The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next phase is sure to feature some big and exciting developments, as lots of interesting rumors hint at epic-scale plans and fan-favorite characters joining the adventure.
The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will conclude the Multiverse Saga, and according to the latest buzz, they may pave the way for the MCU’s next major event: Annihilation.
Alex Perez of The Cosmic Circus recently dropped some new details about Marvel Studios’ ambitious plans. He revealed that the studio is aiming to include characters from “previous Marvel Legacy films,” emphasizing that “nothing and no one [is] off limits.”
This could even extend to animated characters, suggesting that Marvel is prepared to break traditional boundaries to deliver a wild crossover experience.
After the multiverse-shattering events of Secret Wars, Perez teased that “the countdown to Annihilation begins.”
This 2006 comic storyline involved some of Marvel’s most iconic cosmic heroes and villains, including Nova, Silver Surfer, Thanos, and the sinister Annihilus. The latter is rumored to debut in Marvel’s upcoming Nova Disney+ series, possibly setting the stage for his larger role in the MCU.
Perez also speculated that Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Beast (Kelsey Grammer) are locks to appear in the next Avengers movies. He also said that Channing Tatum is rumored to reprise his long-discussed role as Gambit alongside Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool 3.
If this actually pans out, Tatum’s Gambit could join Xavier and Beast in bridging the gap between the X-Men and Avengers universes. It would also be fun to see Gambit fight alongside Deadpool and Wolverine again.
Marvel Studios is reportedly casting younger actors for the X-Men reboot, but if these legacy characters appear in the next two Avengers movies they might take on mentor roles. The rumored introduction of the Shi’ar Empire also suggests that Marvel’s mutants could play a pivotal role in the lead-up to Annihilation.
The Russo brothers, known for their critically acclaimed work on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Infinity War, and Endgame, are returning for the next Avegners films, and they expressed their excitement in a previously statement:
“Being able to create stories and explore characters within the Marvel Universe fulfilled a life-long dream of ours. We’re thrilled to collaborate once again with Kevin [Feige], Lou [D’Esposito], and the entire Marvel team to bring this epic adventure in storytelling to new and surprising places for both the fans and ourselves.”
Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars following on May 7, 2027.
With the return of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom along with Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, and the possibility of an Annihilation-themed saga, the MCU seems poised to raise the stakes once again.
What do you think of these recent rumors?