Ever since Avengers: Endgame (2019) closed the Infinity Saga, Marvel Studios has focused on rebuilding the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The studio introduced new heroes, explored alternate timelines, and pushed deeper into cosmic storytelling. But while fans followed those new adventures, Marvel quietly began setting up something much larger behind the scenes.
Now, pieces of that plan are starting to come together.
Several developments across recent projects suggest Marvel is preparing a major shift involving one of its most powerful cosmic characters.
And the timing points directly toward the MCU’s next giant crossover.
Everything Leads Toward One Film
Marvel’s next massive team-up appears to be Avengers: Doomsday (2026).
The project already carries enormous expectations because of the number of characters expected to appear. Fans have compared its scale to Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Many familiar faces will return.
Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki are both expected to reappear, continuing their complicated dynamic. Sebastian Stan will also return as Bucky Barnes, and even Chris Evans will appear again as Steve Rogers.
Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. could take on a completely new role in the MCU by portraying Doctor Doom.
Marvel may also revisit its earlier Marvel film franchises. Some reports indicate that actors from the original X-Men films, including James Marsden as Cyclops, could appear as the Multiverse storyline expands.
With so many characters potentially involved, the MCU is preparing for its largest crossover yet.
New Teams Enter the Story
Marvel has also introduced several teams that could play a role in the events leading to Avengers: Doomsday (2026).
The Thunderbolts represent a more unpredictable group of characters. Many of them come from morally gray backgrounds and bring a different kind of energy to the MCU than the Avengers.
They are willing to tackle missions that traditional heroes might avoid.
At the same time, Marvel has finally welcomed one of its most iconic teams.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) introduced Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm into the cinematic universe. Their arrival expanded the MCU’s cosmic storyline and introduced new threats from beyond Earth.
The most important of those threats is Galactus.
And whenever Galactus appears, his powerful Herald usually isn’t far behind.
A Surprising Direction for a Classic Character
Marvel took an unexpected approach when introducing this cosmic figure in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025).
Instead of using the version most comic readers know, the film presented a different interpretation connected to another universe.
That twist quickly sparked conversations among fans.
It also signaled that Marvel may be exploring new directions for characters that audiences thought they understood.
A Reveal That Sparked Conversation
The film introduced Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal, a variation of the character from Earth-828.
This version serves as Galactus’ Herald rather than the traditional Norrin Radd.
The reveal caught many viewers off guard.
During the film’s final battle, the character helped the Fantastic Four force Galactus through a portal in Times Square, sending the cosmic threat away from Earth and preventing the destruction of the planet.
That moment transformed the character from a mysterious Herald into one of the story’s unexpected heroes.
But Marvel clearly intends to expand that storyline.
The Backstory Is Only Beginning
Marvel will explore the character’s origins further in a new prequel comic arriving in June.
The issue, titled Shalla-Bal: Silver Surfer, connects directly to The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) and dives deeper into the character’s past. Writer Dan Slott and artist Mark Buckingham return to expand the story.
Instead of continuing the movie’s events, the comic focuses on earlier moments.
It will show Shalla-Bal’s life on Zenn-La and explore how she first encountered Galactus. The story also examines her earliest actions while serving as the cosmic entity’s Herald.
By doing so, Marvel provides additional context that the film only briefly touched on.
Marvel Is Building a Larger Narrative
The comic belongs to Marvel’s First Foes series, a group of stories designed to expand the world surrounding the Fantastic Four.
Each issue focuses on characters or events that happened before the team’s major cinematic debut.
One story follows Mad Thinker as he attempts to manipulate a futuristic city against the Fantastic Four. Another earlier comic depicted the team’s first major adventure against Mole Man and the giant creature Giganto.
Marvel plans to continue releasing similar stories throughout 2026.
These comics help build the universe surrounding the Fantastic Four and their cosmic enemies.
A Key Piece of the MCU’s Future
The character’s growing presence in Marvel’s storytelling suggests a promising future.
Reports claim Marvel Studios may already be exploring additional projects featuring the character, though the studio has not confirmed any specific plans yet.
Some rumors suggest Julia Garner’s version could remain the MCU’s primary cosmic Herald.
Others believe Marvel could still introduce Norrin Radd at some point.
Regardless of which path the studio chooses, the character’s connection to Galactus and the cosmic side of Marvel storytelling places them at the center of the MCU’s expanding universe.
And if Avengers: Doomsday (2026) truly becomes the franchise’s next massive crossover event, this cosmic hero may play a far bigger role than fans ever expected.
