The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is poised for an exciting transformation with the upcoming films *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo have shared intriguing insights into how these films will differ from their previous works, *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Avengers: Endgame*. In an interview with Brazilian outlet Omelete, the Russo brothers described *Avengers 5* and *Avengers 6* as a "new beginning" that will set the stage for the MCU's Phase 7.
Joe Russo highlighted the unique position of these new films, stating, "The greatest thing that ever happened is we got to get immersed in a 20 movie arc and see an ending to that arc. What's compelling about these two new Avengers movies is they're a beginning. It's a new beginning. We told an ending story [with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame] and now we're going to tell a beginning story. Who knows where we’ll go from there?" This shift from conclusion to inception marks a significant pivot for the franchise.
The Russo brothers also discussed their return to the Marvel fold, with Anthony Russo noting, "We didn’t know what our road forward was in the MCU after we finished Endgame. What happened was, a creative idea just came to us and that ended up feeling like the right idea. It motivated us to do it again. We feel like we have something fresh, we feel like we have a story that’s important and needs to be told. We have an amazing group of collaborators again, some old and some new. We’re very excited."
Joe Russo added that *Doomsday* faces significant challenges due to the "expectations on it" to revitalize the theatergoing experience post-pandemic. Interestingly, it was Marvel producer Kevin Feige who proposed bringing back Robert Downey Jr. for *Doomsday*. Joe Russo recounted, "That conversation was had a while ago, and Robert tried to talk us into doing it and we said no. We just didn’t have a story, we didn’t have a way in, so we were resistant for a while. And then one day, [Endgame writer] Steve McFeely called us and said, ‘I have an idea.’"
Who Will Be the New Avengers in the MCU?
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Joe Russo concluded the interview by expressing their focus on complex villains, saying, "The only thing I’ll say about the movie is this: we love villains who think they’re the heroes of their own stories. That’s when they become three-dimensional and they become more interesting. When you have an actor like Robert Downey, you have to create a three-dimensional, well-shaped character for the audience. That’s where a lot of our focus is going."
*Avengers: Doomsday* is slated for release on May 1, 2026, with *Secret Wars* following on May 2027, leaving fans eager to see the Russo brothers' new vision unfold.
In other MCU developments, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige teased the integration of X-Men characters in the "next few" MCU movies during the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore. Feige hinted at the inclusion of familiar X-Men figures without specifying which characters or films. He further elaborated, "I think you will see that continues in our next few movies with some X-Men players that you might recognize. Right after that, the whole story of Secret Wars really leads us into a new age of mutants and of the X-Men. Again, [it’s] one of those dreams come true. We finally have the X-Men back."
Feige also emphasized the importance of the X-Men in the MCU's future post-*Secret Wars*, stating, "When we were preparing for Avengers: Endgame years ago, it was a question of getting to the grand finale of our narrative, and then we had to start all over again after that. This time, on the road to Secret Wars, we already know very well what the story is going to be until then and afterwards. The X-Men are an important part of that future."
With Phase 7 seemingly set to be dominated by the X-Men, the groundwork is already being laid. Storm made her MCU debut in *What If...? Season 3*, marking a significant step towards the integration of these beloved characters.
Additionally, Marvel Studios has scheduled three untitled movie projects for 2028: February 18, May 5, and November 10. It's increasingly likely that one of these slots will be occupied by an X-Men film, further cementing their role in the MCU's future narrative.
