The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is gearing up for a thrilling new chapter. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo have provided insights into how Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will set the stage for the future of the franchise, marking a significant departure from their previous works, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
In an interview with Brazilian outlet Omelete, the Russo brothers described Avengers 5 and Avengers 6 as a "new beginning" that will lay the groundwork for the upcoming Phase 7 of the MCU. Joe Russo emphasized the excitement of being part of a 20-movie arc and now shifting focus to tell a story that initiates a fresh narrative. "The greatest thing that ever happened is we got to get immersed in a 20 movie arc and see an ending to that arc," Joe Russo said. "What's compelling about these two new Avengers movies is they're a beginning. It's a new beginning. We told an ending story [with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame] and now we're going to tell a beginning story. Who knows where we’ll go from there?"
The duo also shared how they were drawn back into the Marvel universe to direct another Avengers saga. Anthony Russo explained, "We didn’t know what our road forward was in the MCU after we finished Endgame. What happened was, a creative idea just came to us and that ended up feeling like the right idea. It motivated us to do it again. We feel like we have something fresh, we feel like we have a story that’s important and needs to be told. We have an amazing group of collaborators again, some old and some new. We’re very excited."
Joe Russo added that Doomsday faces significant expectations to revitalize the cinematic experience post-pandemic. Interestingly, they revealed that Marvel producer Kevin Feige suggested bringing back Robert Downey Jr. for Doomsday. "That conversation was had a while ago, and Robert tried to talk us into doing it and we said no," Joe said. "We just didn’t have a story, we didn’t have a way in, so we were resistant for a while. And then one day, [Endgame writer] Steve McFeely called us and said, ‘I have an idea.’"
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Joe Russo concluded the interview by highlighting their approach to villain characterization, saying, "The only thing I’ll say about the movie is this: we love villains who think they’re the heroes of their own stories. That’s when they become three-dimensional and they become more interesting. When you have an actor like Robert Downey, you have to create a three-dimensional, well-shaped character for the audience. That’s where a lot of our focus is going."
Avengers: Doomsday is slated for release on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following on May 2027, keeping fans eagerly anticipating the Russo brothers' new vision.
Last year, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hinted at the integration of X-Men characters into the MCU's upcoming films. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige noted that fans would soon encounter "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the near future, though he kept specifics under wraps.
Feige further elaborated on the role of the X-Men in the MCU's future, especially post-Secret Wars. "When we were preparing for Avengers: Endgame years ago, it was a question of getting to the grand finale of our narrative, and then we had to start all over again after that," Feige said. "This time, on the road to Secret Wars, we already know very well what the story is going to be until then and afterwards. The X-Men are an important part of that future."
It appears that Phase 7 will heavily feature the X-Men, with Storm making her first appearance in the broader MCU in What If...? Season 3. Moreover, Marvel Studios has scheduled three untitled movies for 2028, with dates on February 18, May 5, and November 10, fueling speculation that one of these could be an X-Men film.
