Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars 'A New Beginning' for the MCU, Russo Brothers Say

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is poised for a significant transformation with the upcoming films *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo, known for their work on *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Avengers: Endgame*, have shared insights on how these new films will diverge from their previous efforts. In an interview with Brazilian outlet Omelete, the Russo brothers described *Avengers 5* and *Avengers 6* as a "new beginning" that sets the stage for Phase 7 of the MCU.

Joe Russo emphasized the unique position of these films within the MCU's narrative arc, stating, "The greatest thing that ever happened is we got to get immersed in a 20 movie arc and see an ending to that arc. 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?"

Anthony Russo discussed their return to the Marvel universe, explaining, "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 highlighted the challenges of *Doomsday*, noting the high expectations to revitalize theater attendance post-pandemic. He also revealed that it was Marvel producer Kevin Feige's idea to bring Robert Downey Jr. back for the film. Initially resistant, the Russos were convinced after *Endgame* writer Steve McFeely presented a compelling idea.

Who Will Be the New Avengers in the MCU?

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Joe Russo concluded the interview by expressing their focus on crafting multi-dimensional villains, stating, "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 2, 2027. Fans will need to wait a bit longer to see the Russo brothers' vision come to life.

Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has teased the integration of X-Men characters into the MCU in upcoming films. During the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige hinted that fans would see "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the near future, though he did not specify which characters or movies. He further elaborated that the narrative of *Secret Wars* would lead into a "new age of mutants and of the X-Men," signaling a significant role for the X-Men in the MCU's future.

Feige also mentioned the strategic planning that went into the MCU's development post-*Endgame*, stating, "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. 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."

Phase 7 of the MCU seems set to be dominated by the X-Men, with Storm already making an appearance in *What If...? Season 3*, marking the character's first foray into the wider MCU.

Additionally, Marvel Studios has added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule, scheduled for February 18, May 5, and November 10, 2028. It's increasingly likely that one of these films will introduce the X-Men to the MCU.