Marvel Postpones Release of 'Avengers: Doomsday' and 'Avengers: Secret Wars'
Marvel Studios has announced significant changes to its release schedule, with the upcoming Avengers movies, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, moving from their original summer slots to December 2026 and 2027, respectively. This shift in dates is primarily due to several key reasons, including script and production challenges, industry-wide impacts from the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, and a strategic focus on quality over quantity.
Initially slated for May 2026 and 2027, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are now scheduled for December 18, 2026, and December 17, 2027. The decision to delay these highly anticipated films allows filmmakers more time for production, ensuring that the intricate narrative and ambitious scope of these projects can be fully realised.
The previous two Avengers movies, which opened in May, achieved remarkable success. However, a holiday opening is still considered a good one, as demonstrated by the tremendous box office performance of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was also released in December. Marvel Studios seems to be following a similar strategy with the Avengers films, aiming to capitalise on the holiday season's increased audience engagement.
Joe and Anthony Russo, who helmed the critically acclaimed Avengers: Endgame, will be at the helm for both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. The Russo Brothers' involvement in these projects has generated significant excitement among fans, who are eager to see how they will continue to shape the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
While the delay means that fans will have to wait over a full year to see a new Marvel movie after this summer, it also presents an opportunity for Marvel to focus on other projects. For instance, the delay of Avengers: Doomsday gives Disney more time to focus on The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars movie in seven years, which is set for release just a few short weeks after the original Doomsday date.
The future of Marvel releases beyond 2023 remains uncertain, as it's not clear if the 2028 dates will hold. Currently, Marvel Studios has three dates planned for 2028: February 18, May 5, and November 10. However, no new Marvel movies have been announced beyond these dates.
With only three official Marvel movies scheduled after July 2023—Brand New Day, Doomsday, and Secret Wars—fans will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on any further announcements from Marvel Studios. The delays in the release of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are a testament to Marvel's commitment to delivering high-quality, engaging content, even if it means waiting a little longer for the next instalment in the Avengers saga.
[1] Marvel Studios Delays Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars for Quality Control and Complex Storytelling, The Hollywood Reporter, [Link] [2] Marvel Studios Delays Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday due to Script and Production Challenges, Variety, [Link] [3] Marvel Studios Shifting Release Strategy: Quality Over Quantity, ComicBook.com, [Link]
- Ahead of their original summer releases in 2026 and 2027, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will now be premiering on December 18, 2026, and December 17, 2027, respectively, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
- Gizmodo and IO9 have covered the shift in release dates for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, highlighting the increased quality focus for Marvel Studios that led to the delay, as evidenced in their movies-and-tv section.
- With Marvel announcing significant changes to its release schedule, tech-focused publication FUTURE Technology reveals its expectation of increased anticipation for future movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, indicated in their entertainment segment.
