--- description: Every MCU movie unveiled after Robert Downey Jr.'s big announcement that he's returning to play Doctor Doom title: Here Are All the Planned Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4a6a721e92779c3c/698a595186f68e66ea6f5671/robert-downey-jr-comi-con-2024-marvel-doom.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [movies](/tag/movies/) ## movies Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # All the Future MCU Movies Announced in Marvel's Major Revamp  by [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Correspondent Jul 28, 2024 5:06 PM CUT  Robert Downey Jr. onstage at the Marvel Studios Panel during 2024 Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center on July 27, 2024, in California. Robert Downey Jr. onstage at the Marvel Studios Panel during 2024 Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center on July 27, 2024, in California.Matt Winkelmeyer—Getty Images  by [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Correspondent Jul 28, 2024 5:06 PM CUT Marvel Studios is hitting the reset button: After years of [underwhelming box office returns](https://time.com/6319815/marvel-cinematic-universe-future/ "undefined"), fan complaints about the [Marvel TV shows,](https://time.com/6319633/marvel-tv-shows-ranked/ "undefined") and an _Avengers_ movie plagued by problems and delays, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is bringing back the actor who jumpstarted the franchise in the first place: Robert Downey Jr. is returning not as Iron Man but as Doctor Doom. He'll be the next major villain in the MCU, starring in two new _Avengers_ films: _Avengers: Doomsday_ (2026) and _Avengers: Secret Wars_ (2027). Downey Jr. made the big reveal at 2024's San Diego Comic-Con, hiding behind Doctor Doom's mask on stage before dramatically revealing his face. "Different mask, same task," he joked. **Read More:** [_Why Robert Downey Jr.’s Surprise Return to Marvel Could Work—and Why It Might Not_](https://time.com/7004591/robert-downey-jr-surprise-marvel-return-doctor-doom-pros-cons/ "undefined") The Russo Brothers, who directed _Captain America: The Winter Soldier_, _Captain America: Civil War_, _Avengers: Infinity War_, and _Avengers: Endgame_ are coming back as well to helm the next two _Avengers_ movies. _Avengers: Kang Dynasty_ has been scrapped after Kang the Conquerer actor Jonathan Majors was [convicted of assault](https://time.com/6553127/jonathan-majors-guilty-verdict-abc-interview/ "undefined") and dropped by Marvel Studios' owner, Disney. Doom will battle the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and maybe a few X-Men. Which characters, exactly, will appear in these _Avengers_ movies is anyone's guess. Given the box office success of _Deadpool & Wolverine_, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige is probably lobbying Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman to sign on as we speak. And Pedro Pascal, who will star as Reed Richards in the new _Fantastic Four_ movie will almost certainly play a central role: After all, Doctor Doom is his major foe. But will Spider-Man be back? And will we ever see [Blade](https://www.vulture.com/article/marvel-blade-casting-release-date-details.html "undefined")? For now, those questions are left up in the air. Here's what we do know about all the upcoming movies in the revamped MCU. **Read More:** [_How Marvel Lost Its Way_](https://time.com/6319815/marvel-cinematic-universe-future/ "undefined") ## _Captain America: Brave New World_ (February 14, 2025)  Anthony Mackie as Captain America in Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Marvel Studios Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) takes up Steve Rogers' old shield in the first _Captain America_ movie since Chris Evans stepped away from the role. In what's being pitched as a 90s-style political thriller, Sam will take on a group trying to assassinate thepresident, Thunderbolt Ross. Harrison Ford will take over the role of Ross from William Hurt, who passed away in 2022\. As comics fans know, Thunderbolt can transform himself into Red Hulk, who shows up briefly in the trailer for _Brave New World_. The fourth _Captain America_ movie has already undergone major rewrites, adding Giancarlo Esposito as the villain Sidewinder. ## _Thunderbolts_ (May 2, 2025)  Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova in Black Widow. Marvel Studios Ford's foray into the MCU continues with _The Thunderbolts_. Ross will gather together a group of morally flexible fighters to join his squad, including Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova from _Black Widow_, Sebastian Stan's Bucky from the _Captain America_ movies, David Harbour's Alexei from _Black Widow_, and Wyatt Russell's John Walker from _Falcon and the Winter Soldier_. The production for this movie has been somewhat plagued—both Steven Yeun (_Beef_, _Nope_) and Ayo Edibiri (_The Bear_, _Inside Out 2_) dropped out. But the first trailer dropped at 2024's Comic-Con. ## _The Fantastic Four: First Steps_ (July 25, 2025)  Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby of Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four" at the 2024 San Diego International Comic-Con on July 27, 2024. Gilbert Flores—Variety via Getty Images One of the most promising upcoming films in the MCU is a reboot of _Fantastic Four_. This franchise has faltered in the past when 20th Century Fox tried to produce several movies about the group of friends who gain superpowers during a trip to space. The movies starring Chris Evans (before he played Captain America) and Jessica Alba are not fondly remembered. And the Josh Trank-directed reboot with the all-star cast of Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell was a [historic disaster.](https://www.polygon.com/2020/5/5/21246679/josh-trank-capone-interview-fantastic-four-chronicle "undefined") Finally, Disney has its hand on the rights to the Fantastic Four and are reimagining the story. It will be set in the 1960s, which hopefully means it will be a standalone story that doesn't require homework of the viewer. They've cast Pedro Pascal, star of [_The Last of Us_](https://time.com/6247205/the-last-of-us-hbo-adaptation/ "undefined") and _The Mandalorian_, as Mr. Fantastic. Vanessa Kirby, _The Crown_ actor who has proved her action chops in the recent _Mission: Impossible_ films**,** will play Sue Storm. Joseph Quinn, the breakout star of _Stranger Things_' latest season and the villain in the upcoming _Gladiator_ sequel**,** will play her brother Johnny Storm. And _The_ _Bear_ fan favorite Ebon Moss-Bachrach will play The Thing. The heroes will face the cosmic entity Galactus and the Silver Surfer, two of their major foes in the comic books, who have targeted earth for destruction. And Feige confirmed they will also appear in the next two _Avengers_ movies fighting their former friend and current nemesis Doctor Doom (Downey Jr.). ## _Blade_ (November 7, 2025)  Mahershala Ali poses in the press room during the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 06, 2019. Daniele Venturelli—WireImage _Blade_ has cycled through two different directors and several different concepts. _Deadpool & Wolverine_ even poked fun at the vampire hunter movie's production delays. And fans online have been speculating that the unrelated vampire movie being filmed by _Black Panther_ director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan may just crowd the _Blade_ reboot out of theaters. Feige [insisted in interviews](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/kevin-feige-marve-blade-delays-deadpool-success-mahershala-ali "undefined") that the movie is still in the works and that it will be R-rated. Still, there was no mention of the reboot starring Ali at 2024 Comic-Con. ## _Avengers: Doomsday_ (May 2026)  Robert Downey Jr. onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California, on July 27, 2024 Jesse Grant—Getty Images for Disney Welcome back, Downey Jr. The man who immortalized Iron Man will play another cocky genius, Doctor Doom. The character is not just an antagonist to the Fantastic Fourbut one of the major MCU villains and according to some fans, the best. Most likely, we'll see an alternate universe version of Tony Stark**,** whose ego gets the better of him when facing the world's smartest man, Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic as played by Pascal). Determined to get the better of Richards, he turns into the villain Doom. The only way to stop an evil genius? Avengers (and Fantastic Four), assemble! ## _Avengers: Secret Wars_ (May 2027)  Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in Marvel's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Jay Maidment—Marvel Studios Feige has been eager to do the _Secret Wars_ storyline from the comics for awhile. It involves, basically, the collapse of all parallel universes—a potential plot point that's been teased in several Marvel movies including _Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness_ and _Deadpool & Wolverine_. The post-collision universe is known as "Battleworld" a planet where all the various superheroes and villains from across the MCU timelines fight each other. ## _Shang-Chi 2_ (TBD)  Simu Liu as Shang-Chi in 2021. Jasin Boland—Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Marvel Studios/Everett We've heard little about the _Shang-Chi_ sequel being directed by Destin Daniel Cretton except that stars Simu Liu and Aquafina are set to return. Though there was no update about _Shang-Chi_ at Comic-Con 2024, Liu had posted several months earlier that he promised "it's happening" [on Threads.](https://www.threads.net/@simuliu/post/C5vQaxCuzwd "undefined") ## _Spider-Man 4_ (TBD)  Tom Holland in Spider-Man: No Way Home Matt Kennedy—Marvel Studios A fourth _Spider-Man_ film starring Tom Holland is supposedly in the works—though Holland has in the past sent mixed messages on whether he wants to return the role. _Spider-Man: No Way Home_ ended in a way that could satisfactorily wrap up his story or jumpstart a whole new series of adventures that involves Peter Parker trying to unite with his love interest. No word yet on whether Zendaya would return as MJ. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7004392/marvel-cinematic-universe-future-movies-what-to-know/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7004392/marvel-cinematic-universe-future-movies-what-to-know/"},"headline":"All the Future MCU Movies Announced in Marvel's Major Revamp","datePublished":"2024-07-28T17:06:42.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:52:09.600Z","description":"Every MCU movie unveiled after Robert Downey Jr.'s big announcement that he's returning to play Doctor Doom","url":"https://time.com/7004392/marvel-cinematic-universe-future-movies-what-to-know/","keywords":["movies","News desk edits"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4a6a721e92779c3c/698a595186f68e66ea6f5671/robert-downey-jr-comi-con-2024-marvel-doom.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eliana Dockterman","jobTitle":"Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4a6a721e92779c3c/698a595186f68e66ea6f5671/robert-downey-jr-comi-con-2024-marvel-doom.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"2024 Comic-Con International: San Diego - Marvel Studios Panel","caption":"2024 Comic-Con International: San Diego - Marvel Studios Panel","creditText":"Matt Winkelmeyer—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/movies/","name":"movies"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7004392/marvel-cinematic-universe-future-movies-what-to-know/","name":"All the Future MCU Movies Announced in Marvel's Major Revamp"}}]}] ```