Marvel's next crossover may not end with one movie.
After years without an Avengers film, Marvel Studios is preparing to bring Earth's Mightiest Heroes back to theaters this December with Avengers: Doomsday. The movie is expected to reunite characters from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe while introducing Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.
It's one of Marvel's biggest bets in years. The studio has struggled to maintain the momentum it enjoyed during the Infinity Saga. While some projects have found success, others — including The Marvels and Thunderbolts — fell short at the box office, and several Disney+ series received a mixed reception.
That's why so much is riding on the next two Avengers films.
Anthony and Joe Russo have returned to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, marking their first Marvel projects since Avengers: Endgame closed out the Infinity Saga in 2019.
But Secret Wars may no longer be the end of the story.
Marvel Could Be Looking Beyond Secret Wars
According to scooper Alex Perez, Marvel is discussing another Avengers project involving the Russo brothers.
Rather than ending with Secret Wars, the filmmakers could stay with the franchise for an additional movie.
“Based on their statements, there's a chance it’ll involve splitting ‘Secret Wars' into two,” Perez says. “However, it could also be the next ‘Avengers' installment.”
Either option would represent a major shift from Marvel's current plans.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has already described Secret Wars as “as ambitious a project as we've ever embarked on.” He has also confirmed the film will reset the MCU into a new “singular timeline” and introduce a recast X-Men team.
There is a case for giving that story more room.
Secret Wars is expected to conclude the Multiverse Saga while bringing together characters from across multiple Marvel universes. It also has to establish whatever comes next for the MCU.
Not everyone believes Marvel will split the movie.
Earlier this year, fellow scooper Jeff Sneider pushed back on similar claims.
“That may have been mentioned by someone, somewhere along the chain of power, but it's not being seriously discussed in Burbank,” he said.
The Russo Brothers Have Plenty Riding on Their Return
Few filmmakers are as closely linked to the MCU's biggest successes.
Anthony and Joe Russo directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, helping turn Marvel into Hollywood's dominant blockbuster franchise.
Their work outside Marvel has received a more mixed response.
Netflix's The Gray Man attracted strong viewership but divided critics, while The Electric State struggled to generate the same level of enthusiasm despite its reported $320 million budget. Other AGBO productions have also failed to reach the cultural impact of their Marvel films.
That makes Avengers: Doomsday an important moment for both Marvel and the Russos.
If the film restores confidence in the MCU, it's easy to see why Marvel would want to keep the directors around beyond Secret Wars.
There are, of course, practical hurdles. Adding another Avengers movie — or turning Secret Wars into two films — would require reassembling one of the largest casts in franchise history. It would also mean another enormous production budget, with Robert Downey Jr. reportedly earning roughly $100 million for his return.
Marvel has not announced any plans beyond Avengers: Secret Wars, and the latest claims remain unconfirmed.
Still, if Doomsday delivers the blockbuster comeback Disney is hoping for, the studio could decide that one more Avengers movie is worth assembling.
Are you excited for Joe and Antony Russo's return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
