After years of reports, rumors and speculation about his return to the Marvel, Chris Evans finally made his way back in Deadpool & Wolverine…just not in the way anyone was expecting. Evans‘ appearance as Johnny Storm, who he originally played in 2005’s Fantastic Four, was part of an homage to Marvel heroes who hit the big screen before the inception of the MCU. As memorable as his profanity-laced post-credit tirade was, it didn’t scratch the particular itch that most fans had.
While Evans‘ casting as Steve Rogers was initially derided by fans, his nearly-decade long performance as Captain America certainly changed minds. By the time Steve completed his MCU journey by finally danced with Peggy in the closing moments of Avengers: Endgame, fans began asking for more. Now, with a newly announced role in Avengers: Doomsday, Evans once again has the opportunity to return to the screen as Steve Rogers and it sounds as though that may well happen…sort of.
According to YouTuber Jeff “The In” Sneider, Evans won’t be appearing in Avengers: Doomsday as Captain America but rather as Nomad, an alternate identity the character once adopted in the pages of Marvel Comics…and on that should sound familiar to this who have followed the MCU closely.
In Captain America #180, Steve Rogers changed up his look and took on the mantle of Nomad after learning the U.S. Government to which he has devoted his life is run by the Secret Empire. An adaptation of this version of Rogers appeared in Avengers: Infinity War. It is unclear if the Doomsday version of Nomad will be the Sacred Timeline’s Rogers picked up by the TVA, whether it be from Infinity War or, perhaps, when he returned the Infinity Stones in Avengers: Endgame.
Over the years, several other characters went by the name of Nomad, including the character Jack Monroe who went on to appear in dozens of issues of Captain America, lead his own solo title and join the Thunderbolts. Even so, it seems far less likely that Evans would return to play one of those characters and far more likely it’s some version of Steve Rogers.
With Avengers: Doomsday slated to begin production in the UK in the first half of next year, the studio has begun locking up the talent that will make up what’s expected to be one of its most impressive casts. In a surprise move, Robert Downey Jr. was announced as the film’s lead, Victor Von Doom during Marvel’s Hall H presentation at SDCC ’24. A recent trade report revealed that Downey was set to be joined in the film by his four-time Avengers co-star Chris Evans though it wasn’t clear if a return as Captain America was in the cards. And now, another Avenger…and Captain America…has been added to the mix.
According to Deadline, Anthony Mackie has joined the cast of Avengers: Doomsday.
Mackie has been an MCU mainstay since debuting as Sam Wilson in Captain America: The Winter Soldier over a decade ago. After taking over as Captain America in the D+ streaming series, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Mackie‘s Wilson is set to be front and center in next February’s Captain America: Brave New World.
According to Deadline, the idea of both Mackie and Evans suiting up as Captains America seems unlikely; however, the characters recently shared the mantle in the pages of Marvel Comics with Sam Wilson working as the Symbol of Truth and Steve Rogers as the Sentinel of Liberty. Whether or not Marvel Studios would follow suit is debatable, especially when there are so many other options for Evans.
Over the past year, Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga has undergone major overhauls behind the scenes. While the planned endpoint remains fixed, the path to it has been greatly altered. Films and series have been reworked and reshot while others have been postponed and potentially abandoned to course correct in midflight. Avengers: Doomsday, the highest-profile project to undergo major changes, has become the center of controversy following the revelation that Robert Downey Jr. will star as Doctor Doom and that Anthony and Joe Russo will once again team up to direct the film.
Originally developed as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Marvel Studios changed gears on the project following the firing of Jonathan Majors. Moving on from Kang meant not only replacing him with Doom but also scrapping the original plans entirely. With Doomsday expected to begin production next Spring ahead of its planned May 1, 2026 release, it seems as though the studio has begun locking in talent, including bringing back another of its biggest stars to share the screen with Downey.
According to Deadline, Chris Evans has struck a deal with Marvel Studios to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Evans nor Marvel Studios has confirmed the news and the trade report indicated that the nature of Evans‘ role is currently unknown.
Before appearing as Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine, Evans‘ return to the MCU had always been expected despite the satisfying conclusion provided to Steve Rogers in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. In early 2021, Deadline reported that the star had struck a deal to return for a project or two, though it was never clear what those projects might be. One popular theory was that Evans would reprise the role of Captain America in a Nomad project but after years of being developed, we’ve heard that the studio has finally moved on from that particular piece. Though Evans admitted he was open to returning to the MCU, it wasn’t something he was in hurry to do.
I’ll never say never, just because it was such a wonderful experience. But I’m also very precious with it. It’s something that I am very proud of. And like I said, sometimes I can’t believe it even happened. And I wouldn’t want the black eye if it felt like a cash grab or if it didn’t live up to expectations or if it just felt like it wasn’t connected to that original thing. So, no time soon. And ultimately I really hope to just maybe act a little bit less in my life. I have a lot of other interests.
-Chris Evans on his potential return to the MCU
While it may be a bit sooner than he imagined, Evans‘ return in Avengers: Doomsday is sure to generate another round of significant interest in the project, especially given the uncertainty around the size and nature of his role. While it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that he would simply suit up as 616 Steve Rogers again, there are plenty of other options. Given the film’s importance in the overall narrative of the Multiverse Saga, Evans could just as well play an alternate dimension Steve Rogers. Should Marvel Studios be truly willing to push the envelope, Evans could join Downey as a villain of the piece by portraying a version of the HYDRA-influenced Captain introduced in Marvel Comics Secret Empire. Alternatively, he could be playing any number of non-Cap characters set in opposition to Doom, pitting his character against Downey’s again as was done to great success in Captain America: Civil War. For now, all options are on the table until further developments provide additional information.
According to a new tidbit shared by frequent social media rumor monger My Time To Shine Hello, Marvel Studios may have outlined Moon Knight’s next steps in the Multiverse Saga. Should the information prove accurate, Isaac will find himself a busy man over the next few years as the rumor has him potentially suiting back up for both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Additionally, MTTSH reports that Moon Knight is also expected to be a part of the team of heroes who assemble to tackle supernatural threats in Midnight Sons, a film which has not yet been confirmed to be in development by the studio but around which quite a bit of talk has buzz has been generated over the last year.
Both Avengers films are expected to sport massive character rosters and Isaac is among the biggest stars in Marvel Studios’ impressive stable, so one or both of the films does feel like a safe place to see the return of not only Moon Knight but other Multiverse Saga heroes who have been hiatus such as She-Hulk and Shang-Chi. In the case of Midnight Sons, Loonie Moonie’s inclusion on the team is all but a sure thing…if the project ever makes its way to theaters.
In 2008, The Incredible Hulk followed Iron Man into theaters in the earliest days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For years, fans debated if the film, which was distributed by Universal, was truly part of the MCU. Fortunately, those concerns were cast aside as, slowly but surely, other characters from the film found their way back into other stories. Like Bruce Banner, Thunderbolt Ross, Abomination, and soon, Betty Ross and Samuel Sterns, all have found further roles to play but because of complicated rights issues, they’re always roles in someone else’s stories. However, a new rumor points toward Marvel Studios having found a way to circumvent those issues to an extent while giving the people exactly what they want.
According to scooper My Time To Shine Hello, perhaps inspired by the brief tease of a battle between the two in Deadpool & Wolverine, the Marvel Parliament has begun development on a Wolverine vs. Hulk film.
If the rumor pans out, it’s both a bold and nimble navigation of the rights issues that have forced Hulk’s ongoing arc in the MCU to be told over the course of several films on which he was a supporting character. With Hugh Jackman believed to be staying on as Wolverine for the foreseeable future, the Parliament may have devised a way to make Hulk the co-lead/antagonist of a “solo Wolverine film.” It may be a bit disingenuous for Marvel to set Hulk up as the co-lead of a Wolverine film that will be known as Wolverine vs. Hulk no matter what it’s title is…but hey, that’s showbusiness.
Of course, this isn’t the first time rumors of a Hulk project have made the rounds. After legitimate reports of a World War Hulk circulated for years, it’s begun to look like the meat of that project may have been butchered up and tossed into other projects. And even if the rumor of a Hulk vs. Wolverine project being in development at Marvel Studios is true, it’s probably fairly important to keep in mind that Marvel Parliament member Brad Winderbaum recently made it clear that the studio is developing more projects than they’ll ever produce. So while the idea of seeing the conclusion of that brief tease in Deadpool & Wolverine might have you excited, it’s best not to hold your breath. Don’t go penciling this one into an open spot just yet.
After years of nothing but rumors and speculation about when Spider-Man 4 might finally hit theaters, fans finally had a date to make on their calendars after Sony revealed the next installment of the Tom Holland-led franchise was set for a July 24, 2026 release. Hopefully nobody marked their calendars with permanent marker.
Just one month after the studio revealed the target date for the film, one prominent studio insider has indicated that Spidey 4 is already on the move. According to the Viewer Anon, a very respected voice among online insiders, Spider-Man 4 “is going to be a Christmas 2026 release.“
I don't think this is really news but SPIDER-MAN 4 is going to be a Christmas 2026 release. https://t.co/YC3N3bnRjD
Viewer Anon’s tweet comes on the heels of a separate report from Marvel insider Daniel Richtman in which he revealed that production on the fourth Marvel Studios/Sony Spidey collaboration will not begin until August 2025. It’s a move made to accommodate the schedules of Holland, who will be featured prominently in Avengers: Doomsday, and Zendaya, who may or may not be filming the third season of Euphoria. However, Richtman also indicated that he did not expect the production delays to bump Spidey 4 from its July 2026 spot.
Spider-Man: No Way Home, the third film in the franchise, was in theaters over Christmas 2021 and cleaned up at the box office. However, that date represented a shift for Sony, who preferred the traditional summer blockbuster date range for the first two MCU-set Spidey films. In reality, whenever Sony releases the film, it’ll almost certainly challenge No Way Home to become Sony’s highest grossing film of all time.
As Marvel Studios looks to carry momentum from a strong 2024 into a new year loaded with highly-anticipated theatrical and streaming projects, moves are already being made behind the scenes to keep the MCU running strong beyond Avengers: Secret Wars. While Kevin Feige recently made it clear that “the X-Men are an important part of that future,” they certainly won’t be the only team making waves following the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga.
It’s hard to believe the Fantastic Four won’t return in some capacity in the studio’s new saga and there will always be room for more stories involving different iterations Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Another team that the studio has been building toward over the course of several projects, the Young Avengers, seems closer than ever to making its MCU debut with another of its key components on the board following Billy Maximoff’s resurrection in Agatha All Along. Now a new report indicates that the studio may be ready to move forward on the project in earnest.
According to reliable Marvel Insider Daniel Richtman, Marvel Studios has been in contact with Fargo and Legion writer Noah Hawley. Among “several projects” on the table for the Emmy Award-winning writer to tackle is the highly-anticipated Young Avengers that was recently teased by Marvel Parliament member Brad Winderbaum.
Though the studio has never officially announced the developmentof a Young Avengers project, they’ve continued to populate the MCU with characters from its comic book roster over the years and teased the team in a stinger attached to 2023’s The Marvels. Iman Vellani‘s Kamala Khan and Hailee Steinfeld‘s Kate Bishop, who were featured in the stinger, would certainly be two of the team’s central figures and could be joined by a number of characters including America Chavez, Billy Kaplan, Cassie Lang, Elijah Bradley and even Tommy Maximoff/Shepherd, who debuted briefly in Agatha All Along.
By the time Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in theaters next July, it will have been almost a decade since the last time Marvel’s first family was seen on the big screen. Fox’s Fantastic Four, directed by Josh Trank, was an abject disaster that not even social media revisionist history has managed to salvage and so Disney smartly displayed patience in bringing the super-team back to the screen after acquiring the live-action rights to them in the 2019 Fox merger. From the footage seen of the film so far, director Matt Shakman‘s new film couldn’t look and feel any different than its most recent predecessor, seemingly embracing the original vibe of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby‘s creations rather than seeking to distance itself from them.
Though the new film will introduce the characters into the MCU, it is set in the 1960s in a parallel universe yet to be revealed where Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben have already been established as heroes. As was the case with Spider-Man: Homecoming, the origin story of the heroes will be referenced but won’t take up the entire first act of the film, allowing the story to progress a bit more quickly and it sounds as though it may need all that space as the team will be facing its biggest threat: Galactus. The presence of the Devourer, played by Ralph Ineson, has been public knowledge for some time but now a cryptic, new official synopsis released by Disney may hint at a major twist that involves He Who Hungers.
Though it has yet to be made official by Disney, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is expected to introduce Franklin Richards, the son of Reed and Sue. In the comics, Franklin is an incredibly powerful reality warper and while he’s still a teen in Marvel Comics’ present day, some possible futures of his have been revealed over the years and the new synopsis may be teasing one of the most inspired possibilities. Though it doesn’t give much away, the new synopsis teases that Galactus’ plans get “very personal” and while that’s certainly vague it’s also very intentional and will lead fans of the comics down a very particular path.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.
-Official Synopsis for Marvel Studios The Fantastic Four: First Steps
In 1999, Marvel published the limited series Earth-X which explored what was originally created as the dystopian future of Earth-616. In Earth-X #2, it was revealed that Franklin had become Galactus. This idea has been explored a few other times over the years and has been rumored to be a potential plot point in The Fantastic Four: First Steps with the inclusion of one very cool twist: the film’s Galactus will be an older Franklin who demands that his family deliver his younger self to him! Again, it’s simply a rumor at this point and an old one at that; however, with the official synopsis dangling that bait, it does seem plausible at this point.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps lands in theaters on July 25, 2025.
Marvel Studios had a fairly large presence at Disney’s D23 Expo in Brazil which ran from November 8th through November 10th. While no new projects were announced, footage was shown from upcoming projects from all the studios under the Marvel umbrella. Marvel Studios showcased its 2025 film slate with Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps; Marvel Television shared a look at next March’s Daredevil: Born Again; Marvel Animation unveiled the first trailer for Season 3 of What If…?, which debuts on December 22nd, and gave the fans a look at Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, which hits D+ on January 29th, 2025.
Despite not breaking any news on the stage, Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, did have plenty to say to the Brazilian outlet Omelete about the potential futures of several big-time MCU players.
Blade
“We are committed to Blade,” said the Feigster. “We love the character. We love Mahershala’s take on him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still figuring out how it fits into our schedule, we let the audience know. You’re all up to date on what’s happening. But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU.”
Parsing words a bit, it does seem interesting that Feige chose to say that “the character would indeed make it to the MCU” rather than the film. It may ultimately be nitpicking but it is worth noting and tracking as things continue to develop.
Deadpool and Wolverine
After finishing up an incredible run in theaters, Deadpool & Wolverine is now available digitally and, as of November 12th, is streaming on Disney Plus where it’s sure to generate another round of hype. According to Feige, fans can probably expect to see more of the odd couple. “The plans with Deadpool and Wolverine will always be the same,” teased Feige. “We’re always wondering where we can fit them in, and how quickly.” With rumors that both characters will have roles in the studio’s 2027 Multiverse Saga finale, Avengers: Secret Wars, it may not be too long before the deadly duo suits up again.
And now, whatever room remained to harbor doubt was wiped out by Feige in Brazil.”We had Agatha All Along on Disney+ just now, and that series was great for us. Since then, there have been a lot of questions about Wanda in fans’ minds,” said Feige. “So all I can say is that we’re excited to find out when and how Scarlet Witch can come back.” New rumors suggest the character will play a large role in Avengers: Doomsday; if those rumors are true, we’ll likely find out soon as the film is expected to go before cameras in early 2025.
X-Men
Fans have been eagerly awaiting Marvel Studios’ take on the X-Men since the live-action rights to the characters were acquired as part of Disney’s 2019 merger with Fox. And while some mutants have been sprinkled into other projects over the past few years, the studio does have much larger plans for the X-Men, including a film being written by Michael Lesslie. While there was some hope it might end up in the Multiverse Saga, Feige put all that talk to bed in Brazil.
“When we were preparing for Avengers: Endgame years ago, it was a matter of getting to the grand finale of our narrative, and then we had to start all over again after that,” Feige explained. “This time, on the road to Secret Wars, we already know very well what’s going to happen. be the story until then and beyond. The X-Men are an important part of that future.” With a script already in the works, it’s very possible that Phase 7 of the MCU (if Phases are even a thing anymore) could lead off with Marvel Studios X-Men.
Eternals
Perhaps in part because of the success of Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Studios made the choice to develop a film around the Eternals, an obscure group of characters created by Jack Kirby in the 1970s. However, rather than lean into what Kirby intended the characters to be, the studio stripped them of everything their creator built into them that was of interest. The result was a film that was poorly received critically despite having one of the MCU’s most impressive ensemble casts.
Before it flopped in theaters, there seemed to be big plans for the characters introduced in Eternals. That no longer seems to be the case with Feige already saying “there are no immediate plans forEternals 2” earlier this year and now indicating that whole the studio remains “very proud of that movie” adding that cast was incredible” while giving no indication that’s something he’s actually attempting to do.“We’d be lucky to get any of them back at some point,” he closed, which would be a strange thing to say if he were planning on using the characters.
Inhumans
Originally in development as a film for a 2019 release, Marvel’s Inhumans was pulled from the slate in 2016. From there, the property moved to Marvel TV and ultimately turned into one of the most ridiculously embarrassing projects the company ever produced.
Though Anson Mount‘s Black Bolt did appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it’s never really seemed as though Feige had large-scale plans for the Inhumans within the confines of the MCU. And if his response to a question about the characters is any indication, he still doesn’t have any. “We’ll see where, if, and when, they return,” replies Feige to an inquiry about their MCU future. At least we’ll always have that great moment where one of Marvel’s most disciplined heroes accidentally killed himself!
2024 may not have been the year Marvel Studios had planned it to be a couple of years ago but it was exactly the year it needed to be. Once set to see four feature films, including Fantastic Four, and four live-action streaming series, including Daredevil: Born Again, roll out over the course of the year, the planned 2024 slate took a major hit as Bob Iger forced Kevin Feige and the Marvel Parliament to take a moment to sit in the corner and think about what they had done. As a result, the live-action slate was pared down to 2 series and 1 film; however, the studio found incredible success in its reduced release schedule with a return to form at the box office and arguably its most complete streaming series to date. As they look in the rearview mirror on what did and did not work in 2024, the studio will see more good than bad for the first time in a few years.
Marvel Studios’ one and only 2024 theatrical release, Deadpool & Wolverine, looked to be a surefire hit and while it was certainly not universally loved by critics, the bloody buddy comedy put butts in seats and reminded most fans of how to have a good time at a Marvel Studios movie. While those butts were in those seats, the unspoiled in the audience were treated to some incredible surprises in the film as non-Marvel Studios OGs such as Wesley Snipes‘ Blade, Jennifer Garner‘s Elektra and Chris Evans‘ Johnny Storm popped up for more-than-just-a-cameo appearances. As surprising as it was to see those actors reprise those roles, Channing Tatum‘s Gambit stole the show as audiences fell in love with the actor’s long-awaited debut as the Cajun. It didn’t take long for fans to begin to call for more of Tatum‘s mumbly mutie. And with a little post-credit magic here and a deleted scene there, more of Tatum as Gambit in the MCU seemed to possibly be in the cards. Now it seems as though it might be more likely than anyone might have ever believed.
In a recent interview with EW, Deadpool & Wolverine star Ryan Reynolds claimed that the decision makers at Marvel Studios are “obsessed” with Tatum as Gambit while drawing a comparison to his own struggle to get Deadpool to the big screen.
“I honestly don’t know what goes on behind closed doors in the bookkeeping sessions at Marvel, but I do know that they’re obsessed with him in that role,” said Reynolds. “It’s kind of like the same situation I went through. Once you show that it works well, that’s really what they need. Sometimes they just need to see it in action.” Reynolds’s passion for Deadpool kept hope alive for years that a reasonable version of the character to finally make it to the big screen and paid off with two successful Fox films and a major win at the box office for Marvel Studios. As referenced in his comments, Tatum had to endure a similar process after his long-gestating Gambit solo film was cancelled when Disney merged with Fox.
And Channing is so singular in how he plays that character but also he’s so beautiful physically, the way he moves and the way he can pick up steps.
Ryan Reynolds on Channing Tatum as Gambit
Obviously Tatum’s future as Gambit is not for Reynolds to decide but with the buzz his performance in Deadpool & Wolverine created and Marvel Studios moving toward their own mutant era, it’s hard to imagine fans won’t get the chance to see Tatum make even more of a name for himself as the beloved X-Man.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
This website uses cookies
Websites store cookies to enhance functionality and personalise your experience. You can manage your preferences, but blocking some cookies may impact site performance and services.
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
30 days
These cookies are needed for adding comments on this website.
Name
Description
Duration
comment_author_email
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
comment_author_url
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
comment_author
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites. The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user.
Pinterest Tag is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic.
