Exciting news just dropped about the upcoming Avengers films, set to be directed by the fan-favorite Russo brothers, promising Marvel fans a blockbuster event that could rival Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed the Russo brothers, masterminds behind Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, would return to direct the next chapters of the Avengers saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their re-entry, paired with the comeback of Robert Downey Jr., who stole hearts as Tony Stark/Iron Man for over a decade, marks a pivotal point for the MCU.
Their electrifying reunion with Feige on the Hall H stage left fans buzzing, and now new details are emerging about the Avengers’ future.
The project, previously known as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty or simply Avengers 5, underwent a transformation following the legal controversies surrounding Jonathan Majors, the actor originally cast as Kang the Conqueror. With that chapter closed, the gears are now in motion for Avengers: Doomsday – and, fittingly, it wouldn’t be Doomsday without Doom himself.
Surprisingly, Downey Jr. is set to play Victor Von Doom, casting a fresh twist on this iconic villain. While the role drew mixed reactions due to concerns over Doom’s cultural heritage, the actor’s popularity adds undeniable allure to the project.
The Russos and Downey Jr. rejoin Marvel at a critical juncture. Despite Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) achieving unprecedented success and breaking R-rated records, Phase Five has hit several bumps in the road. Peyton Reed’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) fell short of sparking excitement, while The Marvels (2023) struggled at the box office. On Disney+, Secret Invasion saw underwhelming viewership, but fans are showing enthusiasm for Agatha All Along, the new Agatha Harkness-centered series.
With four more films slated for release—Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and an untitled February 2026 film—before Avengers: Doomsday arrives, anticipation is already building. The Russo brothers have hinted that these movies will be worth the wait.
Joe Russo shared with GamesRadar that reuniting with Downey Jr. for Marvel was born out of mutual inspiration. “We’re all very close,” said the director. “We had been working on another project before Marvel approached all of us–so we’re working on another project with Robert–and there was a story that evolved through conversations that we got very excited about. Because it’s always got to be the story.”
In the MCM Comic Con interview, Russo expressed his ambitions for the two films, Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars, the latter of which is set to close out Phase Six.
“Why would we come back if we didn’t feel like we had a story that had that possibility of being on an equal footing with Infinity War and Endgame unless there’s a kernel there for an idea that’s really explosive?” Russo added.
Avengers 5 has had a bumpy road to production. Initially, Ant-Man 3 writer Jeff Loveness was brought on to write the screenplay, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) director Destin Daniel Cretton was slated to direct. Both eventually departed, with Loveness being replaced by Loki creator Michael Waldron, who was also, at the time, attached to Secret Wars. Now, with the Russos at the helm, the story has undergone a complete overhaul – and Marvel fans are hoping it’s finally headed in the right direction.
While Avengers: Secret Wars, due May 2027, appears to mark the end of Marvel’s Phase Six, it is already setting the stage for Phase Seven and beyond. Several MCU films are tentatively scheduled for late 2027 and throughout 2028, potentially offering further exploration of storylines launched in Secret Wars.
Meanwhile, Phase Six has seen some reshuffling. With Blade removed from the slate, a vacancy remains next November, though Marvel may hold off on filling it due to CEO Bob Iger’s mandate to streamline production. That said, a previously eliminated July 2026 slot is back on the calendar, now reserved for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4.
The excitement surrounding Downey Jr.’s return as Doom, alongside a new Spider-Man film, ensures audiences will stay glued to Marvel’s evolving narrative.
Are you ready for Avengers: Doomsday to reach the heights of Endgame?
