Summary
A new report has provided major updates for Marvel Studios’Avengers 5. Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige originally announced the development of the fifthAvengersmovie, originally titledAvengers: The Kang Dynasty, in 2022, revealing the crossover movie would be one of two set to conclude the Multiverse Saga.Avengers 5was initially expected to pit a new team of Avengers against the multiversal villain Kang the Conqueror, who has posed a significant threat throughout several previousMCUprojects. However, Jonathan Majors' 2023 arrest and conviction threw a spanner in the works, leavingAvengers 5’strue future uncertain.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsdirector Destin Daniel Cretton andAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniawriter Jeff Loveness were originally attached toAvengers 5. Both departed followingJonathan Majors' arrest, however, hinting at a huge shake-up for the Phase 6 movie.WhileLoki’sMichael Waldron has since joined the project to pen the script, the question of who will directAvengers 5has remained unanswered, but a new report byDeadlineposes an exciting future, and uncovers a wealth of new information that may makeAvengers 5one of the MCU’s biggest installments.
Avengers 5: 6 Wild Fan Theories That Make Too Much Sense (And 6 That Don’t)
Little is known about Avengers 5, meaning that fans have come up with some outlandish theories as to where the next major MCU crossover will go.
6Shawn Levy Is In Talks To Direct Avengers 5
Shawn Levy Directed Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadline’sreport suggests thatShawn Levy has been in talks with Marvel Studiosand has been offered the opportunity to direct Phase 6’sAvengers 5. Shawn Levy entered the world of Marvel Studios in March 2022, brought on as the director for 2024’s upcomingDeadpool & Wolverine, which has become one of the MCU’s most-anticipated recent projects.Deadlinenotes that, while Levy has been givenAvengers 5’sscript, written by Michael Waldron, the director hasn’t provided a definite answer just yet, meaning Marvel Studios will continue to meet with other directors while they wait for a decision.
The idea that Marvel Studios is considering Shawn Levy to directAvengers 5suggests that the studio has a huge amount of faith inDeadpool & Wolverine, raising hopes that the movie will be a much-needed smash-hit for the MCU.Deadpool & Wolverine’sfantastic castmeans Levy has handled some of Marvel’s most powerful and beloved characters, including members of the X-Men, so he may be uniquely qualified to take on an even bigger roster of heroes inAvengers 5. It’s also possibleAvengers 5could reunite him with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, should they return.
2011
2021
2022
2024
5Filming On Avengers 5 Will Begin Next Year
Avengers 5 Is Scheduled For Release In May 2026
WhileAvengers 5doesn’t yet have a director attached,Deadlinehas reported that Marvel Studios is planning to begin filming on the project in 2025 in preparation for the movie’s scheduled July 05, 2025, release date. Following Jonathan Majors' firing from Marvel Studios in December 2023, there was a great deal of confusion surroundingAvengers 5’sstatus, with many suspecting the project could have been delayed. This was especially true since 2023’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes caused huge delays in the MCU’s Phase 5 slate. However, it seemsAvengers 5’sMay 2026 release dateis still the aim.
2012
$1.519 billion
2015
$1.403 billion
2018
$2.052 billion
2019
$2.799 billion
Avengers 5’s2026 release is expected to be quickly followed byAvengers: Secret Warsin May 2027, with Marvel Studios perhaps hoping to repeat the joint success ofAvengers: Infinity WarandEndgame. Earlier Avengers movies besidesInfinity WarandEndgamewere spaced out more, capping individual phases. Jumping right into a saga-closing duology with no previous Avengers films is a bold new strategy that may be tough to pull off.
4Avengers 5 Will Be More Of An Ensemble Movie
Previous Avengers Movies Have Focused On A Core Avengers Team
Marvel Studios' previousAvengersmovies have, more or less, focused on one core group of heroes, though others have joined the Avengers in their battles against various villains. Conversely,Deadlinehas reported thatAvengers 5will be more of an ensemble movie, with many of the characters included in the project having equal footing, rather than a small group of Avengers being the central focus. In recent years, Marvel Studios has debuted a huge number ofnew superheroes in the MCU, so this could give them all some substantive action inAvengers 5.
A similar technique was previously used inAvengers: Infinity War, which took place in the wake of the Avengers' split inCaptain America: Civil War.Infinity Warfocused on smaller groups of heroes spread out across the galaxy, divided, but all with the same goal of stopping the Mad Titan, Thanos. This was repeated inAvengers: Endgame, which saw the surviving Avengers break up into smaller teams to embark on the Time Heist.Deadline’sreport seems to suggest that there won’t be a centralleader of the Avengers team, however, implyingAvengers 5will be even more open.
The New Avengers Line-Up: Predicting Captain America’s Replacement Heroes
The first Captain America: Brave New World footage teased the creation of a new Avengers team, and some heroes are perfect for Sam Wilson’s squad.
3More Than 60 MCU Characters Are Expected To Return In Avengers 5
Avengers 5 Could Be Even Bigger Than Avengers: Endgame
Avengers 5 is expected to almost double Endgame’s roster, bringing back heroes and villains from the MCU’s entire history.
One of the most exciting updates inDeadline’sreport onAvengers 5is the fact thatsources close to the project claim that the movie could see more than 60 MCU characters reprise their roles. This massive roster, presumably comprising heroes and villains, would contribute toAvengers 5becoming the largest MCU movie since the franchise began with 2008’sIron Man. This also gives weight to the idea ofAvengers 5being more of an ensemble movie, as focusing on a smaller team of Avengers would mean the other plethora of stars would be sidelined and neglected.
In comparison,Avengers: Endgame’sfinal battlemarked the return of almost 40 MCU characters, making it the biggest battle in the history of the franchise.Avengers 5is expected to almost double Endgame’s roster, bringing back heroes and villains from the MCU’s entire history, including some that viewers may never have expected to see return.This would allowAvengers 5to mirror the most dramatic stories and battles from Marvel Comics, which usually include an enormous number of superheroes. While it’s unclear which characters will be returning inAvengers 5,Deadlinehas hinted at a few.
2Six MCU Heroes Have Been Confirmed For Avengers 5
Returning MCU Heroes Feature Some Surprise Additions
Neglecting to delve into who may compriseAvengers 5’sentire roster of more than 60 characters,Deadlinedid seem to confirm six heroes that may be returning for the Phase 6 crossover project.Most notably, original Avengers members Bruce Banner and Thor are expected to return, making Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth two of the longest-running MCU actors. Ruffalo’s Smart Hulk was last seen inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, while Hemsworth’s Thor had a divisive run inThor: Love and Thunder, but both have unexplored storylines that would be great to see adapted to live-action.
10 Longest-Serving Actors In Marvel & DC Movies
Superhero franchises have taken over modern cinema, allowing actors to play the same role for many years, and some have taken this to the extreme.
Alongside Ruffalo and Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch has also been teased to return as Doctor Strange. Following his journey across universes in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Doctor Strange has been set up as a key figure in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, though it’s unclear whether his as-yet-unconfirmed Doctor Strange 3 will be released prior toAvengers 5or if the crossover movie will be his next MCU appearance. This could also suggest that Charlize Theron’s Clea, who debuted inMultiverse of Madness’post-credits scene, could also return, though this hasn’t been confirmed.
Tom Hiddleston was last seen as the former God of Mischief in 2023’sLokiseason 2, which ended with him becoming the guardian of the entire multiverse. Despite this new central role, Hiddleston is among the names noted byDeadlineto be returning inAvengers 5.This could mean thatAvengers 5will explore many alternate realities, allowing even more non-MCU Marvel characters to return. Of course, Hiddleston could also return as variants of Loki, many of which were introduced inLokiseason 1, which would perhaps allow Sophia Di Martino to reprise her role of Sylvie, too.
Two more additions toAvengers 5’sroster include Simu Liu and Karen Gillan, with the latter coming as a bit of a surprise. Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi has been confirmed to be returning inDestin Daniel Cretton’sShang-Chi 2, though this project doesn’t yet have a scheduled release date, though could premiere prior toAvengers 5. 2023’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3saw Karen Gillan’s Nebula depart the titular team to spearhead a new society in Knowhere, so her return inAvengers 5could also hint at the new Guardians of the Galaxy team’s involvement.
The new Guardians of the Galaxy team’s future hasn’t been confirmed following their debut inVol. 3’spost-credits scene, making their potential return inAvengers 5even more exciting.
1Marvel May Still Be Moving Away From Kang The Conqueror
Avengers 5 Could Even Feature Multiple Villains
Deadline’sreport also touches on the continuing confusion surrounding Kang the Conqueror’s involvement inAvengers 5.Appearances inLokiandAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniaset him up as a major antagonist in the Multiverse Saga - the so-called “New Thanos” - but Majors' firing from Marvel Studios following his reckless assault conviction in December 2023 madeKang the Conqueror’s MCU futureuncertain.
LokiSeason 1
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
2023
LokiSeason 2
While there have been talks of Marvel Studios moving away from Kang the Conqueror’s storyline, withLokiseason 2’s ending perhaps acting as the perfect way to tie up the narrative, it’s also possible the villain could be recast. This would allow him to still play a major role inAvengers 5, thoughDeadlinenotes that it’s unclear whether he’d still be the central villain or whether multiple villains could be featured. This could develop othersignificant villains in the MCU, including Doctor Doom, Annihilus, or Galactus, though Marvel Studios hasn’t provided any official comment on the matter.
