Slated for a back-to-back 2026-2027 release, the next Avengers movies are set to start production next year, with 60 characters reportedly to be involved. With no director yet for the Avengers doubleheader, many expect Marvel Studios to make major announcements at SDCC.
Before that, we recap the biggest names that were rumored or confirmed at some point to lead Marvel Studios’ two-part finale for The Multiverse Saga.
Joe and Anthony Russo
Last week, it was reported that Joe and Anthony Russo are in early talks to suit up again for Marvel directorial duties. Fans saw this as a positive development since the duo was the driving force behind (arguably) peak MCU: The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame.
However, Marvel exec Kevin Feige quickly clarified the news: “I can’t comment on it except to say it was somebody else a couple of weeks ago and I look forward to seeing who it is going to be next week,” he says.
Shawn Levy
Marvel seems satisfied with his work on Deadpool and Wolverine, and Levy became a frontrunner to helm the next Avengers movie. Recent rumors, however, suggested that he might turn down the project, given his involvement in a future Star Wars film and the final season of Stranger Things.
Levy responds that he’s open to working with the studio again: “Without committing to any details, I won't be surprised if Marvel and I aren't done with each other," he says.
Destin Daniel Cretton
The Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director exited the project in November of last year, a tumultuous time when the future of the MCU was up in the air, with Kang actor Jonathan Majors’ legal challenges and another major staff departing from the project (see next item).
Cretton's exit intended to give him enough bandwidth for projects like Wonder Man and a Shang-Chi sequel.
Jeff Loveness
Marvel also parted ways with Loveness, who penned the screenplay for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Speculations about the departure mention the poor performance of the Ant-Man film, while others point at Marvel stepping away from the Kang arc to focus on a different big baddie.
Michael Waldron
After Loveness, the studio turned to the Loki series creator and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer to prepare the script. Rumors of his exit from Avengers 5 have been swirling online, although reports say that he continues to work on Avengers: Secret Wars.