Marvel Studios is about to embark on its most ambitious reinvention yet. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is preparing for an overhaul that reshapes the future of the franchise, though its immediate steps involve recasting and reimagining some of its most iconic figures.
After Jonathan Majors’ conviction and subsequent departure from the MCU, Marvel has officially scrapped Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Replacing it is Avengers: Doomsday, now the flagship title of the Multiverse Saga, arriving in 2026.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the return of Robert Downey Jr.—this time not as Iron Man, but as Victor Doom. It’s a bold twist that once again places him in the spotlight, though in a role that radically changes how audiences will experience his presence.
Doomsday also reunites Marvel with Joe and Anthony Russo. The directors behind Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019) are stepping back into the fold, signaling Marvel’s intent to mount another high-stakes event film.
The studio has reshuffled release dates to make room for its evolving strategy. Avengers: Doomsday now hits theaters December 18, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027. Marvel has made clear that the delay reflects its current “quality over quantity” philosophy as the script undergoes continued development.
The cast will be vast, with appearances confirmed for the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts, and several legacy X-Men stars—an ensemble of unprecedented scale for a superhero film.
The Russos hinted that Doomsday will not merely conclude existing threads but chart new territory for the MCU. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige reinforced that idea, particularly in relation to the X-Men.
“Reboot is a scary word. Reboot can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline–we’re thinking along those lines […] X-Men is where that will happen next,” Feige said earlier this year.
Leading into Doomsday, Marvel’s theatrical slate is relatively lean. The only film slated beforehand is Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, 2026. On Disney+, projects such as Ryan Coogler’s Eyes of Wakanda and the animated Marvel Zombies will help bridge the gap.
Marvel Zombies, a Phase Six project, expands on What If…? with a limited four-episode run. Originally envisioned as a feature film, the show is helmed by Zeb Wells with Bryan Andrews as showrunner and director. Stellar Creative Lab oversees the animation.
Inspired by but not identical to Robert Kirkman’s comics, the series depicts a darker survival landscape where heroes like Captain America, Scarlet Witch, and Thanos become undead enemies.
The voice cast is stacked, featuring Iman Vellani (Kamala Khan), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Hailee Steinfeld (Kate Bishop), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Dominique Thorne (Ironheart), and Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff). Randall Park and Awkwafina appear as Jimmy Woo and Katy.
The heroes will face zombified versions of Captain Marvel, Ikaris, Ghost, Abomination, and others. Not every character will be voiced by their live-action counterpart. Todd Williams joins as Blade Knight ahead of Mahershala Ali’s film debut, Hudson Thames reprises his Spider-Man role, and Kenna Ramsey takes over as Okoye, continuing from her appearance in What If…?.
Carol Danvers is also back, with the latest TV spot teasing Captain Marvel in combat with Ikaris. Neither Richard Madden nor Brie Larson are expected to reprise their roles, and Alexandra Daniels could be set to return to voice Carol Danvers. Disney and Marvel Studios have not officially confirmed the casting.
Watch the TV spot here and get a first look at the new Captain Marvel below.
Fans first noticed Larson’s absence when Daniels stepped in for her in Marvel Studios’ What If…? in 2021.
Daniels recalled that she auditioned as a voice match for Larson, using clips of her performance for reference. Initially believing her role would be uncredited, she was surprised to see her name alongside Marvel regulars like Samuel L. Jackson and Mark Ruffalo. “OK, this is cool, this is not a thing I expected for my life,” she said.
She also described her recording sessions, where she often only had access to her own lines without the finished animation. Directed by Bryan Andrews, she sometimes had just minutes of preparation, but relished the chance to explore Carol Danvers in a different way. One standout moment saw her react to the idea of Thor striking her with his hammer.
Scheduling conflicts—seemingly including Larson’s commitment to 2023's The Marvels—prevented some stars from participating in the animated series, allowing Daniels to continue as Captain Marvel into What If…? Season 3.
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