The Marvel Cinematic Universe is barreling toward two of its biggest events yet — Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars — but Marvel Studios is already thinking past the Multiverse Saga. According to industry insider Alex Perez, speaking on a recent Cosmic Circus Q&A, the studio's next wave of priorities includes Black Panther 3, Shang-Chi 2, Spider-Man 5, an X-Men reboot, a Thunderbolts sequel*, Blade, the Midnight Sons, and the next Avengers title. Here's a closer look at what each project could mean for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
A Thunderbolts* Sequel Nobody Saw Coming
Of everything on the list, a sequel to Thunderbolts* is arguably the most surprising. The film underperformed at the box office, pulling in roughly $382 million against a reported $180 million budget, yet reports suggest Marvel Studios still sees long-term value in the team. Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova has become one of the more beloved characters in the modern Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the so-called "New Avengers" could be positioned as an ongoing team franchise. Director Jake Schreier's collaborative approach on Thunderbolts* reportedly impressed the studio enough that he's now attached to direct the upcoming X-Men film, which only adds to the sense that Marvel is doubling down on the team's future.
Spider-Man 5 Builds on Brand New Day
Spider-Man has long been a cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Spider-Man 5 is expected to follow directly on the heels of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which reportedly has strong early ticket sales. Director Destin Daniel Cretton is earning praise for his work on the franchise, with some early buzz suggesting this could be the best MCU Spider-Man outing yet. There's also speculation that a fifth Spider-Man film could lean into darker, more grounded storytelling, and that Cretton could eventually move on to helm Shang-Chi 2 as well — tying multiple corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe together under one creative vision.
Black Panther 3 and the Road to the X-Men
Black Panther 3 is reportedly in early development under returning director Ryan Coogler, though plot details remain scarce this far out. One persistent rumor ties the film to the introduction of Storm, which would give Marvel a natural bridge into the X-Men as they're folded into the Marvel Cinematic Universe following Avengers: Secret Wars. With Fox's X-Men films drawing to a close, Marvel Studios faces the challenge of balancing an increasingly crowded roster of heroes — Shang-Chi, Moon Knight, Blade, and now mutants — without overcrowding the screen.
The Rest of the Slate: Shang-Chi 2, Blade, Midnight Sons, and Avengers
Rounding out Marvel's reported priority list:
- Shang-Chi 2 – A sequel that's been anticipated since 2021, with Simu Liu confirming as recently as this year that the project remains in development.
- Blade – A long-troubled production that has struggled to get off the ground since being announced back in 2019, now apparently back on the table.
- Midnight Sons – Marvel's horror-adjacent team-up project, still very much in the rumor stage.
- The Next Avengers Title – A follow-up to Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, expected to anchor whatever comes after the Multiverse Saga.
Notably absent from this current wave of priorities is Doctor Strange 3, which reports suggest has been pushed to the back burner for now.
What This Means for the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Future
Taken together, this slate suggests Marvel Studios is preparing to enter a new era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe — one that blends established fan favorites (Spider-Man, Black Panther, the Avengers) with newer additions (Thunderbolts, the X-Men) and long-delayed passion projects (Blade, Midnight Sons). With Disney having already locked in release dates stretching to 2029, the Marvel Cinematic Universe shows no signs of slowing down after Secret Wars wraps the current saga.
Of course, none of this is officially confirmed by Marvel Studios, and as with any pre-announcement report, plans could shift significantly before titles and release dates are locked in. Still, if this reported priority list holds up, the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious yet.
What are you most excited to see next in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let us know in the comments below.
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