, the rim of the bowl showed which stones he had acquired. It added a lot more emotion to the scene where Thanos takes the Mind Stone from Vision, leading half the universe to turn to dust. I never thought I would have a better experience than the first time I watched those movies, but the concert gave each scene a new weight that just hit harder!

Plus, Michael Giacchino Surprised The Audience With His Brilliant Fantastic Four Theme 

The show ended with a beautiful fireworks display that paid tribute to each Avenger and brought me right back to seeing Endgame for the first time. But, in Marvel branding, there was also an “end credits” of sorts for the show right after that. Michael Giacchino himself unexpectedly came on stage to interrupt a group of fans starting to leave the venue and ask if they had just four more minutes to spare. And by four he meant that he had the orchestra play the theme for next summer’s Fantastic Four: First Steps. Sure, it previously debuted at D23, but seeing the orchestra play the piece live got me more excited one of 2025’s movies than I had expected to be.

The tune felt completely sci-fi, epic and bouncy. It made me feel like the movie is going to be really fun and otherworldly to the other MCU movies we’ve seen so far. While I felt mostly nostalgic during the concert, the finale made me feel more hopeful for what’s next in the Multiverse Saga!

Marvel has made so many quintessential themes from the franchise over the years, but have never been on center stage quite the same way as this. I hope these two nights are not the only times Marvel does the Infinity Saga Concert Experience, because it was one for the books!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the biggest movie franchise of all time, and with the massive Disney company behind it, it feels like there’s nothing it can’t do. It’s easy to forget, however, that the MCU started before Disney bought Marvel. In the early days, some things were considered that involved Disney, but couldn’t be done.

I was at the recent D23 event in Anaheim, California, and was lucky enough to attend a panel discussion on the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. It’s an iconic event in Disney history as the company that would become Walt Disney Imagineering developed four attractions at the event that would become part of Disneyland in various ways. The fair is also connected to Marvel, as Iron Man 2 used the fair’s location for a major scene, but also considered another iconic spot: Disneyland itself.

Kevin Feige And Jon Favreau Considered Using Disneyland For Iron Man 2’s Finale

Midway through the D23 panel moderated by the great Leonard Maltin, Marvel Studios president, and noted Disneyland nerd, Kevin Feige, and director of the first two Iron Man movies, Jon Favreau, joined the conversation. Feige then revealed that when the production of Iron Man 2 was considering major spots for the film’s finale battle, Flushing Meadows, NY was decided on only after they concluded that Disney would never consider a request to use its flagship theme park…

Even if Disney had owned Marvel, it feels like Disneyland appearing in Iron Man 2 would have been a long shot. Disneyland has only allowed filming inside its park a few times over its nearly 70-year history. Most of those have been for its own movies, and none of them have resulted in the park being blown up, which seems likely to have been the case here. As awesome as a superhero battle at the top of the Matterhorn would look, one has to imagine the Matterhorn itself would come out of that looking a little worse for wear.

Instead, Iron Man 2’s Stark Expo takes place at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the site of the 1964-65 World’s Fair. Jon Favreau had grown up across the street from the park, though he was born the year after the fair concluded.

Other Iron Man 2 Scenes Are Inspired By Walt Disney And It’s A Small World 

While Disneyland did not appear in Iron Man 2, the man who built it was, in a manner of speaking. Jon Favreau talked about the old films of Howard Stark, (played by John Slattery) that Tony watches in the movie, and how those were filmed in a way to intentionally reference Walt Disney’s on-screen persona. Favreau said…

The movie would also include an original song, written by the late Richard Sherman, half of the songwriting Sherman Brothers duo. They wrote multiple great and optimistic songs for the 1964 World’s Fair, including “It’s A Small World” and “It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" for the iconic Carousel of Progress.

A major Marvel movie finale at Disneyland would have been incredible to see, and maybe now that Disney does own Marvel, such a thing can happen one day. Still, Iron Man 2 brings in plenty of references to classic Disney, showing how important the studio was to Marvel, even before they became joined.

Iron Man may not have come to Disneyland, but Disneyland will come to Iron Man. At the same D23 event, it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark for an upcoming Disneyland Resort attraction, Stark's Flight Lab, which is set to be added to the existing Avengers Campus area at Disney California Adventure Park.

There was a time when the Hollywood release calendar was loaded up with upcoming Marvel movies, as the studio averaged three to four features a year, in addition to shows that were available with a Disney+ subscription. Several factors contributed to Marvel having to slow down their release pattern, from the global pandemic to the labor strikes that affected Hollywood. That’s a big part of the reason why the smash-hit Deadpool and Wolverine is the only Marvel movie being released in 2024, and Agatha All Along will be the only live-action series making a Disney+ debut this year.

The idea of “superhero fatigue” is nothing new to the industry. Speaking with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige during the press days for Deadpool and Wolverine, I asked him his thoughts on the overall complaint – usually from casual comic book fans – that they were growing tired of the sheer number of superhero movies that were packing theaters. Here’s what he had to say:

Feige’s right in explaining that the concept of the “fatigue” complaint is common. As he points out:

I agree with him. Fatigue only factors in when the number of movies being presented aren’t good, meaning that the audiences are tired of the genre because it keeps producing duds. This year, as an example, has been an outstanding year for horror movies. But is there a complaint about too many horror films reaching theaters? No, because audiences just want to be able to go to the theaters and see great films.

But there was an issue with Marvel in the fact that, because its stories are part of an interconnected universe, some audience members felt that if they didn’t watch everything released by Marvel, they’d struggle to keep up with the plot. The introduction of the Multiverse contributed significantly to a lot of this confusion. If you went into Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness or Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania but didn’t bother to watch WandaVision, Loki, or Moon Knight, you might not know everything that was going on.

So when Kevin Feige continued to open up about fatigue, and Marvel’s role in the complaint, he got refreshingly candid as he explained:

It was. And it led to Marvel Studios pumping the brakes on their productions. It has meant the delay of a couple of anticipated Marvel movies, and later release dates for upcoming Marvel TV shows like Ironheart and Daredevil: Born Again. By spacing these projects out, Feige says it will be a benefit for almost everyone involved, saying:

That’s what Deadpool and Wolverine ended up being, and I think it was a hunger for fresh Marvel storytelling that led to the global success of the Deadpool sequel. Looking ahead to 2025, Marvel Studios is back to three movies on the docket: Captain America: Brave New World; Thunderbolts, and; The Fantastic Four: First Steps. We’re excited to see how Marvel Studios ensures that these all feel like events, as well, so that the MCU can continue to avoid the criticism of superhero fatigue.

Comic book movie fans received a massive piece of news back in July when it was confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the twist is that the actor won’t be playing Tony Stark/Iron Man but the imposing villain Doctor Doom. To say that the news was a shock would be an understatement and, since it was revealed, fans have shared thoughts on Downey playing Doom. Aside from a cheeky social media post, the actor himself has been rather quiet about his new role. But the Oscar winner has now provided some insight into why he decided to take on the role.

The Oppenheimer star’s casting was announced at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, where he walked on stage in Hall H in a green cloak and metal mask, before revealing himself. As you can imagine, the MCU OG can’t say too much about his newly acquired comic book role. However, the insights he shared with THR’s Awards Chatter Podcast regarding how he landed the part were interesting. Funny enough, while the Sympathizer star is still chummy with Kevin Feige and other Marvel Studios bigwigs, this all started in earnest with his desire to meet with the Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger to discuss a proposition:

So, as it turns out, the Downeys were somewhat taken aback by the notion of Robert returning for upcoming Marvel movies. After all, Tony Stark died at the end of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, and even Kevin Feige said definitively that that specific moment wouldn’t be undone. However, it turned out that Feige had another idea up his sleeve and, eventually, the Downeys had an epiphany:

One might be tempted to think that the idea became a done deal after that conversation. However, there was still one more person that the Sherlock Holmes star wanted to consult with:

Robert Downey Jr. is set to play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and its direct sequel Secret Wars. The films will allow the A-lister to reteam with Joe and Anthony Russo, who are helming both films. While some are excited by the prospect of the star taking on the role of the revered big bad, some are worried about RDJ playing Doom. It definitely is a risky idea, to say the least, especially since this version of Victor von Doom could end up being a Tony Stark variant. Still, it goes without saying that Downey is a talented actor, who could certainly sink his teeth into the role, so there’s, at the very least, a chance that this could end up being inspired casting.

If anything though, it sounds like the Avengers icon is truly passionate about returning to the MCU and doing justice to the part he’s playing. It’ll be some time before we actually get to see a true glimpse at his performance. Here’s hoping lightning strikes twice, and that he manages to effortlessly bring another compelling Marvel character to life on the big screen.

Robert Downey Jr.’s previous MCU appearances in the Iron Man films and more can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription. And, while you’re at it, why not just stream all the Marvel movies in order to better appreciate the Infinity Saga.