Marvel Studios has postponed the release of its highly anticipated Avengers films. Avengers: Doomsday will now debut on December 18, 2026—seven months later than its original May release—while Avengers: Secret Wars shifts to December 17, 2027.
The delay was part of a broader reshuffling of Disney’s release calendar, which also saw several “Untitled Marvel” projects removed or rebranded under Disney’s general slate. As a result, only Doomsday and Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day remain on Marvel’s theatrical schedule for 2026.
The new December release window mirrors the success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which grossed $1.9 billion globally in 2021. However, this schedule shift creates Marvel’s longest gap between films since the pandemic—over a year between The Fantastic 4: First Steps (July 2025) and the next Spider-Man (July 2026).
The move aligns with Disney CEO Bob Iger’s recent comments about refocusing on quality over quantity in the MCU. Both Doomsday and Secret Wars are expected to be major ensemble events, featuring returns from Robert Downey Jr. (now playing Doctor Doom), the Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four casts, and even legacy X-Men actors like Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen.
Production on Doomsday is underway, with Downey recently spotted supporting the Thunderbolts cast at a screening.
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