We recently learned that Marvel Studios is eyeing Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy to helm Avengers 5. The filmmaker has read Michael Waldron's script for the project and is now in talks to take charge of a movie originally titled The Kang Dynasty.
The Cosmic Circus has shared an update on the project today, reiterating recent reports about it featuring a "grounded story" with Multiversal elements. The site has also heard that, when it comes to Avengers: Secret Wars, it will likely become a two-parter and feature "more than one central antagonist."
It also sounds like the plan is to adapt elements from Jason Aaron's Avengers Assemble event. In that, Mephisto rewrites reality to rid himself of Earth-616's Avengers once and for all; the heroes pursue the villain through the Multiverse and even meet their 10,000 B.C. counterparts. It also involved a Multiversal Masters of Evil.
Avengers Forever is also expected to factor into the movie; in that, Rick Jones assembles Avengers from the past, present, and future to fend off an attack from Kang the Conqueror Variant, Immortus.
The "Time Runs Out" story - which pits The Avengers against the Illuminati - supposedly factors into the movie as well. Interestingly, the site adds, "If people really want to look ahead, beyond Secret Wars and beyond the soft reboot, they should look to the stars - specifically, Eternals Vol. 3."
We first met the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the site notes that a third Doctor Strange movie is a must to tee up Stephen Strange's planned role in the story.
The final Avengers tidbit comes with the news that Loki and Sylvie will play a key role in the upcoming movies. That was to be expected after the Loki TV series and, once the Multiverse is unravelled by Incursions, the God of Mischief will no doubt return.
Avengers 5 is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 1, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars to follow on May 7, 2027.
SECRET WARS: 9 Epic Comic Book Moments From 2015
Comic That Should Inspire The Next AVENGERS Movies
9. Death Of The Marvel Universe
Secret Wars begins with a bang...literally. The Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe are in the midst of an incursion, and while heroes from both worlds gather to try and save their reality (going to extreme measures to do so), there's ultimately nothing they can do.
Some heroes manage to flee aboard a cosmic "life raft," but at the centre of the universe, Doctor Doom steals the power of the Beyonders to remake reality in his image. With that, a new world is born.
The Marvel Universe doesn't have a counterpart that means as much to fans as the Ultimate Universe, but Earth-838 or another alternate world we're going to spend time on in the coming years could take its place. Kicking things off with the destruction of the MCU would be jaw-dropping, and a strong indication that Marvel Studios is taking this storyline seriously.
8. The Face Of Doom
If the rumours are true about Doctor Doom making his MCU debut in the closing moments of Fantastic Four, there's still time for Victor Von Doom to replace Kang the Conqueror as the Saga's big bad.
We're sure his origin story will be expanded on at some point and Marvel Studios would be wise to make him a villain who uses both magic and science to establish his dominance. The biggest ask we have right now, though, is that they build some mystique around what's under that iconic mask.
A big-name actor will almost certainly be cast as Doom, but any temptation to show his face should be saved for Secret Wars, where, like in the comics, we finally get to see what the villain is hiding. Doom destroyed his face trying to save his mother's soul after ignoring Reed Richard's advice to make some changes to the machine he was using, and that's something Fantastic Four can lay the groundwork for.
7. Betrayal
Only a few people remember how things used to be, with Doctor Strange among them. While Doom is the God of this new world, the fragments of reality he pulled together are far from perfect and things seem to be in constant turmoil, hence why he needs a reliable second in command.
That's where Stephen Strange comes in. Years have passed since the Marvel Universe's destruction and the Sorcerer Supreme has, dare we say, become friends with Doom. However, when his friends emerge from that life raft, he realises that there's a chance to put the world back to the way it should be. As you might expect, that's not something Victor is happy about.
With a wave of his hand, he brutally kills Doctor Strange, and this would be one seriously shocking moment to put in a movie. We'd also love to see Strange spend some time with Doom on screen because their dynamic is nothing short of fascinating.
6. Doctor Doom Kills Thanos
If you thought that was an impressive display of power, it arguably pales in comparison to what happens when Doom comes face-to-face with Thanos. Another Marvel Universe survivor, the Mad Titan believes he can overthrow Victor, but soon learns that even he is no match for "God."
Plunging his fist into Thanos' chest, Doom rips out his spine and turns the villain to dust. There are many moments in Secret Wars where Doom shows that he's now nigh on unstoppable, but to make such short work of the villain who wiped out half the universe in Avengers: Infinity War...well, that would be something else (obviously, this Mad Titan would need to be a Variant).
Heck, this could even be what happens to Kang the Conqueror, with Doom responsible for finally putting a stop to that time-travelling villain's machinations and getting rid of his "Beyonder" Variant and, subsequently, a character fans seem to have little interest in.
5. A Moment Of Levity
Secret Wars is a very intense, high-stakes story, but there are still moments of levity. Peter Parker and Miles Morales are reunited in this new reality after a past team-up and set about trying to figure out what's going on.
As a result, they come face to face with Molecule Man. It turns out he's the glue at the centre of this new reality holding it all together, and while we don't expect Marvel Studios to include him here (his presence arguably makes things too convoluted), we'd still love to see this exchange in Avengers: Secret Wars.
It's a ridiculous, hilarious conversation and one that could be recreated with the three live-action Spider-Men if Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures can't figure out a way to finally bring Miles into the MCU.
4. "I Am Groot!"
Star-Lord was among the heroes who escaped the dying Earth-616 aboard the aforementioned life raft, and when Black Swan overpowers the Guardian of the Galaxy, he takes a toothpick from his mouth and threatens her with it.
We're sure you won't be surprised to learn the villain is unimpressed, prompting Star-Lord to stab it into the World Tree that Doom has made his throne on. With that, a ginormous and powerful Groot emerges to take the fight to Doom's army.
Considering the fact the Multiverse now resembles Yggdrasil, we're sure this could all be tied together somehow and what a showcase for Groot a moment like this would be in Avengers: Secret Wars.
3. The Thing's Death
As God, Doctor Doom can't help but take his petty revenge on the Fantastic Four in the new reality he creates. Mister Fantastic no longer exists, The Human Torch is being used as the world's "sun," and the Invisible Woman is Victor Von Doom's wife.
The Thing, meanwhile, has been transformed into a wall that protects his kingdoms from the remnants of darker realities. For example, there are Marvel Zombies, the Annihilation Wave, and even Ultron robots, but Thanos eventually reveals the truth to Ben Grimm and he breaks free of his captivity to fight back against Victor.
Franklin Richards, who is Doom and Sue's son in this world, engages The Thing by controlling Galactus, eventually laying waste to Ben when he refuses to fight back against the boy he considers a nephew. It's a powerful moment, even though it is undone later on.
2. The Infinity Gauntlet Returns
With the heroes who remember reality as it was determined to stop Doom, Black Panther finds an Infinity Gauntlet that was hidden away by Doctor Strange. T'Challa unleashes its power for a reality-bending battle against Victor that delivers the sort of visuals that make the mind boggle, and we'd love to see it on the big screen.
Sadly, Chadwick Boseman is no longer with us to make this happen, but Shuri - or perhaps even a T'Challa Variant - can still make this scene a reality.
This may even be the perfect place for Chris Evans' Captain America to make his return. Remember, he once had all six Infinity Stones in his possession when he was tasked with returning them to their rightful place in the timeline. With that in mind, Steve returning, powered up and ready to take the fight to Doctor Doom, could be an awesome way to adapt this battle.
1. Doctor Doom's Face Is Healed
During the climactic battle, Doctor Doom finally squares off with Mister Fantastic and is forced to admit that Reed could have made a much better world than him had he been given the chance.
It's a moment that humbles the proud Doom, and the Fantastic Four leader proves that he was right by doing what heroes do. Restoring the world to how it should be, he doesn't wipe Victor from existence or take any sort of pretty revenge. Instead, he heals his greatest foe's face, proving that, yes, he really is the better man.
This would obviously lead to Doom heading down a slightly more heroic path, becoming the Infamous Iron Man. That's something we'd love to see play out in the MCU and sets up a thrilling new status quo as we head into the next era of storytelling revolving around Marvel's First Family and the X-Men.