Marvel Delays 'Avengers: Doomsday' and 'Secret Wars' to December Releases
Marvel Studios has announced new release dates for two of its most anticipated films, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Originally slated for early summer debuts in May, both films are now scheduled for theatrical releases in December—Doomsday on December 18, 2026, and Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Disney will fill the vacated May 1, 2026, slot with The Devil Wears Prada 2, produced by 20th Century Studios. This pivot allows Marvel more time to meet the ambitious scale and quality fans expect from its expanding cinematic universe.
Production for Avengers: Doomsday is underway, with Marvel leveraging additional development time to refine visual effects, finalize casting, and ensure seamless integration across the multiverse narrative. Insiders describe both films as among the most expansive and complex in MCU history.
The cast of Doomsday, partially unveiled during a five-and-a-half hour livestream in March, features a blend of returning MCU heroes, characters from 20th Century Fox’s X-Men universe, and newcomers tied to the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps. Absent from the lineup were Tom Holland (Spider-Man) and Chris Evans (Captain America), although Evans is widely expected to reprise his role in at least one installment.
Characters from Thunderbolts will also appear, hinting at deeper cross-franchise connections within the MCU's multiverse saga.
December has previously proven successful for Marvel; Spider-Man: No Way Home dominated the 2021 holiday box office, validating Marvel's confidence in the year-end release strategy.
Additional changes include a newly announced release date for The Dog Stars, Ridley Scott’s apocalyptic thriller, set to open on March 27, 2026.