The Marvel Cinematic Universe is preparing to chart new territory next month with the debut of Phase Six, but not every part of the franchise will be making the journey.
On July 25, 2025, The Fantastic Four: First Steps will officially launch Phase Six of the MCU. Directed by Matt Shakman, the highly anticipated film will introduce Marvel’s First Family to the storyline. Pedro Pascal stars as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, alongside Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing.
The new film follows the conclusion of Phase Five, which wrapped up this May with Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts* (2025). That entry set the stage for The New Avengers, as Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, now Earth-616’s Captain America, looks to reassemble the Avengers in the wake of mounting Multiversal threats.
Looking ahead, the franchise’s next crossover epic, Avengers: Doomsday, is scheduled to hit theaters in December 2026—delayed from its original May release. That shift has also impacted Avengers: Secret Wars, which will now arrive during the 2027 holiday season. Both films will be directed by the Russo Brothers.
While the big-screen universe charges ahead, one of Marvel’s smaller-scale but fan-favorite offerings appears to have come to a close. Marvel Studios: Assembled, the behind-the-scenes docuseries that offered fans in-depth peeks into the production of Marvel’s major projects, has seemingly ended its run.
Debuting during Phase Four, Assembled built a strong following thanks to its candid exploration of MCU production. From the sitcom sets of WandaVision to the moving tribute to Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), the series served as a rare window into the inner workings of Marvel’s cinematic machine.
However, recent developments indicate the series is no longer in active production. TV Line’s Matt Webb Mitovich confirmed as much in a response to a reader:
“I love me a Marvel Studios: Assembled episode, too,” Mitovich said. “Alas, I’m hearing that there are no new episodes of the Disney+ franchise planned at this time.”
The end of Assembled is a notable loss for longtime MCU fans. While Blu-ray releases for theatrical films still include bonus features, the same cannot be said for Disney+ series. That means titles like Daredevil: Born Again won’t receive the in-depth production showcases viewers have come to expect.
The change affects more than just bonus material. Assembled offered a sense of connection to the creative process, something that helped deepen emotional engagement with the MCU. Without it, the gap between the franchise’s epic narratives and the fans themselves may only grow wider.
Behind the scenes, the decision may have less to do with cutting costs and more with navigating complex production changes. Daredevil: Born Again underwent a significant creative overhaul mid-shoot, while Captain America: Brave New World (2025) reportedly faced extensive reshoots. In such cases, compiling a coherent documentary could prove not only difficult but potentially damaging if it exposed behind-the-scenes conflict.
Phase Four saw nearly every major project—including Moon Knight, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and even animated fare like What If…?—receive a dedicated Assembled special. But during Phase Five, the output slowed. While specials were released for Secret Invasion and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), others quietly disappeared from the schedule.
As a result, the quiet exit of Assembled feels like more than the end of a docuseries. It marks a shift in how Marvel Studios shares its story—both on screen and behind the curtain.
