Avengers 5: News, Rumored Cast and Crew and Everything We Know So Far

We anticipate that the key event in the upcoming phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will revolve around the multiverses. Although previously, we were unsure whether the focus would be on the ten rings of Shang-Chi, the mythology established by the Eternals, or the plot possibilities of the Skrulls’ Secret Invasion, which now has its own standalone series. However, it appears that the multiverses will be the major theme. We have compiled everything we currently know about the upcoming Avengers movie.

What Do We Know About the Next Avengers Movie?

Unfortunately, very little information has been confirmed. We do know that there are two possible movies scheduled as the culmination of Marvel’s Phase 6: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (April 30, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027). These movies will be released a year apart, in a similar style to Infinity War and Endgame, and will be the conclusion to what Marvel refers to as the Multiverse Saga. However, the release will be a year later than originally planned.

Has the Creative Team Been Confirmed?

Initially, the director chosen for this project was Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. However, he was fired. Jeff Loveness was the writer for the film, known for his work on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. But he was also replaced. The replacement for Cretton has not yet been announced, but Michael Waldron was chosen to replace Loveness. Waldron is best known for his work on Loki and is also handling the script for the next Avengers installment, Secret Wars.

Who Will Almost Certainly Not Be Coming Back to Avengers?

Based on the characters being given prominence in Phase 4 and the background we have from the comics, we can make a tentative list of characters who are almost certainly not going to be Avengers.

Iron Man, Black Widow and Vision won’t be there for obvious reasons. Additionally, Hawkeye is retired (although his own TV show has shown how easy it is to convince him to take a little adventure), and the original Captain America is currently an old man. Thor has been with the Guardians of the Galaxy and regains independence in Thor: Love and Thunder. However, given the ending of this movie and the fate of Natalie Portman, it’s not entirely clear if he will remain the bearer of Mjolnir. That leaves only Hulk, who is still active, as seen in his cameos in Shang-Chi or She-Hulk.

It’s worth noting that there’ll still be movies and shows with heroes from the first four Avengers installments, including Captain America: New World Order. Plus, there are characters in the comics who have been Avengers but not yet in the MCU, such as She-Hulk.

Who Has the Potential to Be Avengers?

Let’s consider a few names and their odds:

• Doctor Strange: The surprise star of the MCU after the success of Multiverse of Madness, he has fought alongside the Avengers and has been a father figure to Spider-Man, like Tony Stark. With the multiverse theme likely to be present in Avengers 5, there is no figure more essential than Strange.
• Captain America and War Machine: Sam Wilson and James Rhodes, successors to Steve Rogers and Tony Stark as Captain America and Iron Man respectively. They are almost guaranteed to be present in future incarnations of the Avengers. Not only have they officially picked up the respective mantles of their predecessors, but both they and their characters have been classic Avengers in the comics. In addition, both will star in their own films.
• Wong: Despite being a secondary character in the Marvel Universe, his consistent appearances in different movies such as Shang-Chi, Doctor Strange, or Spider-Man: No Way Home make him a safe bet to appear in future Avengers movies.

• Spider-Man: Another unofficial Avenger, but if legal issues between Sony and Marvel do not prevent it, we will almost certainly see him in Avengers 5, either as a member or a guest.
• Thor and Loki: We'll have to wait to see what happens with Thor. However, Loki has more chances to become an unofficial member of the Avengers, especially after Kang's appearance in his series.
• Moon Knight: Possibly, the most enigmatic of all. Unlike most Marvel heroes, his show doesn’t have any links with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), except for a brief reference in Doctor Strange 2. However, in the comics, the character has been a part of the Avengers, particularly the West Coast division in the 80s.

• Ant-Man and The Wasp: Regulars in the Avengers and Captain America movies. Although they might not be part of an Avengers adventure, it’s possible that they may get an invitation. Kang was the villain in Quantumania, and he is also one of the strongest contenders to be the nemesis in the fifth Avengers movie.
• Scarlet Witch: After what we saw in the Doctor Strange movie, she may not appear in any future Avengers movies. However, her past as an Avenger in the comics, her affair with one of the group’s legendary characters, and her own history in the MCU give hope that she might make a comeback in the future.
• The Marvels: Consisting of Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan, they have all been Avengers in the comics. Monica and Kamala are set to star in an upcoming Marvel movie where the original Captain Marvel is also expected to appear. Although she already helped The Avengers in Endgame, it was suggested that she was preoccupied with her cosmic duties. However, Kevin Feige hinted that she may become the leader of the group.
• Shang-Chi: Despite his minor role in the comics as an Avenger, he is set to appear in the MCU with the release of his movie. The post-credits scene features Captain Marvel and Bruce Banner, indicating that Shang-Chi will be part of the Avengers. It is still unknown how the Ten Rings mythology will impact the future of the franchise, but if it becomes more significant, the Avengers may become involved.

Was Endgame the Last Avengers Movie as We Knew It?

Yes. In The Making of Eternals documentary, Kevin Feige stated that Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe have completed the 22-film Infinity Saga with the release of the final Avengers movie. However, Marvel’s plans may involve creating a new official supergroup, the Fantastic Four, with a film already planned, and having the Avengers in the next two movies by 2025 be from a supergroup created specifically for those films.

What About Jonathan Majors?

Regarding Jonathan Majors, his dismissal from the MCU following the final judgment in the case in which he was on trial for assault and harassment puts Marvel in a delicate position. Although Loki established himself as Marvel’s new big villain, the writer’s strike prevented rewrites and reshoots of much of Loki’s sophomore year to erase him from the plot. As a result, the options on the table are to look for another actor to portray Kang or to replace Kang as the villain. The recent arrival of Michael Waldron as the film’s screenwriter may go that way.

When Was It Decided That Secret Wars Would Be One of the New Avengers Movies?

In 2019, a Marvel leaker named Charles Murphy leaked a timeline of future releases from the company, which included a movie set to release in May 2024. However, due to the pandemic, the whole plan was disrupted. In 2022, Murphy revealed that the movie scheduled for May 2024 was going to be Secret Wars. This classic Marvel movie from the 1980s features heroes and villains engaged in a fierce battle on an alien planet, under the watchful eye of an Almighty being.

The Russo brothers had reportedly expressed interest in directing this project, and even claimed that it had “even greater ambition than the Infinity Saga.” It is unclear whether this project, which seemingly takes place outside the Multiverse, will be the same Secret Wars that we will see in May 2027.

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