Avengers: Doomsday directors finally reveal their MCU plans after Secret Wars

If you thought Avengers: Endgame was the end of the line for the Russo Brothers and the MCU, think again. Against the odds (and after a detour into non-superhero films), Joe and Anthony Russo have returned to Marvel to direct not just one but two more Avengers movies – Doomsday and Secret Wars. That alone is enough to get Marvel fans speculating wildly about the future of the franchise, and what happens after these two mega-sequels.

Will the Russos Stick Around After Secret Wars?

The big question on everyone’s mind: once they've wrapped up Doomsday and Secret Wars, can we expect the Russos to stick around for even more MCU outings? Deadline put that exact question to them in a recent interview. Anthony Russo didn’t give a straight-up yes or no—because of course he didn’t—but he did actually say a fair bit.

'When we did Endgame, it was our fourth Marvel film [and] we had completed a story arc that we began in The Winter Soldier, and for us that was intended to be an ending,' Anthony explained. 'I will say this – the stories that we are focused on now [are] complete. Doomsday and Secret Wars speak with one another as two films, and they form a complete expression. Whether or not we all collaborate with Marvel beyond that, it’s certainly a possibility but right now the narrative vision is just through Secret Wars at this point.'

So in classic Russo fashion, that’s a fairly elegant way of saying 'You never know, mate'. They've got tunnel vision for Secret Wars at the moment, but could easily pop back up further down the line—especially if Marvel backs up the Brinks truck again. Don’t hold your breath for an immediate announcement, though.

Doomsday and Secret Wars: Expect Another Epic Two-Parter

From what’s been teased so far, the whole Doomsday/Secret Wars combo sounds like a spiritual sequel to Infinity War and Endgame—two massive movies designed to conclude a major chapter in the MCU, but told as a pair. Don’t expect the vibe to be exactly the same though; each of these films aims to stand on its own feet, but together they tell a sprawling story.

One detail that has the rumour mill churning: apparently, Avengers: Doomsday might leave things on a nail-biting cliffhanger, much like Thanos’ famous snap. The Russos have described Doomsday as the MCU’s 'new phase zero', which is a surprisingly open way of admitting this film is going to blow things up and set the board for whatever comes next.

Some Troubled Waters Behind the Scenes?

Now for the gossip. Word out of the industry—always to be taken with a pinch of salt, but increasingly loud—suggests Doomsday is not having the smoothest ride in development. There’s talk of behind-the-scenes troubles, and it sounds like Marvel is pulling out all the stops to lure back classic characters—even those outside the main timeline—in an effort to raise the stakes ahead of Secret Wars. Apparently, we might be seeing a line-up of unexpected heroes stepping into the spotlight for that one.

Dates for Your Diary

• Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit cinemas on 18 December 2026
• Secret Wars will follow – though the precise release date hasn’t dropped yet

Suffice it to say, if you thought Marvel was running out of Multiverse-sized yarns to spin, you might want to hold off on that hot take for a bit longer.